I’ve always been in love with Frank Stella’s early work. I’m referring specifically to the “Black Paintings” (1959), “Aluminum Series” (1960), and the “Portrait Series” (1963). These are amazingly spare, seriously presented and optically pleasing works of art. I know a true minimalist would not care for the optical beauty of the works – however I still want something to look at and these provide it in spades. Later FS would start to produce images that really broke with this early work – especially in the 1980’s to work that honestly seems to be targeted at the corporate environment of art consultants, and board rooms that wanted something special, but not “difficult”.
What I don’t understand is why the break to that sort of work? Is it because of a change in his historical status? or gallery recommendations? Either way I’m at a loss to figure it out. I’m not a fool I know there are mouths to feed and lives (including a little bit of comfort) to have. But, showing at Leo Castelli in the 60’s was like printing your own money (or so I’ve been lead to believe).
So I’m curious as to what and why this change happened. The only thing that starts to make any sense is that after all the articles written on the “minimalist” period and the change in art criticism that erupted at that point – was FS just sick of the dogmatic approach that his work now had set rules he must now follow. It reminds me of punks that got sick of being angry and just wanted to dance – enter the Human League, Flock of Seagulls, and every other crap 1980’s band that now gets played on the radio.