The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago featured works by Ian Baxter and Matta-Clark this Winter. I enjoyed learning about the concepts each of these artists brought to their work. They bring together both traditional and non-traditional artistic mediums to convey a message to the viewer.
Matta-Clark is an American artist who is well known for bridging architecture and sculpture. He named this practice “anarchitecture.” Back in the 70s, he went to old, run-down buildings in New York to create installations and sculptures. For this exhibition, MCA asked Matta-Clark to create some works in an adjacent building. He removed circular objects from around the building and placed them along a diagonal axis. After the installation, he produced photographs to document the space. Since there is no photographic view that can fully capture the installation, he used a collage system to create a sense of reality for the work. Matta-Clark was also particular about his use of photography here. He played around with color to see what was able to best portray the experience of being in the space.
Ian Baxter used a whole range of mediums to communicate his message about issues concerning the environment. His works joined photography, appropriation art, plastic, and installations. He wanted to reach out the viewer with a concern for the environment and break the boundaries between art, commerce, and everyday life. By using everyday objects such as an old TV or a milk carton, I believe he is able to better communicate with everyday people. The works are not traditional paintings that can sometimes make you feel distant. Baxter’s use of contemporary, found objects are effective for conveying current issues. Baxter was drawn to modern materials from commercial worlds, blurring the distinction between painting and sculpture.
