This week I’d like to take a look at 3 works by different contemporary artists and share some of the things that are meaningful to me as an art lover.
This is what we’ll look for: storytelling, simplicity vs. complexity of design, and motion. If you’re looking for more art terms, visit my art Instagram page, @boundaryless.art and follow along for insights into the art world.
Jacob Lawrence
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000) was a social realist. He drew and painted scenes of the happenings of America at the time. His brilliant strokes, few in number, polished in realism, spaced for emphasis, told the diverse stories of people. He so aptly captured American culture that it’s been said we could all see ourselves in his work. Lawrence is one of America’s finest African American artists.
The Work:
This is “Untitled (Harlem Street Scene), 1958” taken at the Seattle Art Museum.
Storytelling:
This drawing is an elaborate diorama of storytelling! There are multiple viewpoints, about 20 people, individual scenes, ongoing conversations, and unique worlds of activity. You can practically hear the chatter and feel the street noise. Couples walk arm-in-arm. A lone individual uses his cane. The stoops of Harlem explode with life. This is magnificent storytelling. We can eavesdrop on the couple in the hallway, back right. We can share in the muddled thoughts of the caped man with the hat in the foreground. We can wave at the youth on the stoop and dance with the couple jumping rope center right. Aren’t you right there in ‘50’s Harlem?
Simplicity/Complexity of Design:
With just a few lines, Lawrence has indicated the age and condition of the building and sidewalk. He’s given us a wide scope of narrative in a one-color ink drawing. His lines aren’t fluid. They’re broken and angular. There are incomplete shapes throughout. In this case, his simple line drawing is a design of relevance. He drew only what was necessary, yet your mind fills in the rest of the scene.
Motion:
This drawing is high in motion. People are walking, jumping rope, moving around with speed (or hanging out with noticeable stillness).
Masanori Ushiki
Masanori Ushiki (1981- ) is a contemporary Japanese artist. He works mainly in character portraits, but was previously a graphic designer and game developer. His characters might be embellished portraiture, imaginary game characters, or people on a quest. It’s storytelling in a profile.
The Work:
This is “New Young, 2019” taken at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
Storytelling:
Ushiki’s work is all about storytelling. Here, each character wants to tell their own story. They are uniquely dressed as their own personal character. Like teenagers, they are all the same in their individuality.
Simplicity/Complexity of Design:
There’s a lot going on here. Six people fill the space of five. The sixth has to poke their head down below the others as they lean to the left of our view. It’s like when you try to jump into a photoshoot that’s already set- you just lean in. Below, three dogs symmetrically fill the space between legs. It’s a clever way to fill the space. While the overall human and animal shapes are quite simple, the outfits, fur, hair, and face coverings are full of shape, color, and bling. It evokes doodle lines and palettes of Sharpies.
Motion:
Although the characters indicate motion, this print is like a snapshot. Someone yelled “freeze!” in the background and the flash went off. Their moment in time is forever captured in this instant.
Yayoi Kusama
Yayoi Kusama (1929- ) is a Japanese multi-modal artist who spent much of her time working in New York. She’s most well known for her polka dots and infinity canvases, however she is celebrated for her installation art, sculpture, and contemporary commentary. She’s commercially popular for her iconic pumpkins and her collaboration with Louis Vuitton. It’s one of the most successful fashion-slash-artist partnerships this side of Schiaparelli x Salvador Dalí.
The Work:
This is “Women Who Went Sightseeing to the Universe, 2017” taken at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
Storytelling:
Two women stare down into our universe. Oh the sights they must be seeing! This painting calls to our imagination with its title. It’s a disservice to show this one work alone. Great curators tell a fuller story by showing works together in one space. This room was large and the exhibit had dozens of paintings hung floor to ceiling. Together they showed you stories of women, time and space travel, otherworlds, and life/death travel. Here, with this one painting, we only see part of that larger story.
Simplicity/Complexity of Design:
Lines and dots form leaves, time portals, or skeletons around the thick edges of the work. The center void is solid blue and solid black blocks. Is it the ether and heaven? Earth and sky? Darkness and light? In the center, two women’s heads float. Their expressions are blank, mouths agape. Are they in wonder? Or have they yet to form their opinion of their sightseeing excursion? It’s a simple design with a complex title.
Motion:
We have stillness here. The floating heads are in a period of sightseeing in the universe. It’s silent, still, and wondrous.
Thank You 🙌 Merci 🫶 Grazie 👍
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I love the way you analyze art. So interesting. You see things I wouldn’t. Nice job!
Thank you so much