Terence Choi individual presentation: Jackson Pollock 'White Light'

Jackson Pollock is the representative for drip painting and action painting in the Abstract Expressionism. At the beginning of the presentation, by looking through two other paintings by Jackson Pollock, I would like to show the feeling and examples of drip painting. The two paintings shown are Eyes in the Heat and Shimmering Substance (sounds in the Grass Series) respectively, both of the works were painted in the 1946 by Jackson Pollock. The medium for the paintings are oil on canvas.

Abstract Expressionism is an art movement appeared in the 1930’s in the USA. The feature of Abstract Expressionism painting is rebellious. In the 1930’s, during the outbreak of the Second World War, the capital of modern art shifted from French Paris to USA New York. The origin of Abstract Expressionism is from Dadaism, Surrealism and Cubism. Artist in the USA concern and worship a lot on European artist in the previous three movement of art happened in Europe, so it is significant that Abstract Expressionism is the first became known and influenced European Art. Artist in the USA like Willem de Kooning, Robert Maserwell, Franz Kline and Jackson Pollock represent the era.

The piece of painting White Light by Jackson Pollock was painted in the 1954. The medium is oil, enamel, aluminum and painter’s paint on canvas. The size is 48 ¼ times 38 ¼ inch (122.4 x 96.9cm). The White Light is now in Museum of Modern Art, New York. We call this category of painting Action painting or drip painting.

White Light is a painting produced in era of Abstract Expressionism movement. Jackson Pollock is inspired by Picasso while having his early painting done. Through experience going through Dadaism, Surrealist movement, Jackson Pollock invented the style of abstract painting which concerns the engagement of whole body in the act of painting. Jackson Pollock moved away from convention and produce image with rebellious and nihilistic feeling. The White Light is blasted art making beyong any prior boundary.

The details of the painting White Light in Jackson Pollock head is about drip painting. Drip painting is inspired by Navajo sand painting. It depicted the artist’s feeling and emotion without any restriction to theme. There is not a specific topic to be identified. When Jackson Pollock was making the painting, he concerned the shape and line. Also, he used some new medium and tools to create the special effect of chaotic and shades. Unlike some classical artist, Jackson Pollock did not use oil or water color as his main medium. Instead, he made use of housepainter’s paint, enamel and aluminum. In terms of tools, instead of brush and easel, Jackson Pollock used wood stick, floor brush and knife as his tool. With these tool and color, he extended the texture of the painting further to express different feeling. Jackson Pollock mixed sand, grass and wood into the color paint to make relief and raw texture.

Get in appreciating White Light, there are several point that we have to concern about. The line is chaotic but directing and pointing to the middle. While talking about line, we have to concern the color of the lines. In the painting, there are lines in different colors. The lines cross each other with the shapes behind form a very chaotic view. And this represents the process of making the painting, expressing the emotion and feeling of Jackson Pollock. When we try to pay attention to the line, we may find it difficult to concentrate to one point or find it hard to stop at a point. We will just follow the line and go over and over around the painting. White Light give us the feeling of frenetic wildness, where we can find experience of raw energy of Pollock conveyed.

Jackson Pollock have said that “When I am painting I have a general notion as to what I am about. I can control the flow of paint; there is no accident. Painting is no problem; the problem is what to do when you're not painting.” Jackson Pollock 1954, My Paintings. The control of paint is the expression of Pollock himself as a painter to paint an experience of how he coping with the nature.

The interesting point about White Light is the line and color pattern. The widely use of tools and the applicant of paint in different corner of the painting. The color pattern of in different side point towards the same side which lines and shape could not analyze by iconography, bring me lots of fun and room to imagine. Unlike some modern art movement, the movement of abstract expressionism represented the shift of art centre from Europe to USA. Abstract Expressionism inspired very deeply to different categories of art which represent the feeling of artist himself through line and shape.

Looking at White Light is a joyful time. It brings me into the world of Jackson Pollock and let me feel this artist paint which he is concentrating and drip paints onto his canvas. White Light is for us to understand and appreciate the process of working it out. As long as there are expressive artist, who would like to express emotion freely, applying abstract expressionism is the best way.