Subtle Communication of an Artist :: Mark Rothko
I came across this quote and it hit me right through the heart of memory ~~
“I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.” ~~ Mark Rothko
I remember, way back in the day, sitting in my modern art history class and learning for the first time about abstract art and color field expert ~ Mark Rothko. I was instantly taken by his work even though I was sitting in the back of the class trying to find a place for my eyes to land on the Rothko image floating upon the antiquated projection screen. Despite the delivery, it was obvious the image was a transcendent work of art and a subtle yet powerful communication of artistic intent.
Image of Rothko's color field painting that became known as his signature 'multiform" works
He was one of the few artists whose work I deeply and instantly resonated with – beyond words. In that moment, this neophyte art history student “got it” without realizing it. It was my professor’s feedback to my inquiry that let me know Rothko’s communication was received by me through time, space and projected image.
It is academia that analyzes, parses, contextualizes, categorizes into ~isms, and attempts to put into words what most artists simply attempt to convey through their chosen mode of communication – in this case – color, a brush and canvas. Somehow, if we can break it down, and concretize the work, it gives it more gravitas and context. Coming to these works later in his career means Rothko progressed through his earlier experimentation and evolution of his craft from figurative – mythological subjects, to abstract, to the influence of his surrealist beginnings. He did not like to be classified as an abstract expressionist, but instead identified more with religion, emotion, and social issues.
After posting the above quote to my facebook page, I received a very soul-ful interaction from a fellow Rothko enthusiast ~
“While true I’m sure, he masterfully used color, form and luminous underpainting which emitted light from within the canvas. Thus, he created temples for his soul from his soul.” ~~Ken Guglielmo
And I added, for our souls ~~ because sometimes amidst the rush of academic opinion and opining, it is good to remember that many artists paint for the sake of communicating, soul to soul for whomever has “eyes to see.” The above quote is telling … Rothko was not interested in analysis and intellectualism. He had honed the intention of his craft to pure human expression and a subtle form of communication – that which can only be grasped through emotion, through the senses, and that out-of-mind place that simply “is.”
At the end of the day, most artists I speak with simply want to connect and communicate with you through their chosen medium ~ so truly, keep finding artist whose work speaks to you ~ and connect with them.
You can read more about Rothko at The Art Story.
Enjoy
