Kay Sage From Another Approach :: Essays Papers

Kay Sage From some other ApproachMy direction has two doorsand one window.One door is expiration and the other is gray.I cannot open the red doorthe grey door does not interest me.Having no choice, I shall lock them bothand look out of the window.-Kay SageThe work of Kay Sage (1898-1963) is know to be some of the most rustle contrivance produced during the Surrealism movement. (Chadwick, 1997) Although it does not appear at first glance to be anywhere near as abstract as other Modernist artists such as Sonia Delaunay or Liubov Popova, (Chadwick, 1997. Pg 263 & 267) it has a kind of dreamlike quality about it that transports the viewer to another world.Kay Sages From Another Approach (1944) is one of her early works from when she was starting to experiment in Surrealism. Unfortunately, my search did not turn up any criticisms on that particular piece, so I will use criticisms from other similar pieces from the same time period as From Another Approach, 1940 1954.(Suther, 1997. Pg 89-159)Modernist paintings are many times described as being universal because theyre just a bunch of pretty shapes and colors and everyone likes pretty shapes and colors. What most people dont realize is that Modernist art conveys a sense of otherworldly reality through the pretty shapes and colors.At first glance, From Another Approach seems to fit in with the Modernism stereo instance. Its simple geometrical figures grouped almost stylishly on the right hand side (of the viewer) and clever variation of the olive tone give it the perfect living room picture. That is, it could be hung on a living room wall not as art, but as a decoration to enhance the living area. This type of association diminishes what the artist was trying to convey. The following is an excerpt from Time magazine, March 13, 1950, on Sages painting The Instant. I cant communicate you what it would mean to most people, but I do know what it means to me. Its a sort of showing whats inside - things half(a ) mechanical, half alive. The mountain itself can represent almost anything - a human being, life, the world, and fundamental thing.Sage is giving the viewer what she thought of her piece. The piece which has a very soaked style of geometric simplicity, melded together to create something disquieting about the scene. Its intent is to evoke emotion in the viewer, whatever emotion being viewer preference.