Vladimir Tretchikoff, ‘Melon Time’

My chance ‘discovery’ of Vladimir Tretchikoff.

It always freaks me out when I find out about an artist, whose work supposedly dominated a time period, but of whom I have heard, seen, read nothing about.

Apparently a ‘Maverick’ a la Palin, he was one of the most commercially successful artists, of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
This was despite the fact that the ‘serious Art world’  completely shunned him, calling him the ‘King of Kitsch’.

The few exhibits he had in the US drew record crowds, and engaged the popular media’s attention.

Yet in all of my years of studying art history, I have NEVER seen a mention of him or his work.

When I started reading about him, I thought I was seeing a complex practical joke; like the created persona “Mr Brainwash” set up by Banksy/Shepard; but VT is very much a real person.

The work is very very strange, and I just can’t seem to put my finger on why.
There is just lot to pause about…

In the end, maybe its because the paintings are both technically excellently executed (like Norman Rockwell) but also strangely naive, affected, chauvinistic and patronizing.

This quality is taken to such an extent, it is easy to question wether his aim was to challenge ones perception of his intent. 

Is this seriously his perception of a ‘black boy’, or is this him questioning your gaze of a ‘China girl’?

This is especially true in his depictions of ‘the other’ - wether in his is portraits of women or his depictions of other races.

Here are some examples of the weird. 

The Chinese Girl, 1950’s


Coon


Dying Swan

 
Fruits of Bali 

I would love a completely tiled kitchen with professional surfaces… in my future bed and breakfast, ah to dream.

I love this Chair.

I love this skylight + exposed beam ceiling + space

We are also thinking of putting a swing in our space

I randomly found a great blog with a really wonderful expose on Jack Johnson.

America’s 1st Black heavy weight champion & celebrity. Taken down for being a bad example to good black folks for marrying multiple white women.

Check out the site here: The Selvedgeyard

Also watch “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson” a documentary by Ken Burns. While it follows all the tropes of a KB documentary, the story was still insanely sad and well told. (I did cry in shame and anger at humanity.) Its also on Netflix.