Eradication of the Very Knottedness (The Big Room)

Helen Frankenthaler 1957 Other Generations

“Louis’ Veils was to see a smoothing out of experience, an eradication of the very knottedness that pulled the viewer in…” This phrase by Jed Perl in New Art City referred to the departure of the knottedness of De Kooning works. I called this the big room. There is no publication for this exhibition Abstract Expressionism at the National Gallery of Australia but there is information online.

I like the layout and links between artists in each room so this is how the exhibition appears room by room.  The paintings are immense. All I can say is the size of these works and the feeling when you are alone in the room with them is amazing*. Morris Louis’ veil paintings wash over you with their space and the acknowledgement of Helen Frankenthaler as an influence is there on the wall without words. Standing looking up at Jules Olitski is like looking into a blood red space and I felt I might, devoid of gravity, slowly floated upward.

*Louis’ Beta Nu painting is almost 3 metres high by 7 metres wide.

Morris Louis : Dalet Zayin

Morris Louis: Ayin

Morris Louis: Beta Nu

Morris Louis Nexus II

Helen Frankenthaler The Cape

Jules Olitski: Prince Patutsky’s Command

New Art City Manhattan at Mid Century

By Jed Perl

Be prepared to wait for any review on this one -it’s a thickie, thankfully broken up with the odd black and white shot of artists, art studios and paintings you can only imagine as colourful. This was a find at MOMA (or may have been Whitney). I’ve been waiting to get my teeth into this one, I’m 12 pages in and already worth the excess baggage costs.