There was an exhibition called Relationship Renewed at the Brunnier Art Museum during fall semester 2012. Integrated Studio Arts Faculty at Iowa State University explored dynamic connections in the work of art faculty and colleagues across the campus showing their new works of art and improvement. Working at the Brunnier Art Museum, I have enjoyed this exhibition for a long time.
Among all the wonderful art in the exhibition, I would like to introduce one which was made by Chris Martin titled U Fleku. In 2004, Chris was awarded a CEAH grant to travel to Central Europe to research Czech Cubism. U Fleku is part of a body of work in response to what he found out.
Cubism was an innovative art movement in 20th century Europe pioneered by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. The style of cubism was a response against realism in impressionism and the basis of many modern art forms, such as abstract art. When Cubism emerged in Europe, it was encountered with a strong negative criticism. Cubism was concentrated mainly on the form or shape of an object by breaking the object down into geometric shapes.
Czech Cubism was one of the styles of Cubism. It was an avant – garde art movement of Czech proponents of Cubism active from 1912 to 1914. Czech or Czech people are a West Slavic ethnic group of Central Europe, living in the Czech Republic.
Cubism had a widespread influence all over Europe and even in New York at the time but it ended when World War I erupted in Europe. Though cubism had ended, it became one of the most popular modern art styles. Cubism gave the world a new view on realism with its distortion and overlapping. It also made people think in differently, that objects are not what they appear to be and let them discover a true meaning behind the broken and overlapping objects.
I was very impressed when I appreciated U Fleku and its influence by Czech Cubism. Looking at this beautiful artwork, I could imagine a young lady who is shy, innocent, confident, and dignified standing up in the center of the museum. It has a beautiful silhouette of a female figure.
The many geometric shapes tell me about the movement of Cubism in 20th century. A polygon shape of the mirror, a counter, and two legs remind me of parts of the human body such as a head, a neck, a torso and two legs overlapped and twisted. It is amazing how all the geometric shapes integrated all together to form one piece of outstanding art.
It shows aesthetic beauty as well as a functional effect. For example, two wide and shallow drawers can be used for keeping something very valuable. The color in the drawers is so bright pink, which represents the beauty of the female gender. Also, the color of the furniture is very natural not too dark or not too light. When the drawers are opened, it seems like a woman opening her arms to hug someone in front of.
Whenever I looked at this sculpture that is very simple and complicated, I was attracted to its posture and its beauty. Even though the exhibition ended now, this beautiful artwork gives me an everlasting inspiration.
- by Sodam Lee
