Art&Culture
PUPPY PAINTINGS
For Brooklyn based artist Sophie Larrimore, dogs are not necessarily a point of interest in her practice: they are her practice.
READ MORE
CLOSE
CLOSE
PUPPY PAINTINGS
Sophie Larrimore focuses on larger, curly haired pups and, for the past few years, she has depicted them in cool colored scenes via acrylic and marker and watercolor. The works recall the colorful expressions of Fauvists from Henri Manguin to Orthon Friesz to even Henri Matisse: they observe the nature of these beautiful beasts, pushing them into loving abstraction to examine both their form and function in our lives.
To get an understanding of what goes into her work—which is currently on display at Portland’s Nationale through November 21—we spoke with Larrimore about her attraction to these animals, what Fauvism means today, and why dogs are to be taken seriously in art.
Dogs, frequently curly, poodle-ish pups, are often the subjects of your work. What draws you to them, in both your practice and in life?
Well, they make good subjects. The focus on the poodles has come about in the past few years. Prior to that I was still working with dogs, not a specific breed, but usually fluffy ones, they are more fun to paint. The most recent work has evolved from portrait type depictions to more general and stylised dog shapes. I used to look at a lot of pictures of dogs for reference, now I don’t look at any, I find it distracting and the results too literal, they are much better when just made up. Poodles are naturally anthropomorphic and that slightly human, slightly alien quality I find really beautiful.
Your paintings often depict dogs in play or investigating, in activities to be unpacked. Do you find that these canine figures represent or symbolise anything beyond the literal?
I certainly hope so. Though whatever those things are I would expect will be different depending on the viewer. I don’t come to the work with any direct narrative. Any ideas I may have about what is going on in each painting is merely a way to move the work forward and is never prescriptive, they are consistently changing as the work develops. In the end, if it is a successful painting, I am surprised by the result. The mark of a good painting is one which changes and reveals itself the longer you look.
Nude women frequently appear in your work in a visual dialogue with dogs. How are these two figures related, in your art and beyond?
It was somehow a natural pairing. There is an ambiguity and tension between the subjects that seems be come out in the work which I find intriguing. It is still evolving.
Your work has been described as Fauvist,a movement marked by colourful nature scenes adjacent to Impressionism. How do you see your practice continuing—or commenting on!—this movement?
The Fauvists used colour to push painting beyond the traditional model of realistic colour, using an over-saturated palette to suggest a deeper emotional state. That over-saturation is now just the state of our everyday lives. The challenge now is working with a lot of colour without making it arbitrary. I see my work in dialog with those painters in that I too am concerned with making a painting in which colour and form are just as important as subject.
As obvious as it sounds, why are dogs important to represent in art? Do you think the art world (and society in general) takes works featuring these animals seriously? Why or why not?
When I started painting dogs that was kind of the point, it was not a subject to be addressed seriously in painting, too naive, too saccharine, maybe too female. A great beginning. More recently the democratisation of subjects has really been embraced and now more than ever there is no subject really off limits. You are seeing more dogs represented in the Art World. There is perhaps still a tendency to approach them with a dose of irony. The work I make is certainly cheeky but I’m am not interested in making jokey paintings, funny paintings, not jokey. I’m more interested in engaging with the larger and richer painting dialog, which, at its most successful, will also address the broader society in which is it operating. Someone once asked if I was serious or not serious about my subject. It seems the goal of any painter should be both.
—
All artwork courtesy of Sophie Larrimore
sophielarrimore.com
Art&Culture
ISSUE NINE — PRE-ORDER NOW
by Four&Sons
In our Spring issue, there’s much to be in high spirits about. We go behind the scenes of Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, a movie fuelled by dopamine, alpha dogs, and a vast crew of artisans and animators. We hang with a pack of trippy-looking poodles created by artist Susumu Kamijo. We find five mutts who changed history by injecting their human counterparts with a good dose of serotonin. There is plenty of oxytocin going around, too. We celebrate Sulek’s photography of rescued Spanish galgos, Jo Longshurst’s abstract twist on pet portraiture, and Ho Hai Tran’s love of stripes and spots. We travel to Berlin, Toronto, London, and upstate New York to meet creative types whose bonds with their four-legged mates are as heartfelt as they are intoxicating. We ask five foodies to fess up about dog snacks and guilty pleasures that feed body and soul, and we embrace illustrator Apolline Muet’s bear hugs between humans and animals.
All this, and more, inside the covers.
Art&Culture
Under the cover of darkness
by Emma Guthrie
Death and wilderness play a key role in Lorna Evan’s haunting photography.
READ MORE
Best of breeds
by Emma Guthrie
Sipke Visser’s new book lifts the lid on the fascinating world of dog shows.
READ MORERecommended
LOVE FOR LURVIG
The world’s most popular blue box of affordable interiors, IKEA, has released a new collection tailored for dogs and cats. Under the name Lurvig, you will find bowls, beds, and blankets in tasteful shades of black, green, and white. Understated and adaptable, the IKEA design team worked alongside vets to create pieces for pets that slide seamlessly into a minimalist décor. Our favourite is the small sofa-shaped bed, where your four-legged friend can stretch out their paws after a long day, just like you.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Recommended
BOW-WOW MEET BOHO
Beachy chic pieces made from natural materials are now strolling the shorelines thanks to Sebastian Says. The latest collection, ‘A New Bohemian’, is made up of 100 percent cotton-macramé collars, leads in earthy hues and warm merino-wool sweaters.
