Lost Edge
Just as the concept of the military avant-garde has been “lost,” because of changes in methods of warfare, the avant-garde in the contemporary art world, has also lost its edge.
Lost Edge 21, 2008
acrylic, oil, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 30, 2010
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 29, 2009
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 48"
Lost Edge 28, 2009
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 27, 2009
acrylic, canvas, 46" x 48"
Lost Edge 20, 2008
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 19, 2007
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 18, 2007
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 17, 2007
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 16, 2007
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 15, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 7, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 14, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 25, 2008
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 23, 2008
acrylic, canvas, 60" x 72"
Lost Edge 22, 2008
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 12, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 60"
Lost Edge 10, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 4, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 3, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 48" x 46"
Lost Edge 2, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 60" x 48"
Lost Edge 1, 2006
acrylic, canvas, 36" x 48"
My interest in the intersection between actual, physical landscape and mental landscapes, coupled with world events of the time, led me to reflect on the ruins of war and the human impact wars leave behind on landscape. I have titled this body of work Lost Edge. I use the word “edge” because I draw a comparison between the notion of the avant-garde in war and the art world. In the early 20th Century, the avant-garde was at the height of its importance in both realms. Now, however, I maintain that just as the concept of the military avant-garde has been “lost,” because of changes in methods of warfare, the avant-garde in the contemporary art world, has also lost its edge.
Similarly, the “cutting edge” of the contemporary art world seems to have become blunted. Viewers of the avant-garde work of many visionary artists of the early 20th Century were shocked, challenged and inspired by The Malevich’s Black Square and The Urinal of Marcel Duchamp. Because of changes in society, like changes in warfare, it has become difficult for today’s contemporary artist to generate the same level of response without resorting to vulgarity.