I had a wonderful occasion to visit the J. Paul Getty Museum. Entrance Hall, Museum Store, North Pavilion (Art before 1700), East Pavilion (Art 1600-1800), South Pavilion (Art 1600-1800) and Conservation Institution are the main parts of the museum. The J. Paul Getty Museum is located in Los Angeles and presents European sculpture, drawings and paintings. I visited this museum on 19 of October. Frankly speaking, I enjoyed the atmosphere of art that leaves the unforgettable impression and inspiration to create. The exhibitions of modern and contemporary painting attracted me the most because modernism and post-modernism are the fields of my interest. It was a good experience for me as I am interested in art. Moreover, I have heard and read a lot about this place, and it was a real pleasure to see it with my own eyes.
Minor White: Manifestations of the Spirit was the name of the European Early Modern Collection. The art works displayed there are the real masterpieces. In order to understand these pieces, it is not enough to see them. One should see, hear, understand, and feel them at the same time. The characteristic features of the works presented at Minor White: Manifestations of the Spirit are the following: simplicity, geometric abstraction, minimalism, conceptualization, imagery, pure geometry and neutral forms. The museum attendants have displayed the artworks to illustrate a particular vision of reality. The exhibition design adds to the overall positive impression. The unity of black and white revitalize the past while immediately bringing back the modern features. The space is perfectly designed for the display of such works as Something Died Here, Nude Foot, Cabbage Hill and Burned Mirror. Lightning is gloomy in order for the audience to create a specific mood.
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Nude Foot is an artwork of Daniel Greenberg of 1947. It impressed me by its conceptual meaning and double nature. The first aspect of the painting is what one sees, and the second aspect is what it hides behind its colors and images, which is its true message. Abstract expressionism of Nude Foot impresses, astonishes, inspires and even confuses. Daniel Greenberg is on the boundaries between imagery and physicality. Moreover, gelatin silver print gives some magic to every painting. Burned Mirror is another work of Daniel Greenberg that was created in 1965. In his works, the concepts of cubism, minimalism and expressionism can be clearly seen. However, despite the mixture of styles, the painting looks organic and natural. Daniel Greenberg masterfully ruins the frontiers between imaginary and the real worlds. He is the artist that tries to turn reality into abstraction and abstraction into reality (The J. Paul Getty Museum 2).
The artwork of French painter Jean Charlot Tarascan Idol has impressed me the most. The painter created this masterpiece with oil on canvas. It is 7-1/2-foot tall by 6-foot wide. The piece is ambiguous and triggers mixed emotions, different points of view and various interpretations. One can see a mystic being that provokes fear, panic, shock, charm and creates a magical atmosphere. The lines of the picture are distinct, but it is difficult to understand whether the idol has one or two heads. The colors prevailing on the painting are blue, white and grey. The tones are calm and not aggressive; that is why one may suppose that this idol is kind-hearted and brings luck and happiness. There is a direct relation between the idol and people who worship it. It is also a symbol of something divine, unusual and magical. However, it can also express limitation of reason, lack of knowledge and primitivism.
The strokes on the painting are not distinct and clear. Textures and lines are flat and remind a photograph in a certain way. Indeed, in spite that this work was created in 1931, it reminds the contemporary art. First of all, the subject of this painting is mythical, and contemporary art is viewed as unusual, mythical and even strange. Moreover, this painting is symbolic. Blue background symbolizes the sky, and yellow color is a symbol of the fertilized ground. The idol is placed between the sky and the ground. To my mind, in such a way, Jean Charlot wanted to transfer his vision and perception of the world into his painting, which can be viewed from two aspects. The first one proves that the painter wants to reveal the divine force of our beliefs and the supernatural power of the world. The second aspect may be viewed as a proof that the painter criticizes the primitive beliefs of the ancient people. From my point of view, this painting reveals that despite the constantly changing world, one should look for something eternal and believe in divinity.
In conclusion, it is necessary to say that the J. Paul Getty Museum is a treasure for the artists who are in a search of new ideas and inspiration. The J. Paul Getty Museum saves the art collections from the ancient times to the modern ones. Its exhibitions demonstrate the extraordinary meaning of art of any time as well as a unique approach of every artist to his/her works. The art work of French painter Jean Charlot Tarascan Idol is the unity of the ancient mythology and modern perception of it. For me, this visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum helped to understand the variety of artistic tastes and approaches to the painting and photography. For better understanding of the essence of this museum it is necessary to visit its website that presents all collections and exhibitions.
Works Cited
The J. Paul Getty Museum. The J. Paul Getty Trust, 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
