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| Latest... "The Antagonist Art Movement NYC I first met up with "The Antagonist Art Movement" though a "Looking for artists" ad on Craigslist earlier this year. I have always had the romantic notion of joining up with a group of rouge artists in Manhattan. I guess reading about The Modernists, The Cubists, Andy Warhol's factory and Dada must have planted a seed somewhere in the back of my mind that real potenet, revolutionary art not only comes from the artists, but also from a specific time and place. From a collection of the like- minded. As I studied my art history, I couldn't help but notice there hasn't been a great movement since the late 80's. Wouldn't it be fun to be part of something truly fresh and underground? |
| How's this for underground (literally)? On any given Thursday night, just go through the front door of Niagara bar at 112 Ave A and the corner of 7th street. Pass the bar and bathrooms, go down the steel staricase in the back room to the basement, pass the band and tiki bar and walk through a very dark doorway at the far side of the room that you would swear was a kitchen, hook a sharp left and the world of Antagonist art explodes before you in screaming red walls and all the best art by New York's up and coming creative minds. The vibe at Antagonist night is super friendly and chill. Everyone seems to be on the same page so to speak. You get instantly drawn into the atmosphere of it all. The art naturally sparks conversations. Unlike going to a gallery or museum, the people who come don't just browse through, they stay and become a part of the whole. There is no room nor reason for pretentiousness. Everyone has come for the same reason. To collectivly show thier ideas and be influenced by the others. Quoted from the Antagonist myspace page: "The Antagonist is not lead by his ego, but instead by his creativity. There is no standard form or medium for this creativity, save for the exception that the piece should provoke its audience. It is his drive and persistence to create that defines him. Art must not rely on ego, but on strength. The exploitation of the creative is not the standard of art. Though he may sell his art for profit, The Antagonist, emphasizing the process, does not create with the initial intent to produce a "product." This "art for arts sake" mindset is pervasive and addictive. One of the most frequent questions I have had at these nights has been asked upon someone seeing my presented work and then seeing my postcard of the George Washington Bridge. They say "This is very different from what you have here tonight!" It makes me smile because I feel that being a part of this movement is doing exactly what it should. It's pushing my creativity forward at a lightning pace. The first pieces (Antagonist 1-4) I did broke me out 100% into sculpture for the wall. Something I had wanted to do right after completing "Artist Vs. House Painter, but did not have an immediate reason to do so. The next (Antagonist 5-11) were a complete manifestation in size, color and topic of what I had seen there the previous time, right down to influence of the red walls. Again, they were totally out of my normal realm and more illustrative than anything I have ever done. I can now see why being a part of a group holds so many romantic ideals. It's not only the individual piece of art that speaks to a viewer, but the historical value of it. The context. The why, when, and where is what dreams are made of. I think there is something historical going on down there in that basement and I am glad to be a part of it. - Scott Hill - |
   More about it: The Antagonist Official The Manifesto FAQ Antagonist Myspace Antagonist Flickr Press... More Press... |
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