MTV, MoMA PS1, and Creative Time have launched Art Breaks, a new series of ten original video art pieces by the most popular emerging artists.  The videos debuted on April 2 on MTV, MTV.com, MTV’s Facebook page and a dedicated Tumblr page targeting more than 600 million audience. 

Photo: Art breaks participants, from mtv.com

Curated by Creative Time and MoMA PS1, an organization devoted to contemporary art, Art Breaks includes works by Rashaad Newsome, Mickalene Thomas, Tala Madani, Jani Ruscica, and Mads Lynnerup.

«Creative expression and experimentation are at the core of MTV’s DNA,» said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV.  «Through this groundbreaking collaboration with MoMA PS1 and Creative Time, we’re thrilled to use the enormous power of television to introduce audiences around the world to this pioneering art work.»

American artists Rashaad Newsome created a video from his ongoing SWAG the Mix Tape project, inspired by his interest in the history of the mix tape in the context of the early days of hip-hop. New York-based Mickalene Thomas shot a video that uses snapshot captured on Super 8 film that “challenges conventional notions of sexuality and femininity”. Los Angeles-based Tala Madani presented a silent work called ‘Under Man’, in which a man is aggressively attacked by objects until he decides to bury himself.

Finnish artist Jani Ruscica in collaboration with fellow artist Sini Pelkki created a video ‘Screen Test’ that demonstrates a performer who is confronting the viewer. NY-based Mads Lynnerup has collaborated with a NYC-based personal trainer to create ‘Astrobright (fake and temporary)’video that celebrates sport and shows the viewer how to keep him- or herself healthy via exercise routines.

The second group of five participating artists will debut in summer 2012. MTV will also soon launch  a platform for musicians called Artist.MTV.