I like a lot of Marc Davis’ work.

In particular

Hmm, so much to choose from and so much I don’t even know about…

Visually, Beksinski has been one of the few that really triggers a resonance somewhere inside me.

The works of Jim Henson are also amazing, though I don’t know how one would ever categorize them. Part writing, part performance, part musical, part sculptural, part visual, and yet still other elements.

There’s a great deal of very good music as well, but one of the few where the music felt like ‘art,’ in a way I have some difficulty expressing, is Lorn. Something about it has a sense that it’s trying to say something in a language I feel like I’m supposed to understand, and almost can, but only almost.

An impossible question, but some that came to mind.

The frescos of the Hospicio Cabañas, by José Clemente Orozco

This statue of the goddess Coatlicue

Bernini’s David

John Martin’s destruction of Pompei and pandemonium

“Oh, you’re a Beksiński fan? Name five of his works.”

“Untitled?”

“That’s on me, I set the bar too low.”

1. Clair de lune by Debussy, chefs kiss, always calming, perfect for waking up
2. House of leaves. One of the most confusing books ive ever read.
3. Beserk by kentaro miura, singlehandedly the greatest manga ive ever read. And i will not spoil it
4. Noita, by nolla games. 2d finnish wizard pixel art game where every pixel is simulated. Feels like cbt to play through but its absolutely fantastic
5. Meteora by linkin park, has lived rent free in my head.

Honourable mentions: Ultrakill, doom eternal, Blame! By tsutomo nihei, bach Brandenburg concerto No. 4, the old testament in the bible, i consider this fiction, fight me, gris, the king in yellow, song of ice and fire,the Antwerp station and anything made by antireal, bach, heaven pierce her, mozart and keygen church

Oh man… top five…

• Building: The Guggenheim museum NYC.

The building just looks incredible on the outside the the circular gallery is so awesome.

• Painting: The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun

There is something about the sheer power that painting illustrates.

• Picture: The Vulture and the Little Girl

Somebody get that fucking bird away from her

• Movie

Jaws

• Broadway Play

Hamilton

Don’t need a top 5.

As you mentioned in your post, it’s almost impossible to pick just 5 favorite singular works… so here are some of the top active artists that I currently adore (in no particular order)

• Guido Llordi, kinetic painter
• Tomislav Topić, muralist and fabric installations
• Smallwhitemonster, painter
• Seontae Hwang, backlit lightbox art
• Pieter Van Hooydonck/Kras Glass, stained glass artist
• Stevie Shao, muralist and painter
• Aura Terrariums, stained glass artist

… this list will probably change by next week

Edit: most of these artists best profiles of work are on instagram

Visual arts:

• ‘Happy Person Having a Pleasant Conversation in Public’ by Randy Ortiz

• Jackson Pollock’s ‘One: Number 31, 1950’

• works by Aidan Hughes aka ‘Brute!’, namely his album covers for KMFDM and in particular ‘Split’

Music:

• nearly everything by Mamaleek: try the albums ‘Diner Coffee’ and ‘Vida Blue’ (gotta note that I have no idea what the lyrics are, but what I deciphered of their other songs is somewhat abstract, so eh)

• Last Exit at Deutsches Jazzfestival, Frankfurt, 1986 (with my favorite musician: bassist and producer Bill Laswell)

• Nurse With Wound’s ‘Homotopy To Marie’

For performance, perhaps Meredith Monk’s ‘Turtle Dreams’, shot by Ping Chong. But I’m not an aficionado of the form.

I love Art, but I am a degreed musician, so I’ll offer one painting, and four musical masterpieces.

1. Picasso: Guernica - I saw it decades ago, when it was still at MOMA, before it went back to Spain. I was already a fan of great art, but seeing Guernica in person, made me hard-core. I have seen many museums and masterpieces since then, but never had a more visceral response to any other painting.

2. Beethoven: Symphony #7 - the 9th may be the greatest musical work ever composed, but I love the 7th, a perfect little jewel. I don’t think there is any other musical work that makes me feel such warm affection for it.

3. Bach, JS: Brandenburg Concertos - Nearly every musical mood is illustrated with possibly the most exquisite sparkling music ever composed.

4. Pink Floyd: The Wall - IMHO, simply the best composed, performed, and produced rock album of all time. Literally perfect. David Gilmour gives a master class in virtuosic guitar playing, in what is probably the greatest guitar album of all time. It deserves to stand alongside the greatest musical masterpieces of the 20th century, in any genre.

5. Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (Film, 40th Anniversary remastered version) - the greatest live rock album and and film ever produced. Incendiary performances, better than the original studio versions, captured on film by Jonathan Demme. One mesmerizing performance after another.

1. Music: Hoagy Carmichael - Ole Buttermilk Sky (1953, 1946)
2. Manga: Osamu Tezuka - The Ant and the Giant (1961-1962)
3. Light Novel: 激辛寝具 - TSアル中悪役令嬢は破滅を御所望です (2021)
4. Game: Nintendo - Splatoon 2 (2017)
5. Animation: Aardman - The Coconnut - Shaun the Sheep Season 3 (2012)

I’ll go with one for now:

Death is the Road to Awe by Clint Mansell

But it only works if you truly listen without splitting your attention.

1. Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights

2. Francis Bacon - Study after Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X

3. Giovanni Boldini - Portrait of Lady Colin Campbell

4. Antoni Gaudí - Parc Güell

5. Vincent van Gogh - Café Terrace at Night

Poem - Robert Frost - Stopping by woods on a snowy evening

Short story - Kurt Vonnegut - Harrison Bergeron

Movie - Life is Beautiful (do not watch this if you don’t want to cry)

Book - Carl Sagan - Contact (it’s much better than the movie)

Anime - Serial Experiments Lain

Honorable mention, Paper Tole - an ocean scene my grandmother did when I was a boy. She has written my name on the back of it for when she passes away. It’s the only thing I want. I hope I don’t get it soon, but she’s not young anymore.