I allowed myself a brief reprieve
from the prosaic ordeal that is studying for the A.R.E. and wandered into the High Museum
this afternoon.
I never consider myself a Richard Meier fan until I’m in one
of his buildings. At first blush it is
easy to dismiss his architectural style as cold, inorganic, predictable –
simply a “style”. The reality is just
the opposite. His buildings are more experiential
voyages than they are simple built objects – so much so that I forget why I’m there.
The High is a fine example of his earlier work, but for me, Meier’s
crowning achievement is The Getty in L.A.
That campus of structures is as thoughtful a manipulation of space, solid /
void, differing texture as I have seen. Path. Space.
View. Vista. Adjacency.
He identified and exaggerated the hilltop site’s inherent character and
took full advantage of its every nuance.
His choice and distribution of materials, the sequence of moves and
their inter-relationship are so subtle that this relatively new facility
convinces you that it has always lived there – so deliberate that it feels
naturally occurring. The Getty seems somehow
historic, monumental but at the same time perfectly understated. It’s stunning really and makes me feel like an
absolute hack. As a brash, not so young,
know-it-all architecture student I spent a flawless, solitary afternoon on the
grounds of the Getty and was forced to confront the agonizing truth that I
really didn’t know a damn thing about experiential space. I’ve attempted (in futility) to replicate
small moments from that day in the work that I’ve done since. I will keep trying.
In college, I had an idealistic, socialist professor who had
a significant early influence on my architectural preferences. He also colored my interest in art to some
degree. He introduced me to Constantin
Brancusi, a Romanian sculptor who rose to prominence during the first half of
the 20th century. I’ve seen
many of his works but most galleries only have one or two pieces. The traveling exhibit at the High has (3) of
his sculptures and several of his photographic studies and sketches. I haven’t seen as extensive a Brancusi
collection in one place before so today was a must.
What is significant about Brancusi past the beauty of the
artifacts he produced is the process of making and creating that constantly
evolved over his life and career. He was
interested not with the outer form but the underlying idea of the form – the very essence
of the thing. What he captured in bronze
and stone and wood is breathtaking. The beauty of
“the thing” is found in its abstract simplicity. Comprehension of this design construct eluded me for a
long time, but when it clicked, I’ve been hooked since. I can (and have) sit in a room with his work
for hours and every time I do I’m amazed by the fact that I see another facet of not only the art but of the artist as well: another layer of understanding his non-literal representation of nature is uncovered. Every time, I leave humbled.
These photos are pointless really – you have to experience
his work in person to truly appreciate it.
Today's was an impressive collection of many of the 20th
century masters; Picasso, Warhol, Matisse, Duchamp, Mondrian, Johns,
Pollock. It runs through the 29th
– I highly recommend you find your way to the High before then. The Art of Golf is on display right now too
as well as the High’s permanent collection.
(Note to self: Spend more time
with art.)
I left the museum feeling refreshed. Invigorated.
Rejuvenated. High.
Art holds the power of enlivening and lifting the human
spirit and mine was lifted this afternoon.
Art matters. It matters at all
levels, from the scribblings of a child to the life’s work of Jackson Pollock
and at every point in between. It’s one
of the most positive aspects of the human condition and when you see it; when
you feel it – like a punch in the gut or a warm embrace – when it makes your pulse quicken, your
heart race you know that you are alive.
When you experience a piece that makes you question your own views of the world, that challenges your ideas of
beauty, of politics, philosophy you are existing at the highest levels of human
consciousness. You are taking full part in the human experiment. You don’t have to “know” art to love it but
if you do your awareness and knowledge will feed your desire to learn and your
love of art will grow.
Art is certainly subjective but there is no such thing as bad art in
my opinion. That said good art can deliver raw
emotion, illuminate pleasure, pain – it stimulates our mental development and allows us to
face difficult concepts and realities.
When human beings endeavor to create we strengthen our position as an
intellectual life form. I believe that
creativity can not only raise awareness of all ideas and characteristics of
being human – our strengths, our fragility, our mistakes, our victories – but can give form and substance to the abstract, unspoken nature of our existence. It helps us
understand why we are the way we are. The making of art is a biological imperative. Without
it, without creativity, society would fade and die.
Art gives me hope.
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