ANDY WARHOL - ANDY WARHOL September 12 2018, 0 Comments
Andy Warhol was a legend in his own lifetime. He mastered the art of repetition, mass production, irony and overuse colour for his artistic creations of the Double, the Other.
Andy Warhol Double Self Portrait Mickey Mouse Double
Andy's World
Pop Art, which began in the 1950s, replaced Abstract Expressionism as the new vital face of art in the New York art world.
Andy brought imagery into his work. He became a Pop icon who envisioned Pop Art images that would glorify and criticize consumption.
Double Torso
The technique of silk screening allowed Andy to create double and multiple images of movie stars, soup cans, flowers, Brillo boxes. The visual shift from one image to its double creates appealing visuals of movement and excitement.
Rachel Small article on Edvard Munch and Andy Warhl highlights the similarities that that the artists shared in their understanding of the value multiple image in the art market.
In Elvis Presley we see the never ending glorification of imitation, freedom, the thrill of becoming an Other, any time.
Double Elvis and more Elvis
Andy Warhol portrait
It’s impossible to know the truth about the life of Andy Warhol. As his fame grew, and demands made on his time, Andy was represented by a double: Allen Midget, and hardly anyone noticed. A robot was created in Andy’s likeness for a Broadway show, but limited technology could not complete the vision. He wanted the robot to go on the road and make public appearances in his place.
Andy skillfully used contradictions and veils to create mystery around his public persona. The private Andy was a shy, religious man who went to church on Sundays, and lived with his mother in New York. In contrast to the chaotic atmosphere of the Factory, the front parlor of his home was tidy and tastefully decorated--but the other rooms were packed to capacity. Andy was a hoarder of epic proportions.
If you'd like to know more about Andy Warhol's life, let me suggest the biography, Holy Terror, by Bob Colacello. The Andy Warhol Diaries is always an entertaining, yet semi-fictitious read. Andy Warhol: A Documentary is a good primer available on YouTube
A dual image, the Other image, allows one of us to hide and be anonymous. You can go anywhere when you’re somebody else.
All of this research about Andy Warhol has inspired me to create some graphic images which I'll share in my next post.
Until then,
Hasta luego amigos
Val