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拍品專文
The Spanish Civil War represented for Motherwell evidence of a civilization regressing and the attendant suffering that could result. The prolific body of work that dealt with his reflections on tragedy in the modern world--collectively known as Elegies to the Spanish Republic--consumed him throughout his life.
Blue Elegy (1987) is a remarkable example of Motherwell's characteristic imagery from the Elegy series. Ellipsoidal shapes--generally two, side-by-side--imposed over an ethereal background form the visual foundation for the series. The removal of anything unnecessary from the image, a stripping down to something truthful and pure, is at the heart of Motherwell's artistic practice. Experimentation--specifically in the interaction of shapes and colors--generates an engagement with the work that is visual, physical and intellectual. The aura of the object, and the way that the colors and motifs illicit a response from the viewer, despite their lack of concrete representation, invite--even necessitate--a deep level of engagement with the work.
The figural quality of the shapes--typically black, in this case an arresting blue--suggest a human presence, perhaps Motherwell or a solitary, wandering figure. The elegiac tone is enhanced by the various tones of blue that simultaneously complement and absorb each other, connoting an endless emotional range. In a manner distinctive of Motherwell, Blue Elegy provides an outlet for retrospection that is entirely open-ended, leaving interpretation and translation largely up to the viewer.
Blue Elegy (1987) is a remarkable example of Motherwell's characteristic imagery from the Elegy series. Ellipsoidal shapes--generally two, side-by-side--imposed over an ethereal background form the visual foundation for the series. The removal of anything unnecessary from the image, a stripping down to something truthful and pure, is at the heart of Motherwell's artistic practice. Experimentation--specifically in the interaction of shapes and colors--generates an engagement with the work that is visual, physical and intellectual. The aura of the object, and the way that the colors and motifs illicit a response from the viewer, despite their lack of concrete representation, invite--even necessitate--a deep level of engagement with the work.
The figural quality of the shapes--typically black, in this case an arresting blue--suggest a human presence, perhaps Motherwell or a solitary, wandering figure. The elegiac tone is enhanced by the various tones of blue that simultaneously complement and absorb each other, connoting an endless emotional range. In a manner distinctive of Motherwell, Blue Elegy provides an outlet for retrospection that is entirely open-ended, leaving interpretation and translation largely up to the viewer.