NEW YORK – NEW YORK
“So Nice, We Named It Twice.”
I arrived in the Borough of Queens, towards the end of 1970s. I was cerified A Legal Alien, a Jamaican living in New York. Full of Hope, seeking opportunities to progress with new desires, towards Graphic Design, Lens Media, or Visual Communication. I had 2 School of Art in Mind.
Visiting a photographer’s studio on the 37th floor. Alone at ground level, pressed the elevator button, relaxing for the long ride. Swoosh! Slow compression, rest and stop. In no time I’m there. Inside, glass windows everywhere, I am floating among the clouds, in a vast canopy of soft blues.
Another time, at the pinnacle of the Empire State Building, camera in hand. The view below, and every which way is spectacular. It was twilight, when night meets day. From the results of the images, disappointment was static.
Through Architectural design of the building, the distance so close by naked eye, was too far away, for the standard lens on the camera. No problems, I am on a learning curve.
FINDING MY WAY
From the cosmopolitan capital city, London. In downtown Manhattan, I felt like ‘Jethro in Beverly Hillbillies’ a country boy in a Big Bad Crazy Town. 54th Street was always buzzing.
I Thought, New York, New York! The Big Apple, I couldn’t wait to take a small bite, or even a tiny of the Apple Pie. With or without Canadian maple syrup. Daily living on a cool pace, became a life of Ebb & Flow. 24/7 Non-Stop, night & day, something was happening somewhere. in Soho, Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, Hip Hop Culture, Punk, Subway & Street Art. Break-Dance, roller Disco, Skate Boarding, Block Parties, Soul Train, and more!
For many people, Cannabis and other illegal substances was the norm, to sustain the high. To me, it was all an unknown quantity, I ventured a short distance away. Looking & observing, but never tempted to join in. The danger was visible in their eyes.
POP ART
Started in New York, it was agreed, the first artist to use the word ‘POP’ in his work was Eduardo Paolozzi. A Collage, the work was titled, ‘I was a Rich Man’s Plaything.
The original aim this popular ‘Art Movement’ was to ‘Blur’ the distinctions, divisions, and boundaries, between ‘High’ art and ‘Low’ cultures. Viewing Societies, within the artist concepts, there are no hierarchy in culture. The artist may borrow from any source to create work.
In everyday Social Living, all things are related and interconnected. Everything equals Everything. Artists showing the connections, were seeking to elevate images of ordinary living, into the Ivy League control of the Fine Arts, Rigid Traditions, Standards, and out of date Rules of Acceptance.
Utilising the Visual Language of the Media (Plural for Medium) in use by the Popular Cultures of America, the artist sourced Advertising, Television, Comics, Cartoons, Movies. These provided the Subject Matter, that was easy for all viewers to identify and understand.
Works created by the Artists in the Pop Art Movement, has become one of the most recognisable styles of Modern Art. Art movements, are art historian’s name and method of classification for work arts into a manageable system. They are thematic, with a set of similar qualities that appear to be significant. These significant qualities are shared by all, and reflect a specific approach by a group of artists. Here are 2 Artist images that reflects depth of meanings, multi-perspectives in Pop art, and are among my personal favourites.
Roy Lichtenstein
I was aware of Andy Warhol from the early 1970s. Long before I decided to go to Art School In America. I was a fan of Art House Movies, and saw many of his films. Intriguing, but difficult to understand. Highly political, I could always depend on my female friend, and co-pilot to explain. She was not an artist, I knew the arts circuits, she had an interest in many things.
Andy Warhol
The 1964 news imagery, and Warhol portrait of a grieving First Lady, at the death of her husband, simulated the ‘Loss Of A Nation.’ Commenting Warhol stated. “What bothered me, was the way Radio, Television, Newspapers were programming everyone to feels sad. It seemed no matter how you tried, you couldn’t get away from thing.”
From my perspectives, Andy Warhol was apolitical. He took an unbiased position in regards to political affairs. Beyond Capitalism verses Socialism, Warhol works remained centred and focussed on Social Living through Popular Cultures. Wearing a blond wig, with pale cream skin, and always dressed in black. Andy Warhol is a mis-understood visionary. Some people say he was too weird. Andy would accept that, as a compliment.
Today, in contemporary lifestyles, it is clear to see, cultures no longer drive societies and communities. Social media not only command societies, it creates culture, and determines how it is consumed. Artificial intelligence and algorithms are in charge, leading the way in our new state of chaos and confusion – Trans-Post-Modernism. The new global media, is in your hand held machines.
NEO-POP-ART
Beginning in the 1980s, Neo-Pop-Art is a Contemporary Resurgence of Pop Art Style, Ideas, and Concerns. The type of making incorporates Bright Colours, High Contrasts, Clean Lines, Natural or Muted Colours.
The making process is often approached from a point of critique, The subject matter, is sourced from Commercialism and Luxury Consumerism. The Motifs and Designs are considered Fun and Youthful. Currently, as controversial as it may be, Museums around have started collecting.
Takashi Murakami
A contemporary Japanese artist, draws influence from Japanese contemporary cultures, He works in Fine Art – Painting & Sculpture, Fashion, Merchandising, and Animation
JEFF KOONS
An American artist, living in New York, he is considered to be an entrepreneurial, and highly successful. Koons make huge steel Sculptures, animals, balloons, cartoon characters and more. Born in 1950, the majority of his works are completed, by teams of staff.
Within the Confines, Structures & Frameworks, of the long-established Fine Art Worlds. There are Values of Evaluation, and a need for outstanding levels of works to be accepted. Would-be Great artist must display: Authentic Creative Originality, Personal Vision, Articulated Meanings, Intellectual & Emotional Content, Aesthetic Qualities, with Connections to Historical Context.
WORLD ART
Globalisation is Now, the New One World Order is Functioning. The Major Centres and Leading Teams of International Galleries, are Located in China, Britain, and America. Art Movements are used as a method for systems of classification, by groupings, styles, periods of changes in a continuous flow of artworks..
The criteria used are slightly different, from region to region around the world. The Far East method is groupings by changes, and names of Dynastic Periods of rule, or Geo-Political Circumstances.
The Criteria for Euro-Art Specifications, and Cataloging by Art Historians and Major Institutions, are Aesthetics, Cultural Apprasals, and Values of Style, to Pinpoint Association of Artistic Unifying Factors.