From the perfectly and mathematically rectangular "shelves," that are made out of green lacquer on galvanized iron, to the equally spaced spaces above or beneath the "shelves," Judd was able to give space a powerful meaning in this piece, rather than the actual elements that he made. Space has a meaning, just like in poems. Whether it be to add uncertainty to the poem, a signal to the reader to ponder on a line, or to attract readers who don't want to read a lot, to read that poem. Whatever the reason for space, one can be certain that space is a very powerful. In this piece of work, Judd uses the space to add contrast: from bold colors to flat colors, from a solid to air. The space creates a steady rhythm to the piece.
I don't know if you can see this or not, but in this piece, depth and shades are magnified by the space. The shadows from the shelves onto the empty space give the space a new shape and shade. Justing adding to the powerful quality of the space. Unlike Jackson Pollock, who just copiously dripped and splatted paint on a flat canvas, taking a chance on where the paint fell, Judd takes no chances. He speifically places things a certain way and there is no guessing on what the outcome is going to be. He has a blueprint and follows it. "Actual space is intrinsically more powerful and specific than paint on a flat surface."
I feel that Judd started a movement with these pieces. if you look around at all of the new buildings, many of them incorporate "shelves" or "cubes" that are spaced in a similar way. The idea is so simple that I feel most people can appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI liked your thoughts on space being a strategic element to different works of art. I felt the same way that you did about the ladder of shelves when I first saw it, but now that I understand some of the strategy and meaning behind it, I can respect it. It is a new idea to me to use shadows created by the light as a part of the art. Now that is thinking outside the box.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that this merits much greater attention and praise than random Pollock paintings. I'm still not convinced that this is "art", but I suppose I can see beauty in it so I guess that warrants the title of art to an extent. Being an analytical person, I do appreciate the thought that goes into these works, even if they aren't aesthetically pleasing to me.
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of using space as part of art. Unlike other materials needed to create art, space is relatively abundant and easy to use. I don't necessarily find this particular piece of art super appealing, but I like the thought behind it. The beauty lies in the precise placement of the pieces and the shadows and colors created by that precise placement.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the title of your blog, I also asked myself how shelves can be art. After reading your blog I now understand the concept of space and how these shelves are actually art. I think Judd has some pretty neat pieces. It's very modern and I really like the clean lines.
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