This is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and established in 1937.
I find this interesting because of its shape. The curves of the frontal portion have a nice contrast to the straight lines of the part behind, as well as most of NYC's skyscrapers. All in all, it feels modern, almost futuristic, if you think about it. Despite its nearly monochromatic color scheme, it seems inviting and appears somewhat warm to the eye.
It is interesting to me that the building, a work of art itself, is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and Contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year.
 |
The skylight in the center of the museum
|
Criticism of the building has been that it overshadows the artworks that it displays. Also that it is difficult to properly hang paintings in the shallow, windowless exhibition niches that surround the central spiral. The walls of the niches are neither vertical nor flat (most are gently concave), meaning that canvasses must be mounted raised from the wall's surface. Prior to its opening, twenty-one artists, including Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell, signed a letter protesting the display of their work in the space
("Last Monument"Time. November 2, 1959).
I think it is short sighted of these artists to be jealous of a building, if anything the beauty of the building should add to the overall effect of the beholder of the art. Art is everywhere and plentiful, if we are willing to swallow our pride and enjoy what is presented, whatever the canvas. The Guggenheim is an iconic landmark and clearly a design before its time.
I love the design of this building. I agree that there is a wonderful contrast of the building's round,organic shape compared to the vertical lines of the structures around it. I would really like to travel there and see what the building looks like from the inside. What a creative idea to build a gallery where you walk down spiral pathways to the ground floor. It is such a symbol of the journey one takes in the visual fields, especially paintings. Your illustration of the skylight is remarkable and shows how Frank Lloyd Wright allowed light to be a part of the architecture. It is a wonderful demonstration of architectural creativity and inspired designs. There is so much precision required to create a building like this, and I respect the intelligence that gave birth to this particular museum. An incredible accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would mind at all the space between the paintings. I think it would add to the interest of each painting, giving your brain a chance to rest in the space between and prepare for the next one. It would also elevate each piece to its own status and allow them to be seen for their own merit rather than as a collection. Some people will complain about anything - Wright is a genius!
ReplyDelete