20×200 can be hit or miss for me. On one hand, it makes works by master artists like the Starn twins or Roger Ballen available to middle class collectors, and it also spreads the word about up and coming photographers like Todd Hido and Eirik Johnson. But it can often dive deep into the twee abyss, cranking out overly cute editions. I don’t fault them for it (hey, we’ve all got to make a living somehow), but I like 20×200 best when it takes risks and puts out thoughtful work from relatively unknown artists. And if that thoughtful work is aesthetically interesting, well then super extra bonus points.
Long story short, I like recently published Jenny Odell’s work a lot. Thank you, 20×200. You get a gold star from me.
Odell’s composite images created from satellite views feature industrial buildings, pools, grain silos, and boats. Voyeurism coupled with a smidgen of melancholy, finished by a dash of slick techno remove, makes for a fine series of work.
195 Yachts, Cargo Lines, Tankers, and Other Ships is available for purchase at 20×200 HERE.
I really hope the pools are up for grabs next…
You are my go-to photography expert, and I take your opinion as gospel.
Ooooh. I love these.
So hypnoooooooooootic. Blue for the world’s most relaxed bathroom and the round silo-y one I would install in my bedroom and stare at it every night and morning.
That’s a great job. The #1 picture is the collection of buildings, right? So amazing.
What Raina said. Oh, to be able to afford all the art I covet…
I really like the cargo ships. I’m trying to build up a gallery wall collection… at $20 this is SO doable. yippeee!
Hi there, we recently added the pools and parking lots to our selection of Jenny’s editions. You can check ‘em out here:
http://www.20×200.com/email/edition-announcement-329-jenny-odell.html
As for how we make our selections: it’s less about making a buck and more about offering an array of work that will engage a broad audience. We love working with artists like Roger Ballen, but we also love the idea of people who feel intimidated and/or alienated by the art world discovering something that they love via our site. Once they’re there and engaged, they can dig in deeper and learn more (perhaps better appreciate?) the challenging stuff.
And yea, I admit it, twee stuff makes me happy sometimes. I have pictures of cute animals hanging alongside my most prized art possession — an Ed Ruscha print. There’s a dimestore paint-by-numbers propped up on the console facing that wall. I hope to never believe that something that I own is too fancy to live in the good company of other things that makes me immeasurably happy and/or remind me of a time/place/memory that means a lot to me.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Jen. Definitely words for thought.
And I’m super excited to hear about Jenny Odell’s new print edition — hopefully Santa will buy it for me. That would make *me* immeasurably happy!
Best,
Erin
Dude, Jen, I can’t believe you called me out on 20×200! I have pimped many a 20×200 edition on this very blog because I love that 20×200 gives us regular folks access to great art. I’ll admit that I do have an MFA (although not from a fancypants university — I wish!), so I probably have some pretty entrenched/institutional ideas about art. Even so, you can’t expect everyone to like everything! It’s just not going to happen.
However, I will try my best to avoid making you shake your fist at the computer at 2 am again. I am also trying not to find that vaguely humorous, though I suspect you meant it that way.
You may also be happy to know what I am now the proud owner of the pools. And I like them. So there’s that.
Yours truly,
Erin
Oh, Jen, again??? I can’t believe one tiny post has inspired such a dialog on 20×200… but I love you for it. Thanks for keeping the discussion going!
xo,
Erin
ps: Even my cold, black heart melts at the sight of baby monkeys!