The crucifixion as seen on Google Earth: an image by the Glue Society.
The Miami Art Basel opened its doors once more this week and, predictably, the backlash is already in full flow. But whether or not you agree it's getting too big for its boots, it's stifling local creativity or it's pricing people out of the market, its capacity to surprise, entertain and inspire is as strong as ever. (And besides, where else would you get to see Takashi Murakami and Lance Armstrong posing for a picture together?)
The early buzz has been around the Sydney-based the Glue Society, who are exhibiting God's Eye View, which uses satellite imaging technology to recreate four scenes from the Bible as if viewed via Google Earth. So we see Noah's Ark on its rapidly submerging rocky perch; three men being crucified, the lush oasis of the Garden of Eden and people rushing through a parting in the Red Sea - all captured from the heavens. As is increasingly common, the Glue Society is an umbrella "creative collective" company whose raison d'etre is advertising, but who include artists, sculptors and writers on their books as well as conventional art directors and copywriters. Some people are suggesting that the business element to their work in some way compromises their integrity. Personally, I've got two responses to that: a) welcome to the real world and b) if their work's this good, who cares?
