Art Gallery Visit #1: Responding to Artwork

 One artwork that  I saw at Albright Knox Art Gallery that made a great impact on me was the video installation, Untitled, 1993 by Jennifer Steinkamp. I love to see new art media like video done in an engaging and interesting way. I really  was intrigued by the way the colorful projected image moved on the floor, like waves in water. I have seen some of Steinkamp's work before and I love it because it engages the viewer to almost be a part of the artwork. I love the exciting colors and movement of her work. Another art work that made an impression on me was Lee Bontecou's untitled wall sculpture, made in 1960. Although I have seen it many times, I have not really gotten too close to observe it's details. I love this piece because, headlong you think it is just a painting in a frame, but it surprises you with it's three-dimensionality. It also engages the viewer by popping out at them. I liked the mixture of differing textures of steel, copper wire and canvas. It reminds me of a black hole to nowhere.



One artwork that I felt a personal connection with was Femme retroussant sa chemise, by Henri de Toulousse-Lautrec. I have always loved Lautrec's unique style and his romantic representation of Bohemian Paris' seedy underworld. This time period in art history is so intriguing and influential to me. When I was in high school, my art teacher compared my painting style to Lautrec's  and I have used him for inspiration ever since.

Another piece that I felt a personal connection with was September, by Clyfford Still. I think the scale of his work really helps people to become engrossed and entranced with his work. I just stood in front of this piece meditating on the textures and the lovely shade of yellow.

 
One work that I would like to know more about what the digital photo, Inhabit, by Janine Antonit. I thought this was a very intriguingly photo, perhaps a comment on mother's roles and being tied down to the house, like the woman here is physically tethered. I would like to know about who the woman in the photo is and about the artists' intentions. Another artwork I would like to know more about is Kara Walker's Emancipation Approximation series. I have seen her work before and find it intriguing, if not disturbing. I would like to know a little bit more as to the message behind this work. I know it is about slavery, but there are a lot of metaphors in her work that I find hard to interpret.