Steve Koller: Studio Writing #3

American Visions

by Stephen Koller

American art is a brand of art set within a curious context, that is, it's coming from one of the youngest and most powerful nations in the world. In other parts of the world, there is a rich tradition of art from past centuries for other nations to draw upon. As the United States is a relative newcomer to the world (at only slightly over 200 years old), it does not have the same venerable, archaic sense of depth to it as Europe or Asia - especially in the realm of art. However, this does not particularly hinder American art, but rather helps define it.

In American Visions Vol. 7: The Empire of Signs, Robert Hughes explores the ideas of post-war America as expressed through the art of the time. The central theme is commercialism: the world war brought great wealth to the United States. Capitalism exploded and with it, advertising. The reactions of American artists were varied; many showed their distaste through abstractionism and rejecting representation altogether, through mocking the ideas of celebrity and mass-production.

This video really made me think about the role of the artist in America as a socio-political commenter, a critic, a voice of reason. The works of Andy Warhol reminded me of a piece I made in high school, which employed a grid pattern of square faces. These faces changed expressions from happiness to discontent as you moved from left to right. This was meant to symbolize my discontent with the conformism and homogeny present in my suburban school. I draw the parallel to Warhol because of his repeated grids of celebrities that mocked their mass-produced image.

In Vol. 8: The Age of Anxiety, we are presented with a brief history of the rise of abstract expressionism, minimalism, and the introduction of a diverse smattering of contemporary artists. Along with the tumultous political and military history of the United States, the landscape of contemporary American art warped and changed. Americans now had more possessions per capita than ever before, yet the public now found themselves searching for the next great experience that could keep them thrilled. Once again, the reaction of the artists to the times produced a counter-cultural vibe. This was manifested in "earth works" and other such spiritually inspired works of art. Additionally, abstract art continued to flourish and artists such as Willem De Kooning, Claes Oldenburg, and Damien Hirst found themselves riding a considerable wave of popularity.

Over all, these videos introduced me to many modern artists that I had never known before. This exposure is invaluable. Additionally, I was struck with how often the art of America is direct, many times even brash in its condemnation of current trends. Art as a vehicle for opinions is a wonderful thing, especially when those opinions are well-formulated and effectively conveyed. I am personally looking forward to finding my niche as an American artist once my skills have matured.

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Studio Writing: American Visions last edited on 19 March 2008 at 12:43 pm by 148.61.212.8