Andy Warhol Banks soup Campbell's
Source: latimes.com

Art Los Angeles Times critic Christopher Knight has finally decided to find the answer to the long-tormented His question: Why Andy Warhol portrayed in his paintings, banks with canned soup, Campbell's? Why classic Pop Art did not choose a source of inspiration, say, ravioli Chef Boyardee? Why not glorified fried bean B & M? Why not portrayed on his canvases Alpo, one of the first received in the sale of canned dog food? Incidentally, Alpo dog food made in Allentown (Pennsylvania) - not far from home Warhol's Pittsburgh, which is located on the opposite bank of the Ohio River.

In the early sixties in the U.S. supermarkets sold a great variety of canned goods. Any of them could become a symbol of the ubiquity of commercial imagery, literally permeated American life at that time through. Any of them could actually be an expression of primitive production stream, a mass product.

This is the way art historians often interpret the sharp turn in the direction of Andy Warhol's Pop images, which occurred in 1961-62, respectively, and marked the creation of paintings "Banks soup Campbell's». Last weekend marked 49 years since the first public demonstration of this work. now famous work, which is the image of 32 cans of soup called, was first exhibited the LA gallery Ferus - the only one who wished to show the public canvas then practically unknown artist from New York. Landings of commercial subjects embarrassed the art community, the more familiar to the abstractions of the avant-garde, not to mention the public, already skeptical of modern painters. Nearby gallery, do not assess the potential and value of work put up in jest in a window on a pyramid of cans, which supplied the postscript: "You can buy this soup for only 29 cents per jar ».

Since that memorable exhibition in 1962, the picture never again exhibited in Los Angeles. To mark the anniversary events, Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles once again presents the work of the public in the building on Grand Avenue, where to admire it would be possible until September 5.

Work "Banks soup Campbell's» - central to the permanent exhibition of the New York Museum of Modern art. In a meeting it is perhaps the main illustration of a landmark breakthrough in the art of XX century: his departure from the traditions of European abstraction, introduced the fashion of the Paris School before World War II, as well as the influence of New York School of the fifties. But it is not answer the question, why Andy Warhol still prefer canned soup tens if not hundreds of other mass-produced goods and food?

Ever since Warhol created his landmark work, it took almost half a century, and a convincing answer to this question is to find it was not possible. A sign hanging next to the picture in the MOMA, offers the simplest explanation: Soup Campbell's for 20 years served as an artist lunch. However, Christopher Knight, said this version is too naive. < /p>

According to other sources, the story was prompted Warhol paintings by some of his friends, and often with the name referred to an interior designer Muriel Latoya. Maybe so, but by the ideas in this case is not so important. More importantly, why Warhol found a subject worthy of the image.

Christopher Knight offers a highly original version of the answer to this question. It is not so obvious and self-explanatory, but the principle is as follows: the word "soup" was in those years an integral part of artistic slang, which talked of New York artists. they used it in relation to their works and to art in general.

especially often the word "soup" and related metaphors used Willem de Kooning, perhaps the most successful artist of the time, describing his colorful abstract expressionist work. If the "soup" in due time became the mark of de Kooning, why he could not become as hallmark of Warhol?

clue

Oscar-winning documentary The film by Robert Snyder (Robert Snyder) «Notebook number 1: three Americans "(1960) De Kooning clearly expounds his aesthetic principles. Today, the picture shows an extremely rare, but in vain: de Kooning it says a phrase that could turn the sight on American art. soup, according to the artist - that's what that he is always portrayed on his canvases.

Dapper Willem De Kooning in a plaid jumper is located together with friends - artists and art critics - a large round table in his studio. On the table - half-empty bottle of liquor and a cup of coffee in the air - Clubs cigarette smoke.

scene of the movie refers to a knowledgeable viewer evening at the legendary "Club", where the creative elite of New York City would sit for hours over coffee and talk about art, but also to the famous restaurant in Cedar Tavern, a favorite meeting place of artists. It is in Cedar Tavern, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, the two largest abstract expressionist, drunk, started a playful argument about who is the greatest artist of modern America, result of which was driven in disgrace from the institution.

The film captures the atmosphere that prevailed in the artistic environment of the time, and given the free flow of friendly conversation: artists released jokes that are understandable only to the initiated, and exchange knowing look. Zonnabend Michael, a writer and literary critic, plays the role of the interviewer. He inquires from de Kooning on the location and purpose of the artist: the extent to which the artist represents the culture and humanity, and how much - only describes his subjective view of reality? "Whether you are themselves how to create your picture? I mean, as to whether the fluid moving life experiences of individuality to distinguish one meaning of life? or life, in your opinion, initially deep understanding? "- asks Zonnabend.

De Kooning reacts to these existential questions with a smile and shrugs off the genius of them like annoying flies by. It must be remembered that Zonnabend offers him a standard set of questions critics of the time, and the tone of the artist's clear that the answers he gave already dozens of times.

«All we are looking for is already in the art. It's like a huge pot of soup. Everything is already inside: just fold my hand and find something suitable," - meets De Kooning.

Gushcha soup

«pan of soup ..." In using these words, says De Kooning the language in which artists communicate with each other. And they expressed "among friends" is not so, as critics, curators, theorists, critics, and even differently than they themselves, the art of broadcasting in the celebrations. In a friendly atmosphere studio high philosophical arguments and bombastic tirades become more handy and capacious "soup." This word is to De Kooning, absorbs the essence and profound nature of art.

In 56 years, Willem De Kooning was recognized as a leader of New York artists. In addition to this, he was handsome and the star of the art world. According to his friend the playwright Lionel Abel, walking with him to Manhattan, you feel like "walking with a movie star." Passers-by looked after him, and Strangers stopped asking for an autograph. It is not surprising that Warhol, who dreamed of a great career in the arts and became soon an incredibly commercially successful, has also decided to use his creative way of "soup." And he energetically set to work by investing in this company all of its remarkable ability advertiser.

influence on de Kooning, Warhol's rarely acknowledged, but there is no doubt that the longing of fame young Warhol, who was then 32, was jealous of De Kooning and admiration for the favorite critics and the public. Glory De Kooning and a huge public attention to his figure was entirely unprecedented phenomenon for the time. Warhol, following in the footsteps of his older friend, has adopted one of the key terms for de Kooning - 'soup', with the help of the canvas paints and put it in a sanctuary of art, paving their way to glory.

For fifty years, experts cross swords in a dispute about what a pop-art: an optimistic celebration of mass culture and its critical rejection. However, the argument is easy to solve, since neither one nor the other are right for the trees they do not see the forest.

Famous "Banks soup Campbell's», turned into artistic symbol of an ambitious young author the new generation does not really give any estimates of mass culture. The work is a thin (made for her) assessment of positions Modern Warhol art establishment. The genius of pop art that he would like to veiled criticism vanity and pretentiousness of "high Culture. "If the avant-garde art as they see 'soup', why beat around the bush? You just start painting soup!

Forty-nine years ago in Los Angeles has been depicted by Ferus Gallery boundary , to separate one from another era art: complicated to understand, full of subjective meanings of abstract "soup" De Kooning has become a trademark of Andy Warhol - a familiar, clear, without the mess, and a commercial American product.

Prepared by Mary Estrova, AI

Source : artinvestment.ru