Sunday, March 01, 2009

Becoming Edvard Munch

Most of us are familiar with that work of art "The Scream". Like some of you, I was not familiar with artist behind this iconic image of despair and anxiety. But learning is a continuous process so I joined my friends to the special exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago on the artist entitled "Becoming Edvard Munch". This exhibit runs from February 14 to April 26 of this year. Edvard Munch is a Norwegian artist during the impressionist era. The exhibit explored the connections and influences of other well known artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Klinger and Gauguin. They would show the works of these artist that influenced Munch side by side with Munch's version. The topics of works includes City streets in Paris, Norwegian Landscapes, Lovers in despair, sick child, funerals, indoors images of loneliness, swimming boys/men and portraits of "femme fetales". Medium of work includes lithographs, woodcuts, etching and oil in canvas. One thing I found as a general themes of his works, they all seems show dark colors and poignant themes. I did not remember seeing any smiling faces. The faces and eyes were usually distorted. It was disturbing to some degree. The exhibit explored the idea that Munch was sick and his works reflected this. Definitely a worthwhile endeavor to see this special exhibit specially if you live in Chicago.

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