Jasper Johns is probably the greatest painter in the second half of the twentieth century. That is quite a statement, I know. However when you look at the body of work into the 1970’s you will see many of the critical approaches stemming from work he pursued. I’m talking specifically about; Pop, Minimal, Conceptual, and Pattern and Decoration. Artists from each of these movements all owe at least a strong nod to his work, especially when you look at the way he used systems and approaches to breakdown and re construct painting.
Jasper Johns: An Allegory of Painting, 1955-1965 goes on view January 28th.
By the way, Target is the sponsor of this show. I’m sure that is no accident. Lets hope that the corporate meat grinder is unable to completely co-opt artwork that has far greater meaning (or lack of meaning, if you know what I mean) as opposed to simply becoming a shill for the newest version of Kmart. (Please don’t tell me how they love design, because we all know that as soon as that sales ploy ends, the whole “we love design thing” is gone)
I agree with you about Target. It’s been a personal puzzlement of mine whether any corporate identity fad is really capable of being entrenched enough to be regarded as a lasting part of the company “personality”.
I know identities and brands do last decades and even centuries — but not because they must. Only because someone at HQ found it expedient to preserve them.
Anyhow, hi Matt!! *waves*