Various Works: Gear13 & Free Cuba
Background: It is a common practice among artists to study other artists; to practice in the style/techniques of another artist. For these two paintings, I looked at 2 different artists Lyubov Popova and Wang Guangyi. The purpose of these explorations wasn’t to merely copy an artist or their style, but to challenge myself to look through a different lens, so to speak. To be inspired by their works and style, while making the pieces uniquely mine.
GEAR 13
Acrylic on Canvas. Inspiration: Lyubov Popova.
A Russian designer and artist, Lyubov Popova (1889 - 1924) was heavily influenced by Cubism and Constructivism. What I find striking in her work is her use of form, deliberate use of color, and text. This utilitarian form of visual communication invites curiosity, a challenge to explore a new way of expression. It is not the way I naturally render my own pieces. I lean towards a more realistic representation. Looking at her later designs, I was prompted to continually ask myself, “How much can I remove and still represent the image? What can I take away or leave out?”
Free Cuba
Acrylic on Canvas. Inspiration: Wang Guangyi.
Born in 1957, Wang Guangyi is a Chinese Political Pop artist. His images are an unexpected mix of communist China propaganda motif and capitalist advertising.
Strong propaganda images generally attract my interest and attention. But Guangyi's use of stark Eastern images in combination with popular logos from Western culture was both intriguing and unsettling. Researching his personal history and exploring his motives gave me a better understanding of his work and why he would choose this type of juxtaposition. As succinctly noted by the Saatchi Gallery, his “paintings combine the ideological power of communist propaganda with the seductive allure of advertising . . . highlighting the conflict between China’s political past and commercialized present.” Free Cuba is my attempt to convey a message built upon Guangyi's style of communication.
