Stadia II
Julie Mehretu. New York. 2004 C.E. Ink and acrylic on canvas
Stadia II is meant to portray a large stadium, A sports arena. Country flags, confetti, and the eruption of the crowd are prevalent.
FORM:
ink and acrylic on canvas; abstract, geometric forms
FUNCTION:
depicts notions of ideological and nationalistic fervor
CONTENT:
the lines are created by marks made from maps and architecture; political, religious, or corporate symbols at the top; isolating the black lines makes the space look like a stadium - stadium acts metaphorically both as a constructed sterile space and the sight of a gathering and fomentation for revolution; theme of nationalism and mob mentality in a globalized world
CONTEXT:
Mehretu is an Ethiopian artist; this work is from a three-part series; Mehretu was influenced by Kara Walker
- 1950's = new medium = acrylic
- dry faster
- dont change color when dried
- BUT they crack faster
- oil is still preferred
- also many abandoned the canvas for a computer screen
- marble carving = dead
- modern forms of sculpture are faster to produced and reproduce
- assemblages: sculptors made of objects
- installations: large assemblages; can take up a whole room
Julie Mehretu, Stadia II, 2004, ink and acrylic on canvas, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
- Ethiopian lives in NYC
- large scale paintings
- abstract elements
- titles allude to meaning
- stylized renderings of stadium architecture
- FORMs suggest excitement, frenzy, of a competition held in a circular space surrounded by international images
- dynamic competition -- sweeping lines create vibrant pulse
- multi-layered lines = animation for the work
- sweeping lines = depth, focus of attention around central core (from which colors, icons, flags, and symbols resonate.)
Cross-Cultural
- The Colosseum
- Seated Boxer
- Basquiat, Horn Players
