1935 Tivavouane, Senegal by Papa Ibra Tall
The vivid color of this framed tapestry is what caught my attention when I saw it, and the overwhelming rhythm of this peice is what kept my attention. The bold color scheme works beautifully together and creates just the right amount of emphasis on the subjects of the composition. The fluid lines create movement as well as unique shapes. This tapestry contrast beautifully against the stark white wall of the exhibit. The tapestry was created in opposition to the colonial rule of African nations. Tall chose to abandoned the European art aesthetic he had studied in order to focus on the bold patterns and vibrant colors. This peice represents his artistic development as an individual, as well as the influences from his Senegalese roots.
Venetians (2013) by Pawel Althamer
It is impossible to walk by this set of 90 figurative sculptures and not want to get a closer look. Initially, I found the plastic sculptures to be slightly creepy when I saw just how realistic the human faces looked, but as we passed by them a second time around, I was fascinated by them. Althamer is a polish sculptor who utilized his father's plastic firm and the mold of his fellow collaborator's faces in order to create a jaw dropping set up of deteriorating bodies. The individual plastic muscles activate all of kinds of negative and positive space, while they also create movement around the bodies with their fluid lines. The texture of the faces that is replicated from the mold is just astounding. Every eyebrow and eyelash seemed so real that I was just waiting for one of the faces to just open it's eyes. The deteriorating bodies evoked feelings of abandonment and yet they seemed at peace. I felt as if they were the ruins of people that had been stripped down.
Ober den Wolken (Above the Clouds) by Eduard Spelterini
Spelterini is a world renowned balloonist and was the first person to cross the Alps by air in 1889. This photograph was one taken by him when he decided to practice aerial photography just as Nadar did. Spelterini used a camera weighing over 88 pounds to produce black and white glass negatives that were later processed with color. The black and white filter is what gives the photograph so much definition and emphasis the dramatic highlights and shadows of the clouds. Beautiful shapes and patterns are created amongst the clouds which makes this spontaneous photograph that much more rewarding when taken. Seeing the aerial view of our world reminds just how amazing and huge it really is. The perspective the picture is taken makes it look like you could almost walk right across or on top of the clouds. The way the photograph is cropped leaves the actual proportions and size of the clouds completely up to the viewer's imagination.
Untitled (No. 795) by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein
This 24 x 24 inch, oil painted board is so incredibly vibrant and rhythmic. I was surprised to read that this was done with oil paint seeing as it has an overwhelming amount of fluid lines and movement. It seems to have that watercolor appearance with the almost dripping lines of color that fade on and out throughout the composition. I have always been drawn to bright and bold colors and this painting contains that to the highest degree. Movement and rhythm is created throughout the composition with vibrating lines and fading colors created as a result of Bruenchenhein's unique finger painting technique. His method was to paint wet-on-wet in a single sitting. There is an equal balance of warm and cool colors throughout, while lights and darks seem to be in perfect harmony. The abstraction of this painting leaves the subject matter completely up to the viewer's imagination.
Untitled by Daniel Hesidence
The luminosity of this painting really inspired me and caught my attention. The beautiful turquoise shades and highlights work together harmoniously to create a unified composition. Hesidence really plays around with light in this painting by creating what looks like reflections in the water. This abstraction contains fluid lines throughout that in turn create unique shapes and patterns.The white outlined shape set on top of the painting doesn't seem to disappear or become an emphasis; it's just a subtle contrast in the composition. My eyes move around the composition effortlessly and never feel overwhelmed by a rapid movement. The soothing blues and highlights of lavender evoke a peaceful state of mind and allow the viewer to reminisce and collect their thoughts.
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