Abstract Expressionism - Ritual, Myth & Memory.

Friday 10th October 2014
Critical Review- Context Lecture
Our lecture today explored the journey of Abstract Expressionism and the alternate artist movements and the define differences between them. Coming back to the same timeline of movements, it's clear to see how Abstract Expressionism developed over time, with artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Clyford Still, Phillip Guston, Barnett Newman, Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt and Arshille Gorky.
Such movements explored in the lecture such as Expressionism, Impressionism and Post Impressionism didn't only impact the visual compositions, but those of music, theatre and dance, a whole new movement that showed a new abstraction to previous culture, for example the American movement of jazz influences.
Critically I'd say the lecture was very informative, allowing the mind to wonder of how in fact others would also express power and strength through visual compositions. I myself found some of the pieces hard to envision the whole composition via slide show, and like the idea of visiting some of the exhibitions of given artists to further explore the aspects of emotion that is expressed in Abstract Expressionism. Such work from Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko for example have large pieces that are meant to bring a wave of emotion, and become quite overwhelming to those viewing it, I'd personally like to view these in person myself as I believe they could have a completely different effect than the smaller photographs shown in lectures.
However, I found that the idea of empowerment in Abstract Expressionism was particularly inspiring, the way in which it was all new then, and truly broke down the usual conventions of art to produce a whole different impression of composition.

Mark Rothko Yellow Band 1956

Although begun primarily in New York in the 1940's (famously 'The New York School') to take the focus away from the usual stylistic pieces of Paris, I found that the Abstract Expressionism was highly influential, and soon spread to varying regions, all with different stylistic backgrounds offering all new ways of expressing the movement.

Some key examples of Abstract Expressionism given in the lecture different effects- the first example was a cerebal focus of alternate fields of colour, an extremely reflective piece by Mark Rothko titled Yellow Band 1956, which allows the viewer to insert their own feelings into the piece. I imagine that the piece when witnessed is in fact rather emotional, allowing your own subconscious feelings to fill in the gaps between the shapes.

Jackson Pollock- Blue Poles 1940

The contrasting piece but still within Abstract Expressionism was Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles 1940, this piece was highly dynamic, extremely expressive and truly beautiful. The large scale size and anti-Western technique of applying the paint onto canvas via just flicking it onto the floor rather than applying to a canvas on easel was highly influenced by the Indian background of his home town Wyoming.

The SUBCONSCIOUS was an aspect that was carefully explored throughout the lecture, I myself find the aspect of subconscious thoughts and dreams rather interesting, so enjoyed the exploration of this in the lecture. Gary spoke about the new idea Sigmund Freud developed of compressed subconscious thoughts being expressed in surreal circumstances such as in our dreams, I realised that such movements as Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism explore the idea of the subconscious.