Diversifying arts meaning

        

    In this blog I will be looking at three different artists and how they changed the conception of what art is during the mid modern movement. I will be using the elements of art to define the impacts of each piece of art to highlight the changing ways in which we interact with art through these different art movements. 

 

The left oil painting is titled Koska-Pal done in 1972 by French-hungarian artist Victor Vasarel, the painting on the right is also by Vasarel and is titled Tau-Ceti 36, done in 1967. Vasarel painted both while living in Venice and was arguably the first to paint in this style, the style we call today op art. This style is powerful in its use of the fundamental principles of art. Utilizing form, line, value, and shape creatively to trick the eye into having an unusual viewing experience. For this reason, I love the Op art movement, it creates art that isn't in the subject, but in the brain's meltdown reaction to the confusing subject. This creates an experience very unique to Op art, an impressive feat for the artists themselves. By breaking away from representative even abstract expressionism Op artists were exploring ways in which art elements could be used in a structured but new way, leading to an all-new experience for observers.  

 These two portraits titled Phil (left) done in 1969, and Bob (right) done from 1969-1970 are large-scale (108*84 inch) portrait paintings done by Chuck Close, a hyperrealist painter who worked in New York. Both portraits are done in extraordinary detail and on a massive scale, helping to get even more detail into the image. Hyperrealist painters observe excruciating detail in their work to create an uncanny sense of life in their work, while their works may do this they also create a unique feeling of unease (. Born from seeing an almost real person frozen into an image the viewer gets an interesting interaction with the painting. This movement is dependent on the use of value and line quality to convey detail, especially in these black-and-white paintings. This style ultimately faces us with the art of reality, by not changing anything about a subject we see these subjects as pieces of art allowing us to appreciate real life with more focused intention.    

These two paintings are by Andy Warhol, the left was done in 1850, and the right in 1851 while he was in Los Angeles. These paintings are titled Cambles soup cans and are a part of many soup cans that Warhol painted or printed during this time. This style is similar to the previous two because it challenges what we decide to accept as art. It is a simple style and a faithful representation of an everyday object, yet it is put under the guise of being art. where hyper-realism presents life in detail, and Op art tricks the brain, Pop art pushes the subject matter of art into new dimensions. Using color and simple forms Pop art makes the viewer wonder about what it is that makes these simple creations real art.

 These three different artists are all Mid-Modern leaders in their different styles, creating each a unique part of the culture of the arts at this time. Characteristic of modern artists they were looking for new forms of expression outside of what had already been done, ultimately questioning what could be considered art. This was all during a time of war, invention, and change for both civil rights movements and gender equality. we can see the influences in all of this art, as artists as well pushed for invention and new ideas. This gives us an important insight into how the different movements in art at this time were being bred, leading to the uniqueness of art in the mid-modern movement. Whether it be Confronting life (Realism) confusing the brain (Op art) or questioning value (Pop art) the impacts and interpretations of art evolved dramatically during this time of great invention, leading to new ways to create and express ourselves in the modern world. Aesthetically of all of these pieces, I would love to own a copy of Bob. There is a uniqueness about portraiture that makes you question why would want a picture of someone else's face in your house, especially when the painting is hyperrealistic. But Bob captures the emotion of a quizzical joy perfectly, it is this emotion that makes the piece worth having. 

Pace Gallery. “Pace Gallery | Chuck Close.” Www.pacegallery.com, www.pacegallery.com/artists/chuck-close/.

Tate. “Hyper-Realism – Art Term | Tate.” Tate, 2017, www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/h/hyper-realism.

“The Andy Warhol Museum.” The Andy Warhol Museum, 2017, www.warhol.org/.