I like the American cheerful outlook on life. I am very happy to escape the Russian heavy, self-doubting way of life and the constant dwelling on what is wrong and how it cannot get better no matter what. I like that if someone asks me “How are you?”, they really do not expect me to tell them about all of my current problems, they just want to be polite. They have enough problems of their own and by not sharing and just saying the magic word “FINE” we both do not multiply our problems by two. I am fascinated with success stories that can take place ONLY in America. I try to beat the age and look up and not down at all times. I buy into the consumer society and believe that marketing rules the world; if you know how, anything can be branded and sold. I am full of hope that everything will be OK!
But, by the end of the exhibit I felt like crying – like there is no hope, there is no reason for anything; that life is a pointless, random Russian roulette. What is wrong with me??? Bold, recognizable portraits with candy-like colors, when in close proximity, gave me chills. The contrast of a bright, eye-catching exterior makes the subject extremely vulnerable. The faces become labels, they lose their individuality, intimacy, humanity… they become covers, just like the Campbell’s soup cans. His series on car accidents and the death of JFK looked like a methodical study of different aspects of death. He was simultaneously terrified and fascinated by it. Speaking of existentialism… Darn it! I was successfully hiding from it for so long!!! In its American version it was staring at my face in its artificial, synthetic, luminescing colors from Warhol’s paintings. I guess there is no escape from it; it is a sign of a great art.
What is the definition of a GREAT ARTIST? His work touches something in us that we did not know exists. It makes us feel, think, analyze and evaluate both ourselves and the world around us. A GREAT ARTIST is the soul of humanity. It does not matter what culture or what century the great artist was thrown into; while the human race exists, there will always be Shakespearean timeless subjects like death and love and eternity that make great art existential in its nature. Our society brought commercialism to new heights; it became a way of life and religion of a sort. Warhol touches the same subjects as El Greco, Goya and Bosch, but he speaks our language in colors of bubblegum and neon commercials.
Thank you, McNay, for bringing such a great experience to San Antonio.
