Claes Oldenburg

Well-done 1996 Documentary where Oldenburg, himself, is your guide
This is another in the fine line of DVD documentaries released in Europe by ArtHaus and distributed in the US by Naxos. The 54 minute documentary on pop art sculptor Oldenburg was produced by the British ITV network in connection with a 1996 exhibition of Oldenburg's works in Hayward. It was mostly filmed in New York a year earlier when the Guggenheim Museum mounted a Oldenburg exhibit.

Much of the narration comes from the artist himself as he describes his techniques and draws illustrations as he talks. It's great that producer/director Gerald Fox captured this on High Def film. Others who comment include fellow artists James Rosenquist, Roy Lichtenstein and Oldenburg's early collaborator Jim Dine plus a few art dealers and critics. One of those "critics" is Hilton Kramer who I hope was only included as a "counterpoint" to all the accolades of Oldenburg's works by his fans. Kramer calls Oldenburg's large sculptures (giant ice cream cone, clothespin, broken button)...





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