Maybe I had Mark Rothko in mind. Maybe even Kazimir Malevich.
For the longest time, abstract art didn't quite grab me. Art that had at least a hand or foot on reality gave me an anchor for experiencing it and understanding it. But in recent years I have come to better appreciate abstract art, and Rothko and Malevich prompted me to frame these shots of intriguing pieces at the Chicago Cultural Center in a certain way.
Years ago I was at a small gallery in Dubai, and after several minutes of looking around, the owner wondered if I were an artist. I was flattered that she asked. She noted that I had a more than usual or passing interest in the art. As with other art elsewhere, I walk slowly and I pause. I reflect on what I see and what I experience. I look at a piece from a distance, then move closer, and closer, to see the elemental strokes that often give me insight on the artist himself or herself.
From a distance, it was Rothko and Malevich. Up close, however, these are all old-time slides. Before there was PowerPoint, we took photographs with certain film that produced "positives" (rf. negatives) like these. I wouldn't characterize myself as detail oriented. But with art pieces, I am, apparently. See how our world view shifts and alters, upon moving closer or stepping back.
No comments:
Post a Comment