Contemporary Artists working with landscape and a range of viewpoints.
Georges Seurat, Landscape with houses. 1881. Conte Crayon
Tacita Dean, Fatigues. 2012. Chalk on Blackboard
Mark Tansy, Reveler, 2012. Oil on canvas.
The subjects of Mark Tansey's work is set in, for the most part, landscapes and he uses and manipulates these to serve the purpose of the allegory that he wishes to convey through the use of images which are paradoxical and at times absurdly but never, randomly placed on the canvas. I love his work and have included it here to compare the three works as they all monochromatic and unusual to their approach in viewpoint.
In all three works there is a strong sense of division in the picture plane. The first two the space is divided horizontally and in the last vertically - Tansey's work has a strong sense of symmetry, both vertically and horizontally and this further emphasised by the repetition of this element in the mirror. Tonally the works are also very balanced; Seurat's work however contains more dark than light which adds to the gloomyness and heaviness of the mood.
I feel that all three artists approach landscape in an almost subversive way - where the subject serves to create the composition of light rather than where the landscape is seen as the composition. In these three works then, the landscape is almost secondary to the contrasts of light and dark and the play on senses (in Tansey's case to serve an allegorical purpose) as apposed to the traditional works of Lorrain, Turner, Durer, and the contemporary works of Shaw, Lowrey and Clemens where the landscape is the thing, the focus and the point of the work.
Georges Seurat, Landscape with houses. 1881. Conte Crayon
Tacita Dean, Fatigues. 2012. Chalk on Blackboard
Mark Tansy, Reveler, 2012. Oil on canvas.
The subjects of Mark Tansey's work is set in, for the most part, landscapes and he uses and manipulates these to serve the purpose of the allegory that he wishes to convey through the use of images which are paradoxical and at times absurdly but never, randomly placed on the canvas. I love his work and have included it here to compare the three works as they all monochromatic and unusual to their approach in viewpoint.
In all three works there is a strong sense of division in the picture plane. The first two the space is divided horizontally and in the last vertically - Tansey's work has a strong sense of symmetry, both vertically and horizontally and this further emphasised by the repetition of this element in the mirror. Tonally the works are also very balanced; Seurat's work however contains more dark than light which adds to the gloomyness and heaviness of the mood.
I feel that all three artists approach landscape in an almost subversive way - where the subject serves to create the composition of light rather than where the landscape is seen as the composition. In these three works then, the landscape is almost secondary to the contrasts of light and dark and the play on senses (in Tansey's case to serve an allegorical purpose) as apposed to the traditional works of Lorrain, Turner, Durer, and the contemporary works of Shaw, Lowrey and Clemens where the landscape is the thing, the focus and the point of the work.
Comments
Post a Comment