Comments on: Halibut Day

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:34:06 +0000

I take the Halibut Stick in remembrance of R.B. Kitaj.

I never knew what to do about his work. The best I could muster was a kind of uncomprehending admiration for its density and easy command.

And then one day he showed up at the art museum with a group of students from either Kent State or Akron U. He was there in the capacity of visiting scholar/chaperone. He had likely instigated the field trip as the museum had been his stomping grounds as a kid. We chatted a little while the student body wandered off on assignment. He talked about the old days and it was clear that he was remembering a formative period. Rather stupidly I forgot to quiz him on which objects had turned him on the most, as I would have had a good topic for a gallery talk. He was easy and unassuming and ready to inform. But I must admit that our encounter shed little light for me as my bafflement with his work continued unabated.

By: Sunil Gangadharan

Sunil Gangadharan — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:12:22 +0000

Todd Hido’s homes are very depressing and beautiful at the same time. Some of them look like the next venue for a chainsaw massacre – but then the horrors of prostitution are none the less terrible… Of course, the mayor of Vegas does not think so… see http://themoderatevoice.com/general/15073/should-prostitution-be-legalized-2/

By: Karl Zipser

Karl Zipser — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:52:40 +0000

Hmm, the eyes pointing in different directions don’t quite have the same effect as in a portrait of a person, but they are still interesting. Why is it that eyes that don’t focus at a point are so mysterious? It is as though the person/fish can simultaneously view something we can see and something at another level.

By: D.

D. — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:19:57 +0000

But certainly, the Male Gaze and how GIRLS are willing to expose their breasts (for a promotional t-shirt) are very relevant contemporary topics. I sense that Hido’s Borrowed and Soulless Spaces and Askewed Daylight intend to remind us of harsher realities.

By: Jay Hoffman

Jay Hoffman — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:47:37 +0000

Guys:

While I’m somewhat leery of the term “objectification”, I can see a problem with the Hido business. Had he presented only an image or two, then a crafted message about some vacancy in the human experience may have come through. As it is, he appears to have an obsession.

But I gotta tell you, it’s that Yuskavage character that gets my dander up.

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:33:14 +0000

Hmmm, I have to confess I didn’t realize so many of the “portraits” were nudes until I went back to Hido’s web page just now. The one in the Conscientious interview I linked to reminds me of a Hopper painting, but otherwise I agree with June and Tree that it blocks communication of what could be interesting ideas.

By: Tree

Tree — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:40:27 +0000

June, I’d forgotten about Alice Neal!
I’m honored that you’re inspired by the houses, good luck!

I respect Steve’s comment regarding his comparison of the women to the houses but at the same time, the houses ain’t naked.
It’s disconcerting to me that in order for this man to understand women and himself, he has to strip naked women he doesn’t even know and take their photos, which means it’s just another example of objectification rather than communication. The male gaze all over again.