Diversity in the 20th Century
I decided on the topic of diversity in art. I am featuring 3 very different cultures. The Hollywood culture from the 1960s, ancient culture from Nigeria, and American Native Culture. I stumbled upon this topic after spending a significant amount of time looking for pieces that I could somewhat relate to and would have a type of connection.
Pop Culture - Marilyn Monroe was a huge movie star in the
1960s. Her picture is probably one of the best known of all Hollywood stars. So
much so that her looks have been emulated thousands of times by women. I like
this painting as it brings her pictures from the black and white of the 1960s
photographs to modern vibrant colors which seems to better suit her public
persona. The black and white photos are a little depressing and it masks some
of her beautiful facial features. I think she would be pleased with this
transition to brighter colors as it seems to change the whole mood of the
painting by giving her a happier look on her face.
Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych is a silkscreen painting that depicts fifty identical images of the American actress, Marilyn Monroe. The painting was created in 1962, shortly after Monroe's tragic death, and explores the cult of celebrity and its continuation after a star's demise.
Coca Cola has been one of THE most popular soft drinks.
Its popularity started gaining momentum in the early 1900s and has continued to
the present day. This painting of its iconic glass bottle is spot on right down
to the soft curves near the bottom of it. It made it easier to hold onto the
bottle when it was cold and icy. The shape of the bottle was unique to the Coke
company. My friends and I used to take our allowance and ride our bikes down to
the local burger joint to buy a frosty and a coke in the late 60s and early
70s. It was difficult to go anywhere without seeing a Coca Cola sign in a
business. It was part of everyone's teenage culture growing up.
Coca-Cola 3 is a painting by Andy Warhol. He completed the painting in 1962 as a wider series of Coca-Cola paintings, which also included Green Coca-Cola Bottles and Coca-Cola (4). The painting and others in the series are considered founding paintings of the pop art movement.
The painting is a 6-foot, black and white painting of a Coca-Cola bottle from the era.
Nigerian
Culture - Unearthing an ancient culture in your own backyard so to speak. I
really like this still life showing all of the ancient artifacts that includes
what looks like some fine jewelry, decorative bowls and possibly jeweled staffs
and cups. The artist did an excellent job showing the detail of the
craftsmanship. We call them ancient artifacts; however, they look very modern
judging by the way they look expertly made by today's standard.
In 1938, while digging a cistern on his property, Nigerian farmer Isaiah Anozie unearthed dozens of intricate objects made of cast bronze. As it turns out, Isaiah’s family farm sat atop the remains of an ancient ceremonial center that was home to a society that existed over a millennium ago. Isaiah’s discovery initiated one of the most significant archaeological finds in the history of Nigeria and ultimately changed the way in which scholars understand the timeline of art and trade in West Africa.
Watercolor reconstruction the shrine storage site, Igbo Isaiah, Nigeria (painting: Caroline Sassoon; photo: Hamo Sassoon, 1960s (© Pitt-Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, 2005.113.893, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
I like this next painting having a
backdrop of onlookers looking curiously at the excavation site. You can almost
feel their shared excitement by the way they are leaning forward. The
Nigerian's regalia is beautiful with the color blue coordinated with the sandy
color of his shirt.
In 1959, British and Nigerian
government officials negotiated the first professional archaeological
excavation of the site that was uncovered by Isaiah Anozie. See above
watercolor. British archaeologist Thurston Shaw spent five years in Nigeria
overseeing the excavation. Ultimately, Shaw uncovered three sites on the Anozie
family property, and he named them after the Anozie brothers: “Igbo Isaiah,”
“Igbo Richard”, and “Igbo Jonah.”
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The next two paintings I am excited
about. First, I was drawn by the bright colors of the Redbud trees with the
backdrop of the sky meeting the trees in the distance, and then the beautiful
painting of the Pawnee Scout sitting proud for his portrait. Then, I read the
last name of the artist. I am fortunate to work for a business here in
Fairbanks that has a very diverse workforce. One of my co-workers' last name is
Echo-Hawk (that is his spelling) and is a member of the Pawnee tribe from
Oklahoma. I can't wait to ask him if he is related to the artist, Brummett
Echohawk. If he is, I am sure he will have a story to tell me.
“This is a place where the Echohawk
family grew up, this horseshoe bend in the river here. . .. Every man, woman,
and child in the family received an allotment. . .. The family was camped down
here in the valley near the Cimarron River, with the rest of our Kitkahahki
Band of the Pawnee Nation. . .. [This land] probably reminded them of our
aboriginal homeland up in Nebraska. Most of our villages were along rivers of
the region . . . this is reminiscent of that country.”
—Walter Echohawk, nephew of Brummett Echohawk
Big Spotted Horse was a Pawnee warrior and raider who lived during the 19th century. He belonged to the Pitahawirata band or division of the Pawnee tribe.
“Andy Warhol’s ‘Marilyn Diptych’, a Scene of Tragic Glamour” (Sotheby’s)
https://www.wikiart.org/en/andy-warhol/coca-cola-3-1962
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Hi Lisa, I like that you chose the Marilyn picture as well! The picture would pop up whenever I searched for artwork, so I chose it! I learned that it was taken a few weeks before her death, and Andy Warhol had to go to court because he didn't have permission to use the portrait. It is a very popular piece of his work! I enjoyed all the pieces you chose!
ReplyDeleteYou chose an excellent selection to demonstrate the diversity of the 20th century. The artifacts by Isaiah Anozie especially offer a cool look into the richness of West African history. The intricate craftsmanship of these artifacts speaks to a legacy of artistic excellence. I appreciate the story of Igbo Isaiah revealing the layers of a society that thrived over a millennium ago. Thank you for sharing this exploration in the diversity of art.
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