How to Kill a Rothko
by Richard Gleaves
Rothko's a must-see, but like Martin or Turrell you've got to show up in person — photos steal their soul.
Which brings us to American Artists from the Russian Empire — currently showing at the San Diego Museum of Art — and its promise of a Rothko experience to anyone who shows up.
The promise is false: the Rothkos at SDMA are entombed in glass which throws up a shiny reflective surface in front of the picture plane, obscuring the essential Rothko magic (which normally happens 1 to 100 feet behind the picture plane, virtually speaking).
So what to do? Go to SDMA for the Tchelitchews, two alarming exceptions in an otherwise staid show of period art.
Then art run to LA to see Collection: MOCA'S First Thirty Years — not only does it have more and better Rothkos, but they're crucially in the buff.
Comments
Just saw the first half of the MOCA show. Great, even with the lack of women artists. The museum was free all this week, a lovely gift to Angelinos.
Here's what I love about a good Rothko: stand close, look at one color section (say red on orange), then quickly move your eyes to another section of the same painting (black on orange), and feel the difference physically. Pretty amazing what color in the right hands can do.
Posted by: kloe among the turks | novembre 20, 2009 05:00 PM