"Venus & Adonis", Collage Journal Page, 7.25 x 6 inches, March 31, 2012; Text: "Some days I can't imagine my life without you."
In our teens, my best friend and I would often visit the National Gallery of Canada (NGC). Our favourite spot was the Pop Art section where Claes Oldenburg’s zebra print bedroom installation and Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans were displayed; these pieces never failed to elicit uproariously laughter from us. Oblivious to the strategies of these artists, we wondered where the state of art was headed with stuff like this at the NGC. We were puzzled by the artists’ use of everyday materials to make art. Nevertheless, it was pieces such as these that kept us going back for more to see what outrageous things current-day artists were creating!
One day while roaming the gallery, I found my way to the Contemporary Art section and saw a piece that transformed my view of art. The work was non-traditional… a film being projected in two parts on a wall. The top half revealed the tiny figure of a young man who reminded me of a silent film star. Terrified, he stood comically teetering on the edge of a ledge. Directly below him on the lower half of the wall, was another small projection of an old woman sitting in a rocking chair. Engrossed in knitting, she was oblivious to the calamity looming above her as the young man debated taking his life! Unlike a scene from a movie, there was no end to the sequence; these few moments of the film were endlessly looped – I’d never know its outcome! Used to striding through the gallery as a dispassionate observer, I found this unusual encounter arresting; it drew me in. I reflected upon it for quite some time and, even though I knew it wasn’t real, the fate of these two characters mattered to me. I wondered if the young man was really going to jump. I was intrigued to know what had driven him to the edge. Did he plan to kill the old woman on his way down as well? Was she to blame for his fateful decision? Was this story a clash of the generations (old and new)? I didn’t know for sure; this was a mystery for each viewer to solve in their imagination. As a result, I felt as much a part of the story as the characters involved. And, I found it exciting.
Through this encounter I realized that perhaps the role of artist was not just about perfecting technique; it could also involve finding enticing ways to get the viewer actively involved in the art work unfolding before them. Far from being a static object tucked behind a frame or on a pedestal, art had the power to make the viewer care, think and respond emotionally to it. It had the potential to go past the artificial 2D/3D boundaries it created to strike right at the hearts and minds of viewers! For me this was mind blowing. It’s one of several transformative moments in my life that made me want to become an artist… and someone who eventually learned to appreciate the bedroom suites and soup cans of Pop Art.
Do you remember a moment when a work of art transformed your life or view of art? I’d love to hear your story…
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