HYPER FIXATION OF THE MOMENT
One of the all-time most fascinating art pieces in my opinion, is Robert Rauschenberg’s Erased de Kooning. This work challenges traditional notions of creation and the value of art itself, while also serving as an cultural bridge between two art movements: Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art.
Early Rauschenberg’s work anticipated the Pop Art movement, and was diametrically opposed to the overtly masculine and aggressive style of the reigning Abstract Expressionist movement at the time. However, many of these artists ran in the same circles, leading to some interesting interactions, to say the least.
The story goes that in 1953, Rauschenberg approached Willem de Kooning (arguably the most prominent Abstract Expressionist artist at the time) with a rather audacious request. He asked de Kooning if he could erase one of his drawings. Surprisingly, de Kooning thought about it and agreed, and thus began the work of the infamous Erased de Kooning.
Rauschenberg spent a month painstakingly erasing the drawing, using various tools and techniques to remove the marks from the paper. What remained was a blank piece of paper, which Rauschenberg considered to be the final artwork. A blank page as a work of art? The art world went crazy.
At first glance, the Erased de Kooning may seem like a simple act of destruction, however, Rauschenberg’s intention was not to diminish de Kooning’s work, but instead to explore the concept of erasure as a creative act in itself. By erasing a priceless piece of art, Rauschenberg challenged the notion of artistic authorship and the importance of the physical object. Can you imagine the scandal as people grappled with the concept of removing a work from the canon of art history itself?
Through this piece, Rauschenberg questions the role of the artist as a creator and the value we assign to art. He challenges us to reconsider what makes something art and invites us to contemplate the power of absence and the potential for new beginnings. A metaphorical razing of the playing field.
Pop Art, as the next wave, went on to push the boundary of what we consider to be art in a swath of new directions. I would like to think this line of thinking began around the time the Erased de Kooning entered the zeitgeist, challenging our preconceptions, and inviting us to question the very nature of artistic creation. This piece continues to inspire thought and provoke discussion, remaining controversial as ever. It also was one hell of a way to pass the baton to the next generation of great artists.