Vir Heroicus Sublimis
Vir Heroicus Sublimis, 2011, 125.1 x 33.7 x 55 cm, slide projector and copy
“Vir Heroicus Sublimis", Barnett Newman’s largest painting at the time of its completion, is meant to overwhelm the senses. Viewers may be inclined to step back from it to see it all at once, but Newman instructed precisely the opposite. When the painting was first exhibited, in 1951 at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York, Newman tacked to the wall a notice that read, “There is a tendency to look at large pictures from a distance. The large pictures in this exhibition are intended to be seen from a short distance.” Newman believed deeply in the spiritual potential of abstract art.” copyright MoMA 2010
Based upon this brief history I conceived and constructed "Vir Heroicus Sublimis", an installation first shown during The Second Act at De Brakke Grond.
The two main elements of the installation were 1) a copy of Newman's notice and 2) a slide projector projecting an image inwards towards the center of the gallery. The image projected was a photograph made by someone who was asked to photograph "Vir Heroicus Sublimis'" picture plane as close as possible. ... Motivation behind projecting this image inwards was twofold, viz. exploring the work's possibility in restaging an initial experience and emphasizing it's intent as a -'viewing'- structure from where the visitor had an overview on the works on display. excerpt from a conversation between J. Gray and the artist.
“Vir Heroicus Sublimis", Barnett Newman’s largest painting at the time of its completion, is meant to overwhelm the senses. Viewers may be inclined to step back from it to see it all at once, but Newman instructed precisely the opposite. When the painting was first exhibited, in 1951 at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York, Newman tacked to the wall a notice that read, “There is a tendency to look at large pictures from a distance. The large pictures in this exhibition are intended to be seen from a short distance.” Newman believed deeply in the spiritual potential of abstract art.” copyright MoMA 2010
Based upon this brief history I conceived and constructed "Vir Heroicus Sublimis", an installation first shown during The Second Act at De Brakke Grond.
The two main elements of the installation were 1) a copy of Newman's notice and 2) a slide projector projecting an image inwards towards the center of the gallery. The image projected was a photograph made by someone who was asked to photograph "Vir Heroicus Sublimis'" picture plane as close as possible. ... Motivation behind projecting this image inwards was twofold, viz. exploring the work's possibility in restaging an initial experience and emphasizing it's intent as a -'viewing'- structure from where the visitor had an overview on the works on display. excerpt from a conversation between J. Gray and the artist.
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