Saw the Abstract Expressionist exhibit at the AGO. Was reminded about how revolutionary and unique that group was compared to the image-based art at the time. Surrealism in itself, was pretty amazing. But these men and women had such nerve and verve. Some works inspired awe through scale alone. Although not a huge fan of the movement myself, I totally admired how it redefined art and the sheer power and life force evident in so many canvasses. In a small printout, there’s a quote made by Jackson Pollack:
“The modern painter cannot express this age, the atom bomb, the radio, in the old forms of the Renaissance or of any other past culture. Each age finds its own techniques.”
That remark alone was worth the free guest admission I enjoyed, courtesy of a kind friend’s membership. I have no illusions about whether my work will radicalize or reinvent art. That was never my intent. I’m just happy I can still physically paint. But I’ve taken the liberty of interpreting Pollack’s comments to suit my own purpose. His words allowed me to consider if I wanted to bring more contemporary relevance into my current efforts. I do however, like to think that what’s meaningful or important to an artist’s work will eventually find its own technique. And sometimes that may or may not draw from old forms or past cultures. Artists often need to decide about the kind of work they want to send out into the world and whether it truly represents their authentic vision. When that happens, the desire to be audacious, original, or different may have to wait until emotional, psychological or spiritual honesty, establishes itself first. For some of us, in order to stay faithful to the art we really want to make, it means abandoning altogether, goals of producing radical work for its own sake. This is not to suggest the two are mutually exclusive or cancel each other. What’s great about the Abstract Expressionists is how they discovered methods of expression that mirrored the progressive, expansive changes of their time and place, yet kept a connection to human experience despite the boldness, the novelty of their techniques. In one corner of the AGO gallery, Mark Rothko’s paintings have a resonance almost sonic in both depth and quietude. That’s arguably, the most significant achievement of the movement for me: the continued affirmation of universal human truths and values, refreshed by gestures that convey them accurately on a visceral level.
Hi Jean.I admire your efforts through the writing to express your self .This is quit difficult for me.I am mostly with the visual even material art.I am a sculptor.I regret that a can't see the Abstract Expressionism exhibition in AGO.It is the America art history after all.For me as a sculptor the material world the structure is more important that the hustle of colors created of lights.The structure of the material world can be abstract on very small scale or in the shape of structures not apprehended for the humane been yet.About the Abstract Expressionists it is highly supported movement by the American cultural policy by the time of the Cold war and by the big auction speculations of the Wall street.Probably the movement will not even exist without this factors.So Pollack is not completely right about the means of the era.It is noting to do with the atomic bomb and the Rene sans.The artist calling is to picture first the ever lasting humans natures and values out of the time.You can described this pretty well with the classical means as well .If you want too. Regards Ivo www.ivoarnaudov.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi Ivo,
ReplyDeleteI do understand what you are trying to say. The reason I said I wasn't a huge fan of the movement is because I prefer to work with images myself. What I do admire about those artists is that they found a new way to express those "lasting human natures" as you put it, in a such a way that I could still recognize those qualities, even though it was different from my own preference. And I still think the timing of this movement's emergence is remarkable, Wall Street not withstanding. Ultimately it doesn't matter what the technique is in the long run, as long as an artist stays true to what calls them. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it.
Best, Jean