Field Trip I

“Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art”

Huma Bhabha
"Bleekmen" 2010

Marlene Dumas
"Wall Wailing"
Oil on canvas

Tadanori Yokoo
"Japanese Culture of the Postwar Years 1945-1995"

The MOMA museum was the first art museum I been to. MOMA museum is known for displaying modern and contemporary art. There were many art works that got my attention.  “Bleekmen” was a piece of art that got my attention first. The others were “Japanese Culture of the Postwar Years 1945-1995” and “Wall Wailing”.

            First artwork that got my attention was “Bleekmen” by Huma Bhabha. This resembles a mask in my opinion. This artwork suggests a cultural identity. It could show traditional customs. This mask is made of organic and industrial materials. The artist altered this to make look like a mask as well as a derelict building. It was created in 2010.

            Another artwork displayed in the museum was “Wall Wailing” by Marlene Dumas. This artwork resembles individual identity. The artist is from South Africa. It displays how they were lined up in a wall and heavily searched. He makes it look like it was a normal routine for the people there. No one shows resistance but, more like they allowed themselves to be searched. There is both woman and mean lined up in the wall. The man searching seem affiliated to some kind military force.

            There was an artwork that identified historical time and place.  The artwork was “Japanese Culture of the Postwar Years 1945-1995” by Tadanori Yokoo. It looks like it was after the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan. It displayed suffering the country endured during the war. There is a boy in tears suggesting suffering from their people. There is also a lot of red displayed. Which I believe suggest is the blood shred during the war.

            For my first time attending an art museum I enjoyed it. There were some artworks I really enjoyed. There were also artworks I did not find fascinating. I do not understand how they made it to this museum. But, I guess someone can find art or meanings to the artworks I disliked. We only went to 2 floors so I know there is a lot more art to see in the MOMA museum.  We also did not attend any of the shows. But, I keep this for future references.