Gaudi; Klee; Mondrian; The Shock Of Futurism

The four latest entries in Academic and Entertainment Video's "Art Series" share, in the main, the same problems that characterized earlier releases (reviewed in our September, 1992 issue). Each program is a translation of an original Italian program featuring older 16mm footage, too rapidly spoken narration, and an uncredited music soundtrack which runs incessantly in the background. The best of the bunch is Gaudi, a visually intriguing overview of the work of the visionary architect Antonio Gaudi y Cornet (1852-1926), whose organic-looking giants of abstract architecture stand out in the urban landscape of Barcelona. One of the more interesting pieces shown in the film is a long, snake-like bench which Gaudi and his contemporaries created from refuse thrown out of craft shops. Unfortunately, the narration in Gaudi is delivered at headache inducing speed. Klee, on the other hand, offers a reasonably good overview of the Swiss artist's life (1879-1940) and work, including readings from Klee's writings on the subjects of line, light, and color. But instead of a gifted and innovative 20th century artist, the narration of the video makes Klee sound like the kind of guy who strolls on water: he is described as "possibly, the foremost colorist of our time" and "the Leonardo of modern painting," before the narrator just drops all pretenses and says of Klee "one could never embrace such a phenomenon in its multiplicity, in its totality." Mondrian is not lavished with quite as much praise (which is good, since many of the Dutch artist's compositions could be easily reproduced by a 2nd-grader with a handful of magic markers). Instead, we hear the words of Mondrian--incredibly convoluted, vague, and technical descriptions--while looking at a series of simple geometric lines and shapes. Mondrian's acknowledged masterwork, "Broadway Boogie-Woogie," inspired by the artist's moving to New York and completed very late in his career is head and shoulders above all of his other work. The Shock of Futurism chronicles the short-lived Italian Futurist movement, an early-20th century movement influenced by the romance of industrialism and guided by the aesthetics of violent movement, speed, dissonance, and dynamism. Perhaps the best known work of the Futurist's is the American artist Joseph Stella's "Brooklyn Bridge" which, not being an Italian work, is not mentioned on this overview of Futurism. Instead, the program concentrates on the paintings and sculptures of Boccioni, primarily, with nods to Balla, Carra, and Severini. The video ends on a characteristically abrupt note, with no summary. Tempered by the informed commentary of an art history instructor, these programs might be worthwhile in a college setting; however, they are not necessary purchases for public libraries. (Available from: Academic and Entertainment Video, 433 East 51 St., Suite 4A, New York, NY 10022; (212) 754-6667.)