Founded by Suz Strampic in Elwood, Australia, and inspired by the Aussie beaches, the Sebastian Says fringed-wool jumpers and vegetable-tanned leather collars are made for blustery beach days. The label’s tanning process uses vegetable dyes on Italian leather, leaving products naturally distressed (a smart contrast to the brass detailing). They also incorporate Pinatex—a vegan-friendly leather alternative made from fibres extracted from pineapple leaves—into collars and coats, which have the soft feel of real worn leather, and remain both environmentally friendly and sustainable. For a seamless finish to all outfits, get your dog’s name monogrammed on a collar of your choice. Looks like it’s time to drop the dog tag.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Products
ALL WELCOME
by Libby Borton
In the South Korean city of Busan you can now pamper your pet with a stay at Howlpot Care Centre, a new spa for canines.
READ MORERecommended
VIDEO: AN ODE TO DOGS ON SET (ISLE OF DOGS)
A charming homage to the nine flesh-and-bone dogs roaming behind the scenes at 3 Mills Studios, during the filming of Isle of Dogs.
Published by Fox Searchlight.
Recommended by Four&Sons
Click here to watch video
Recommended
BY YOUR SIDE
In 1948, Lee Friedlander embarked on a lifelong career photographing the social landscapes of America with a hand-held 35mm Leica and black and white film. His latest work, Dog’s Best Friend, captures the subtle-yet-intimate beauty of a cross-species friendship via 100 portraits of people and their pooches. From companions and loyal pets to objects of style and adoration, these domesticated dogs reflect their owners just as much as they reflect American culture. Their presence is often understated, as if a shadow—something that has always been there and always follows. Published by SPQR Editions.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Recommended
A FAMILIAR FRIEND
In the shadow of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, but by no means dwarfed, is The Museum of Dog—housed in a former antique hardware store, Quinn’s Wallpaper and Paint. Opened in January 2018, in the apt location of the Berkshires (Barkshires, anyone?), it showcases a private collection of dog-inspired paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs, from indignant Dachshunds to perplexed Labradors. “The museum will recognise dogs and the joy they bring to our lives,” says owner and founder David York.
Highlights include William Wegman photographs, Mary Engel’s “Watch Dog” sculptures and rare dog collars from the 1800s. Keep a special look out for Carolyn Carr, Kathy Ruttenberg, and Jesse Freidin, who all have work in the permanent collection. You may recall Freidin as the photographer behind Finding Shelter. He’s spotlighted as one of the gallery’s global contemporary dog artists, which is sure to set tails happily wagging. Although currently open, the museum officially flings open its doors on Saturday 28th of April to coincide with Massachusetts ArtWeek, so clear your diaries and leash up your dog, we’re going for a walk.
Recommended by Libby Borton
For more information click here
Recommended
HELP ME
We’re long-time fans of Growlees’ irreverent dog tags (some of our favourites include ‘Eat.Sleep.Treat.Repeat’ and ‘I eat homework’) but their new ‘Help Me’ range has a purpose particularly close to our hearts. The collection was created after Growlees’ customers requested charms with messages that would help share their dogs’ special needs with the outside world. They feature catchphrases like: ‘I have anxiety’, ‘I’m deaf’ and ‘Emotional support dog’. Ah, the wonderful things design can do.
Recommended by Four&Sons
For more information click here
Recommended
HOLA PEPITO
Don’t be fooled by Pepito & Co.’s adorable name. This brand has total street-cred. Their collars, leashes, sweaters, and blankets are adorned with dinosaurs, hand horns, and a bleeding heart. For the gentler pooches, there are floral prints, bright colours, and geometric patterns to choose from too. The Madrid-based label is a big believer in re-homing rescues over promoting pet commerce, so adopters get rewarded with a 10% discount on their products for a whole year.
Recommended by Jessa Shields
For more information click here
Recommended
LUCKY YOU
We’ve been waiting 12 lunar years for this… Illustrator Sum Leung of Woof Models has put a new spin on the traditional red envelope in the shape of six friendly dogs. “Traditionally, red packets are given out in the new year and for celebrations like birthdays, weddings, or a newborn baby,” Leung explains. Her 2018 edition of “lucky money packets” was created in partnership with design agency Studio WMW.
Each envelope features a pup alongside a traditional lunar new-year flower: mandarin, peony, narcissus, pussy willow, cherry blossom, and chrysanthemum. “It’s like a greeting card,” Leung says, “but our packets can be used throughout the year.” Traditionally, each envelope would be filled with money for the lucky recipient. (If anyone’s feeling generous, our mailing address is in the mag.) But, more importantly, 10 percent of every sale goes towards nonprofit animal rescue charities.
Recommended by Four&Sons
Click here to watch video