The Evolution of Artistic Freedom
Travelling to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was not a difficult journey; but exploring the huge structure to find the Modern Art exhibit containing Abstract Expressionism and other modern works was no easy task. We had to pass through Ancient Greece, Rome and Africa just to make it there; one wrong turn and one might have ended up in the medieval times. After numerous glances at the map and quick examination of the sculptures before us, we were finally able to find the Modern Art exhibits.
“What is this?,” or “that’s not art,” were a few remarks that simply could not be ignored when we saw the abstract expressionists works. Despite some demeaning remarks by some viewers, the work of the Abstract Expressionists stood erect and profound. This was the type of criticism that these art works faced when they first appeared; it was nothing new.
As the art works progressed through the years, one could note the progression of freedom portrayed in the artworks as well. It was as if each succeeding painting experienced a new sense of independence from a proceeding year. While the paintings from the beginning did showed some sort of liberation from the traditional methods of arts, as did Robert Goodrought’s “Landscape”, 1952, it is undoubtedly clear that Morris Louis’ works in the 1960s marked more liberating techniques. Goodrought’s “Landscape” showed intense colors vividly intertwined to create the sense of strong emotions marked by some sort of anxiety and change. One can sense the texture of the vigorous brush strokes. Morris Louis marks the concept of breaking free from constraint in his untitled canvas, which held bright colors precisely painted on the left and the right side. The size of the artwork and the huge plain spaces added to the relaxing feeling of freedom. This piece of work added to the mood of the exhibit as a whole since this form of art gives the most freedom to express his or her emotions.
Furthermore, abstract expressionism had evolved so much that anything could be abstracted even with something simple as “Bread”, self-framed by Richard. The object in the painting seems to be almost floating in the air as there is no horizon in the picture. It’s as if the idea of abstraction is open to everyone to grab a hold of. The silver, reflective frame almost gives an abstraction of the viewer as well.
Abstract Expressionists have modified the idea of art through their works and while they continue to face some controversial remarks of whether their work is in fact art, they have definitely challenged what is considered conventional art.