Modern Art and Headaches
I’m currently doing articles on 75 artists for another client. (Finally, my Studio Arts minor has come in handy). These artists run all over the mill, from well knowns like Michelangelo to those I’d never heard of like Jean Arp. My personal tastes run more to Andrew Wyeth and his son Jamie Wyeth (who didn’t make the list, darnit), but I can appreciate the more abstract and primative artists’ creations like those of Mark Rothko.
I had heard the usual criticisms of such-and-such artis as “his paintings give me headaches” and I thought it was just one of those snobbish things art critics love to say. But did I ever get a blinder from the works of artist, art theorist and accomplished musician Wassily Kandinsky (1866 - 1944).
Music and Art
If you love Kandinksy, I’m not trying to change your mind. By all means, continue the love. He definately had a unique style. If I understand his mature works correctly, he painting to communicate in pure color and swirls to be the visual equiquivelent of instrumental music. So, he abandoned all attempts to make any recogniseable images.
If you get headaches from flashing of flickering lights, I’ll bet some of Kandinsky’s works like Sketch II for Composition VII will literally hit you in the eyes. (Put on sunglasses before clicking the link).
Am I Looking Too Hard?
I’ve never been able to just glance at a painting or drawing. I wind up staring at it. I try to see the brush strokes or if that squiggle reminds me of a horse or is the painting looking back at me? It’s a bit like not being able to hear a song played on the radio without paying attention to the lyrics.
So, the odds are that the headaches from looking at Kandinsky are caused by my brain strain and not paintings by Kandinsky.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Nice article, thanks. Could you explain the third paragraph in more detail?