The Guggenheim Museum
Long before I actually visited the Guggenheim Museum, I had learned about its distinct architectural design. Unfortunately, I visited the Museum when the exterior was under restoration and covered by the scaffolding. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t have the entire view of the building, but the cylindrical shape was still discernable. Its rotunda structure stood out from the surrounding boxy buildings. Inside the Museum, I was impressed by the unique interior design, and was amazed as well as perplexed by the abstract paintings.
The first things caught my eyes were not the paintings but the spiral-like interior design and the dome. I had never seen this kind of architectural design in my life. The curved corridors form the spiral from the ground level up to the top of the building. I could envision that it would be awesome to look down at the lobby from the top floor. It was exciting to walk along the corridors, but be prepared to deal with the slight dizziness. The domeis made of transparent glass panels. The lobby and the corridors were lit by the warm sunlight. I was so disappointed of being stopped on the third floor due to the restoration. The building itself is a piece of art, let alone the well-known abstract paintings by famous artists, such as Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.
The abstract paintings epitomize cubism and abstract expressionism. Most of the paintings were produced in late 19th and early 20th Century. These paintings are quite different from the paintings I had seen in the Frick Collection. Unlike from the painting from 17th and 18th Century, figures were barely discernable from the paintings here. The abstract paintings are more difficult to comprehend. In my opinion, the viewers have to examine the painting with their vivid imagination; perhaps, that was the artist’s intent. I came across many paintings that placed emphasis on geometric form, such as Circular Forms by Robert Delaunay. The one I liked the most was Composition 8 by Vasily Kandinsky because of its integration of different geometric forms. First thing that came into my mind was math. I thought to myself, “Was the artist telling a message about the importance of math or his preference for geometric forms?” The circles with bright color conveyed a sense of calmness; on the other hand, the interaction of triangles, squares and lines conveyed a sense of aggressiveness. I was perplexed by the mixed feeling I received from the painting. Another perplexing painting, Improvisation 28 by Vasily Kandinsky, also captured my eyes. Despite the bright colors, the black paint strokes caught my attention. The black paint strokes formed a striking comparison with the bright colors.
I left the Guggenheim Museum with uncertainty as well as awe for modern art. The modern art is revolutionized to the extent that viewers have to see them with wild imagination. I guess the best way to appreciate modern art or any artwork is to learn about the historical and social context in which they are created.