Well, we certainly weren't expecting this one. Cartoon hero Gary Baseman -- yes, the mastermind behind the Cranium box -- created a stunning animated homage to his father, entitled "The Buckingham Warrior." The video short was inspired by Baseman's father, Ben Baseman, who fought the Nazis in Ukraine's birch tree forests for nearly 4 years. Rendered in Baseman's signature style, the inspiring tale is translated into a black-and-white silent film short with a very unexpected soundtrack.
The moving video is accompanied by aggressive South African rap duo Die Antwoord, known for their surreally explicit lyrics and equally controversial videos -- last year the white musicians incorporated black face into the video for "Fatty Fatty Boom Boom." Needless to say it's not the typical accompaniment for a Holocaust history tribute but, as Ninja screams "I'm a motherfucking ninja" in the background, it is definitely provocative.
The video, directed by David Charles and presented by MOCAtv, coincides with Baseman's exhibition "The Door Is Always Open" at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. Let us know what you think of Baseman's unusual Nazi narrative in the comments and peruse other exhibitions we have our eye on in the slideshow below.
Summer Art Preview 2013
PUNK: Chaos to Couture(01 of17)
WHAT:PUNK: Chaos to CoutureWHEN: May 9 - August 14, 2013WHERE:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkWHY: Probably the most talked about exhibition of the summer (whether those reviews are good or bad), this celebration of all things punk is definitely a must-see.IMAGE: Rodarte (American, founded 2005)Vogue, July 2008Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by David Sims (credit:Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project(02 of17)
WHAT:Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art ProjectWHEN: May 30 - August 18, 2013WHERE: Virginia Museum of Contemporary ArtWHY: The list of artists who contributed work to this exhibitions is astounding, with names like Kehinde Wiley, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yayoi Kusama. Together they created 78 images that represent a deck of Tarot cards.IMAGE: Christian Louboutin, Nine of Cups, 2010, Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project, Curated by Stacy Engman, Traveling Show Made Possible by: KLÜP Foundation. (credit:KLÜP Foundation)
Building Memories: The Art of Remembering(03 of17)
WHAT:Building Memories: The Art of RememberingWHEN: May 31, 2013 - February 24, 2014WHERE:Victoria and Albert Museum, LondonWHY: Based on the “art of remembering” theories developed by Hari Kunzru, this exhibit explores the history of mnemonics in classical texts, Victorian manuals, card games, and contemporary works.IMAGE: Publicius, Jacobus, ‘Oratoriae artis epitomata’, 1482.© Victoria and Albert Museum, London (credit:© Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
David Hockney’s A Rake’s Progress(04 of17)
WHAT:David Hockney's "A Rake's Progress"WHEN: June 5 - August 16, 2013WHERE:Contemporary Art Society, LondonWHY: "A Rake's Progress" is a semi-autobiographical story about the artist and his life in New York in the 1960s. If you love David Hockney, you will love this show.IMAGE: David Hockney, 'Bedlam', A Rake's Progress (portfolio of sixteen prints) 1961-3, etching, edition of 50, 17 3/4 x 11 1/2in. © David Hockney (credit:Contemporary Art Society)
AIDS in New York: The First Five Years(05 of17)
WHAT:AIDS in New York: The First Five YearsWHEN: June 7 - September 15, 2013WHERE:New York Historical SocietyWHY: The exhibit covers the period from 1981 to 1985, when activist movements that would later change the nation's approach to AIDS were first springing up.IMAGE: Lee Snider. [First AIDS Memorial Service in New York City, Central Park Bandshell], June 13, 1983. Lee Snider/Photo Images; courtesy of the Fales Library & Special Collections, NYU. (credit:Fales Library & Special Collections)
Nick Cave: Sojourn(06 of17)
WHAT:Nick Cave: SojournWHEN: June 9 - September 22, 2103WHERE:Denver Art MuseumWHY: The show will feature 40 new multi-sensory artworks including a passageway made from thousands of buttons and more than 20 of the artist's signature "Soundsuits" (one of which is picture here).IMAGE: Nick Cave, Untitled, 2013. Mixed media. James Prinz Photography, Chicago. Courtesy of Nick Cave and the Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. (credit:Courtesy of Nick Cave and the Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.)
Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes(07 of17)
WHAT:Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern LandscapesWHEN: June 9 - September 23, 2013WHERE:Museum of Modern Art, New YorkWHY: The exhibition will place particular focus on the ways in which architect and visual artist Le Corbusier (aka Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) imagined landscapes, in his early watercolors of the Mediterranean, his sketches of India, and his photographs of architectural projects.IMAGE: Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret) (French, born Switzerland. 1887-1965) with Pierre Jeanneret (Swiss, 1896–1967). Villa Savoye Poissy-sur-Seine, France. 1929-31. Wood, aluminum, and plastic. 16 x 34 x 32″ (40.6 x 86.4 x 81.3 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Purchase. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris / FLC (credit:© 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris / FLC)
Reflections. From Van Eyck to Magritte(08 of17)
WHAT:Reflections. From Van Eyck to MagritteWHEN: June 11 - September 15, 2013WHERE:Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, MadridWHY: The exhibit -- a survey of works from the museum's permanent collection -- focuses on the relationship between real and reflected imagery in art. From old to modern masters, surreal masterpieces from artists like Rene Magritte and Jan van Eyck will be on display.IMAGE: René Magritte. La Clef des champs, 1936, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid (credit:Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid)
Ken Price: Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Works on Paper 1962-2010(09 of17)
WHAT:Ken Price: Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Works on Paper 1962-2010WHEN: June 19 - August 18, 2013WHERE: The Drawing Center, New YorkWHY: This is the first survey of Ken Price's drawingsIMAGE: Untitled, 1992, Acrylic and ink on paper, 20 ¼ x 26 inches (51.4 x 66 cm), Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery (credit:Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery)
Rashaad Newsome: King of Arms(10 of17)
WHAT:Rashaad Newsome: King of ArmsWHEN: June 21 - September 15, 2013WHERE: New Orleans Museum of ArtWHY: New Orleans native Rashaad Newsome continues his fascination with Baroque aesthetics and race performance in "King of Arms," which infuses historical royal imagery with hip-hop influence. IMAGE: Rashaad Newsome, The Coming, 2012, collage in customized antique frame,55.25 x 36 x 10 in (credit:Image courtesy of NOMA)
James Turrell(11 of17)
WHAT:James TurrellWHEN: June 21–September 25, 2013WHERE:Guggenheim, New YorkWHY: This is the artist's first exhibition in a New York museum since 1980, which will reimagine the art haven's iconic rotunda as a giant light installation. Plus, Turrell's works will also be on display at Los Angeles Contemporary Art Museum from May 26, 2013 - April 6, 2014.IMAGE: ames Turrell, Rendering for Aten Reign, 2013, Daylight and LED lightSite-specific installation, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York© James Turrell Rendering: Andreas Tjeldflaat, 2012 © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (credit:© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation)
Wayne Hollowell's "Drama Queen"(12 of17)
WHAT: Wayne Hollowell's "Drama Queen"WHEN: June 26-30, 2013WHERE:Michael Mut GalleryWHY: Delivering, in the words of the gallery, "more drama than any queen should ever have to take," this exhibit features a dazzling display of pop culture portraits just in time for NYC Pride.CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this article read "Drag Queen" instead of "Drama Queen." We regret the error.
Future Beauty: Thirty Years of Japanese Fashion - Seattle Art Museum(13 of17)
WHAT:Future Beauty: Thirty Years of Japanese FashionWHEN: June 27 - September 8, 2013WHERE:Seattle Art MuseumWHY: The entire exhibit is dedicated to revolutionary Japanese fashion designers who are credited with influencing Western couture as we know it. Watch out for eighty gowns by designers like Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto and Jun Takahashi.IMAGE: ISSEY MIYAKE ( Naoki Takizawa) + Aya Takano / Kaikai Kiki Autumn/Winter 2004 Collection Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute,Gift of ISSEY MIYAKE INC. (credit:Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute,Gift of ISSEY MIYAKE INC. )
Migrating Identities(14 of17)
WHAT:Migrating IdentitiesWHEN: June 28 - September 29, 2013WHERE: Yerba Buena Center for the ArtsWHY: Eight artists grapple with their relationships with two or more different cultures, exploring the effects of place and emigration on identity.IMAGE: Naeem Mohaiemen, United Red Army, Courtesy YBCA (credit:Image courtesy of YBCA)
BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: Jose Lerma(15 of17)
WHAT:BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: Jose LermaWHEN: July 2 - December 3, 2013WHERE: MCA ChicagoWHY: Using fabric, carpet and the occasional military parachute, Lerma recreates history's forgotten rulers with a delicious sense of humor.IMAGE: José Lerma and Hector Madera, The Countess, 2012. Image courtesy the artist. (credit:Image courtesy the artist.)
Hippie Chic(16 of17)
WHAT:Hippie ChicWHEN: July 16 - November 11, 2013WHERE:Museum of Fine Arts, BostonWHY: Following the widespread attention The Met's "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibit received, the MFA Boston is turning to the subculture of the 1960s and '70s for inspiration for their upcoming fashion exhibit. Expect a psychedelic overload. (credit:MFA Boston)
The Bruce High Quality Foundation: Ode to Joy, 2001–2013(17 of17)
WHAT:The Bruce High Quality Foundation: Ode to Joy, 2001–2013WHEN: June 28, 2013 - September 22, 2013WHERE:Brooklyn Museum of ArtWHY: We can't resist an exhibit with a description that explains the groups as attempting to "invest the experience of public space with wonder, to resurrect art history from the bowels of despair, and to impregnate the institutions of art with the joy of man’s desiring."IMAGE: The Bruce High Quality FoundationRaft of the Medusa, 2004, Chromogenic photograph, 38 x 38 in. (96.5 x 96.5 cm)Lender: C.C. Marsh (credit:C.C. Marsh)
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