Vivian Chen AP Art Hist.

Shefler Ellsworth Kelly: The Great Art Debate I noticed that the large windows between the paintings [in the Musee d'Art Moderne] interested me more than the art exhibited. From then on, painting as I had known it was finished for me. -Ellsworth Kelly Known for his monochromatic canvases painted in bright colors, Ellsworth Kelly was a prominent figure in Hard-Edge painting and Minimalism. Born in 1923 and raised in New Jersey, bird watching was a favorite childhood pastime of his. Through his interest in observing nature, Kelly developed a keen eye for form and shape at a young age, which would influence his artistic career. As a young adult, Kelly enlisted in the army camouflage unit after a brief time studying at the Pratt Institute. His experience in the army exposed him to the effects of camouflage and shadows, which partly directed the path his art would take. It was truly his experience in Paris that helped him reach his revelation and approach towards art. In the Musee dArt Moderne, Kelly found the shapes of the windows far more intriguing than the paintings themselves. He found no pleasure in aesthetics. During his search for personal style, Abstract Expressionism was at its height in New York during the 1950s. Although he was an not advocate of the art movement, the large scale of Abstract Expressionist works, which he employs in his paintings, inspired him. In the late 50s, Kelly had established himself as an artist in New York; his paintings, sculptures, lithographs and drawings were being shown at galleries. Irregularly shaped canvases painted in flat colors; placing heavy emphasis on the relationship between form and shape marks his signature style. Picassos abstraction was an influence on Kellys work, as was the unforced images produced by Surrealism, relying on chance. He also adopted the concepts of Neo-Plasticists such as Piet Mondrian, who aimed to express the absolutes of life conveyed through overlapping horizontal and vertical lines composed with

primary colors. Ellsworth Kelly is now represented by the Mark Matthews Gallery and is a respected artist. Like a measurable amount of the art enthusiast population, I have questioned the validity of modern art over and over. Conversations in Modern Art museums often consist of viewers accusing paintings of lacking aesthetic-especially if it is something like a solitary blue triangle hanging on the wall. It is understandable why the heated debate over modern art still erupts now and then. Controversy arises because some feel that Modern Art has become far too conceptual to be considered art. If a piece of art becomes too centered on deep concepts and ideas, then where is the tangible art? Then there is the whole notion of what art is, and this debate remains forever unresolved. Ellsworth Kellys paintings displayed at the SFMOMA is an example of hard-edge painting. I do not find his work appealing because it is simply too minimalist. Most of the paintings I find bland; they are composed of overlapping squares, or canvases with three solid colors. It is mildly interesting, however, that how the strong contrast against pure colors create certain vibrancy in his art. Although Kellys work is not visually pleasing to me, I do appreciate his minimalist approach as a contribution to the history of art. His paintings are not of aesthetic value to me, but then again, that was not Kellys aim. He wanted viewers to focus on the shapes, lines and forms, not the aesthetic. In that sense, Ellsworth Kelly accomplished his goal. Yet, compared to how much effort and time spent by other artists whose works grace museum walls, Kellys paintings do not seem to have taken much time. The large squares and rectangles stand out bluntly against the stark white walls. Though it is probably imbued with complex concepts, I cannot grasp any of it, and that is what bothers me. It is as though there is no content to make

any conclusion from. Modern art is like a slippery substance: It sits right there in your hands, yet it is impossible to wrap a firm grip around it. Modern art and art in the traditional sense cannot be compared because they are from different times and do not share the same standards. I believe that Modern art is measured by the standard of presenting concepts in a creative fashion. Traditional art, like the paintings of old masters, are measured by visual standards. Certainly there must an overlap between the two, an art that satisfies both groups, but art is not meant to satisfy or organize into categories. The only fact I can state for sure is that art has simply become more diverse. It is not true that in our modern times, only modern art exists. Surely there are artists out there who create the most lavish, ornamental and aesthetic art. The 21st century accepts almost anything as art, and the different forms of art are still being discovered.

Sources for Bibliography: http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kelly-ellsworth.htm. http://www.matthewmarks.com/artists/ellsworth-kelly/. http://www.abstractart.20m.com/Neoplasticism.html.