Wednesday 30 November 2016

abstract of abstracts


I love those Colin Johnson collages as much as the rest of y'all, but I don't see him as fulfilling the theme of Horror Vacui. Why? Because there is lots of empty space in his work--like between the little dots. I interpret the theme as meaning there can't be any empty space between collage elements, even if the pieces are very small and close to each other.

Just a comment, that's all...I suppose the wavy dark grey lines at the top of this one could be said to have empty spaces between them, plus the white around and through the photo of the robotic-looking metallic statue, and in the text bits...ah well. =smile= I guess the question is, "When is white, or a solid background color, considered empty space, and when is it not?" Any thoughts on that, y'all?

In case you can't read the caption in the lower right that explains what the four pinkish-red monsters are about, it says, "Night Terrors (detail), oil on panel, by Laurie Hogin, reflect the various stages of psychological disruption due to the use of prescription drugs during the eight hours intended for restorative sleep."

4 comments:

  1. Well, I for one did not have any time this week to even think about filling a page as marvelously as you did Fi! (Between Thanksgiving and a death in the family it has been a time for no fun at my work table.) I guess there has to be some empty space, be it the background color you have pasted down on or an element that has, for instance, lines on it but, again, some empty space that the lines are covering. I don't know...it's too much for me to think about right now but I do know one thing right now...well done Fi!

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  2. Sorry for your loss, Angel. (Do you mind my playing around w/ different versions of your name? Are you an Angela or an Angelica?) Thanks for your kind words!

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  3. I agree with you Fi on Colin Johnson not being real Horror Vacui. Not only on how he still has some open spaces but Horror Vacui is also the 'fear' for empty spaces, so although he has a lot on his collages I think perhaps it's more of a pattern (a very beautiful one).
    I love your silly pink creatures on your collage and the depth you there seems to be.
    Well done!

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