Frank Bowling – From Figuration to Abstraction | Artist Interview | TateShots

Summary

The speaker reflects on their artistic journey, initially focusing on the tragic aspects of human behavior before shifting to an exploration of color and geometry. Moving to New York deepened this focus, leading to the creation of color field paintings and experimentation with poured painting techniques. They discuss the extemporaneous nature of their process, highlighting how maps and spontaneous techniques shaped their work. Naming their pieces acts as a personal diary, evoking memories of past experiences and lives lived intensely. The creative process is driven by energy, chance, and the fluidity of materials.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The speaker initially focused on the tragic side of human behavior in their work.
• 🖌️ Over time, they realized the importance of color and geometry in making paintings.
• 🌈 Color became a central focus as they evolved their artistic approach.
• 🗽 Moving to New York deepened their interest in color exploration.
• 🗺️ Map shapes became an inspiration, starting with South America and Guyana.
• 📐 The speaker transitioned into geometrical color field painting before exploring poured painting.
• 💦 The process of pouring involved spilling, dripping, and rushing materials on a canvas.
• 🖼️ The speaker's painting method was extempore, with no pre-planned ideas.
• 📖 Naming artworks is like keeping a diary, reminding them of past intense and lived experiences.
• 🔄 Naming works allows the speaker to reflect on past experiences without reliving them.

Q & A

What did the speaker focus on in their early artistic work?

In their youth, the speaker focused on the tragic side of human behavior and tried to reflect that in their work.

How did the speaker's focus shift over time in their artistic process?

Over time, the speaker's focus shifted towards the use of color and geometry in paintings, which became a central aspect of their work.

What deepened the speaker’s interest in color in their artwork?

The speaker’s interest in color deepened when they moved to New York, where they found new ways to explore and expand their understanding of color.

What was the significance of New York for the speaker’s artistic development?

New York provided the speaker with energy, drive, and new opportunities for exploring their work with color, making it a significant place for their artistic growth.

How did the map shapes come to be part of the speaker’s work?

The map shapes appeared by chance while the speaker was staying at the Hotel Chelsea, which inspired them to paint maps, starting with South America and Guyana, and eventually the entire flat map.

What did the speaker find engaging about maps in their paintings?

The speaker found the shapes and graphics suggested in maps to be very engaging, which led them to incorporate these elements into their work.

What artistic style did the speaker transition into after painting maps?

After painting maps, the speaker moved towards creating color field geometrical color paintings, which came before their experimentation with poured paintings.

What is the process the speaker describes for creating poured paintings?

The speaker describes a process where a canvas is tacked to the wall, and paint is poured, thrown, spilled, and dripped over it. As the paint dries, the canvas is lifted back up to allow the material to settle and fully dry.

Does the speaker plan their paintings in advance?

No, the speaker does not have any pre-planned idea when creating a painting. Their process is more spontaneous and extempore.

What does the naming of works represent for the speaker?

For the speaker, naming works is like keeping a diary. It allows them to recall the intensity and experiences of the past without reliving them, serving as a reminder of those lived moments.