Abstract Expressionists were SERIOUS!

The development of abstract expressionism as a movement gathered pace during the 40’s and especially after World War II. The Pollocks and the De Koonings of the time decided that traditional figurative painting was not achieving anything new and hence abstract expressionism became the most popular technique among artists who then contributed heavily to the modern art scene in New York.

As far as I understood from my visit to the Museum of Modern art located on 53^rd street close to Times Square, abstract art is created to evoke a feeling or an association within the viewer or just as “art for art’s sake” as Oscar Wilde and his contemporaries would put it. Regardless of the purpose and intent of the artist, abstract art is, perhaps, meant to evoke a reaction from the viewer that is personal and depending on the representation you decide to give to the painting, you may or may not like it. For the abstract expressionists who were proactive during this post World War II movement, abstract art perhaps was just a way to create a low identity for the US which had emerged as a world power from the War.

I would not claim that I was fascinated by all the abstract paintings that were displayed in the exhibit at the Museum of Modern art but that does not take away anything from those ‘masterpieces’ of art. Even if I could not imagine how somebody could find the paintings categorized under “Color field abstract expressionism” captivating,

Left:

 Barnett Newman, Canto VII. 1963

Sheet (41*40.3 cm)
http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/2/2/Barnett-Newman-Canto-Vll--1963-22097.jpg

Right:

Mark Rothko

No 10. 1950

Oil on Canvas

(229.6*145.1 cm)

http://www.moma.org/images/dynamic_content/exhibition_page/14233.jpg

I was absolutely taken in by some of the more gestural abstract works by De Kooning and Jackson Pollock.

                                                                            

Especially, this densely but delicately packed painting by De Kooning appeared to have a lot of layers for me. The instant I saw this painting, I was struck by how De Kooning had used these black figures bounded by white and perhaps an excessive amount of Oil and enamel to make it multi layered. Personally, these vague forms and shapes bounded by black and white represent the interlinked and intertwined lives of inhabitants of an urban and modern society like New York city. The multi layered setting of the painting gives a notion of how modern life of an individual is entangled and tied with different entities of the urban society and setting he thrives in. Perhaps, De Kooning has also something to say about how the pace and struggles of modern life have made people to become more deceiving and also confused about their own personalities. It might be a complex concept to understand if you are not viewing the painting with that mindset but De Kooning certainly strikes that cord with me through this painting that there is something to be said about the multi layered and deceptive personalities that have been born in this era of the modern city.