Snowman by Gary Hume
1996 screen print on felt
Gary Hume represented Britain at the 1999 Venice Bienalle and is often associated with the YBA’s or Young British Artists, the best known of whom is Damien Hurst.
Hume’s paintings and prints, bothrepresentational and non-representational, can be recognized by their flat appearance.
The flatness, choice of imagery and color have lead to some of Hume’s work being described as melancholic. In addition to screen prints, the artist has also created a series of snowmen sculptures, up to 10' high, finished with a high-gloss enamel in colors like soft pink, black and pine.
Like it? Tell us what you think. We’re not looking for scholarly studies just opinions.
Leslie Fordham is Public Art Coordinator for the Town of Vail. She is responsible for the town’s thirty-seven piece art collection that includes memorials, commissioned artwork, street furniture, sculptures and art in playgrounds. Fordham also curates the annual exhibition in Ford Park. Prior to moving to Vail she worked for the Smithsonian’s Resident Associate Program and conducted research into the use of art exhibition catalogs at the Tate Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Email
Print
Feed
Reader Comments:
Hmm, the colors and simple design are happy and appealing. However, it looks like something any five-year-old might make with colorforms. Is it art because it was so simple nobody else thought to do it? Dunno. Seeing these sorts of works in museums always makes me feel a little duped by the artist. Glad you asked - interested to hear what others have to say...
I love Gary Hume's work becasue at first it does indeed seem incredibly simplistic (that any 5 year old could do) but the more one looks at it - the more depth one sees. The gloss paint he mainly uses changes appearance depending on the time of day it is viewed and the reflection of the paint makes us(the viewer)see ourselves as well as the multiple layers of paint. So cool and so fluid. I love his use of colour and choice of imagery.