Art

We scurried ourselves to the rhythm of the subway, pushing our way to the concrete ways of New York. Each gallery we visited was like a haven away from the hurried life of the street. Each haven secured a unique art, awaiting the eyes of appetent viewers. The art of William Kentridge is striking, enigmatic and intensely pursuing. The way in which he works with the charcoal is essential to making his art as strong as it is. The materials, the tools, which is the charcoal and the surface of the paper, is truly an extension of his hand and his mind's message. His control and his honesty to himself is what makes his work as powerful as it is. There is a sense of nostalgia in his work, his political and social messages can be felt through every tier of society. I connected deeply to his animated film " Moving Tides" as I will discuss further, the use of human and animal rights in art is a theme which is inspiring to my own work, and something I strongly care about." I am interested in a political art, that is to say an art of ambiguity, contradiction, uncompleted gestures and uncertain ending - an art (and a politics) in which optimism is kept in check, and nihilism at bay." -William Kentridge. He has found this need deep inside o

His work is almost like a passage, a rich and mellow journey that holds many "animated" touches. It was very interesting to see these beginning stages, I liked their roughness and raw character. The most I can say about Jim Dine is I was intrigued slightly to see these large paintings in person and the texture was somewhat interesting. This was extensive compilation of many prints and other mediums dealing with animal rights as source for creation. All in all, William Kentridge's films were incredibly inspirational, and essential to be viewed by anyone who calls themself and artist, I would most want to own a film by him. I saw his photography to be more promising because it actually served as a glimpse into his creativity, but overall there was an abundance of details sorely lacking in this exhibit. At first I am drawn into the luminous quality of the pastels. I identified with this exhibit and the work of such artists as Sue Coe and Kiki Smith. Her body of work is very large and potent, each piece seems like it belongs to the next and yet they all were weighty with their own imagery and can stand by themselves. We are greeted by these almost too sweet images, fruit still-lives and landscapes and a series of closed envelopes. Kentridge's films are lovingly done. On display in the gallery were his individual drawings that were filmed as part of the series of images put together. f him that calls for him to realize it and act it out on paper. So, personally I did not respond very well to this show.