Monday, 9 November 2009
Monday, 12 October 2009
Artists Research - David Smith
DAVIDSMITH DAVIDSMITH DAVIDSMITH DAVIDSMITH DAVIDSMITH
At a glance:
- Born in Ohio in 1906, died unexpectedly in 1965
- An Abstract American Expressionist
What is Abstract American Expressionism?
- A post WW2 art movement that put NYC at the centre of the western art world (Paris had formally filled that role).
- Style – a predecessor of surrealism, emphasis on spontaneous, automatic or subconscious creation.
- Artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Joseph Cornell (who was influenced by the surrealists) are classed as a part of this movement. Although I do find it funny how different Smiths work is from theirs and yet they are classed as part of the same movement.
Key Influences
- Influenced by Picasso (notably responsible for the revolution in sculpture in the early 1900s, his cubist constructions demonstrated that sculpture could take its subject, structure and material from the world of things.)
- Julio Gonzalez (welded sculptures, it is thought that his work is key in the validation of the ‘object’ in the art of sculpture)
‘The Language of Sculpture’ William Tucker – on the reading list, explores the work and achievements of masters such as Rodin and Degas as well as Picasso and Gonzalez (Smiths majors influences) Smith is on occasion directly compared and contrasted with both. E.g:
“Gonzalez’s sculpture is modest, made by and for the hand, and in feeling deeply pessimistic. Smiths work is extravert, optimistic and positive; relating to the body rather than the hand, large in feeling as well as physical presence.”
- Tucker clearly establishes their differences yet despite that I find the work aesthetically very similar. I find it interesting that Picasso, Gonzalez and Smiths sculptures refer to the human image. They all seem to work with ‘signs’ that refer to the human form, some are more abstract than others.
- Earlier on in the book it says “The structure of the sculpture is identified with the structure of the figure”
- The text also allows you to create a timeline of artists; what, where and with whom they were involved. It is helpful to see who worked for who, as well as their influences and relationships with one another. Any knowledge gained about one artists leads into another.
Smiths Practice
- Worked primarily with steal and “found” scrap material
- Created large, abstract, geometric sculptures that always seem to be quite monumental
- Produced at least 10 different series of sculpture throughout his lifetime.
CUBIXXVIII 1965 – Sold for $23.8 million– One of a series of 28 sculptures
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-Focus on welded metal (like Gonzalez) Material is stainless steel.
- Weighty, volumetric presence
- Clear balance of void and solid. A kind of Rachel Whiteread thing happening where you are drawn to the negative spaces.
- Use of geometric shape – boxes, columns, cylinders, all various proportions – another reference to the concept of ‘signs’, he has only used certain ingredients to make the whole series.
- Some of the sculptures are small combinations of these shapes and vaguely figural while others such as this one, suggest architecture.
- Highly polished and reflective surface, mirrors the environment
Thought to be one of the most influential American Sculptors of the 20th century.
