Museum of Modern Art
MOMA 1
Worst
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Japanese born
Adriatic Sea
Gargano I 1990
Gelatin Silver Prints
Anonymous Purchase fund
Let me start by saying that if I were to purchase this piece I would also leave my name out of it. Secondly I will state a question for sake of rhetoric. Why is it gargano if there are three images?
My problems with this series are numerous and i will systematically address each and every one of them beginning with composition. To cut a page in half with pure light is really weak. Unfortunately the other half is only interesting to someone that has never seen water before. it is not the subject that I have trouble with so much as as the approach to patterning in each distinguish themselves from the other not in the least by range value contrast or anything. Whatever his intent or or focus was eludes me in the empty hollow vision that this person had. So much so that I refuse to entitle the artist to have meant anything by this piece. Moreover I can find no evidence that validates the fact that it rests peacefully in this museum. I could go on but my ability to express myself far exceeds the talent of this individual. I respect the use of my papermate pen more than he did the technology within his lens.
Honorable Mention
Photographer unknown
GERMAN
Souvenir of service in 2nd Municipal Balloon battalion 1905
Silver Printout Paper Print
Highly detailed active and expressive.
Superimposition adds intricacy, humor and complexity
Charles Ray American Born 1953
Plank piece 1&2 1973
Gelatin Silver prints 1992
Both are simply very unusual where organic bodies and forms balance in obvious conflict with geometry. Question of how, exceed those of why, in my mind although, that is not the core of my interests. Rather simply that they are, and knowing this is satisfying. In comparison 1 exceeds 2 in my tastes because the environment, except for the wall and plank remain irrelevant in the first, therefore more resolved. Also the conflict of apparently being impaled adds some discomfort to the imagery.
Best
Phille Halsmann
Russian born 1906-1976
Dali Atomicus 1948
gelatin silver
By far the most exciting piece here, where conflict and contrast rage with floating objects, flying cats, kinetic water, and energy explode while frozen on the print in time! Always dynamic in excessive intricacy (although all is apparent, much is obscured). To answer either how or why could become a habitual pastime. A piece with no question is only answers in glorious resolve. Motion and gravity could not say much more with any single part or as a whole. The composition is dynamic and powerful where the ground plane is represented it is not used by an object. three black cats appear to be flying out of the canvass that Dali is painting while he and every other object leap from the ground and an arabesque of water mysteriously holds the opposing corners together while the artists easel and chair balance the page with the cats and painting everything to the cats, woman, water are mimicked and fractalized within the painting that are perfectly and clearly exposed.
