Art and I don't always get along. As more of a history, object-centric person, I can find historical portraiture a little so-so, and contemporary art baffling. But at our recent visit to the Royal Academy, I came across an art exhibition that was speaking my language: the collages of American artist Joseph Cornell.
Who? you might ask. Well, if you are a bit of an art amateur you might anyway. I like to think I know a little something about modern art, but I hadn't come across Cornell before. I was blown away in the exhibition by the casual mentions of Surrealist greats like Max Ernst and Rene Magritte who Cornell not only admired, but knew! Cornell is famous for his assemblages in shadow boxes. This cut-and-paste art works brought together Victorian bric-a-brac, historic images, tiny objects, maps, and all sorts of other materials to create wonderful mini-sculptures.
Aside from these more literal museum connections, the exhibition, and indeed Cornell's work, is a testament to the power of museums. I couldn't help but be reminded of the Museum Association's 'Museums Change Lives' initiative: they certainly changed Cornell's. Even though he lived his entire life in the general New York area, through museums, books, and maps, he was able to explore the world. Cornell's works feel like an adventure through space and time, from the Medici's to the plants and animals of exotic South America. Cornell's work reminds us of the importance of museums to expand our minds and have the world at our finger tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment