Andy Warhol was an artist and a living legend who found fame in the 60s, enthralled the world with his flamboyance, imagination and pure talent. He is regarded as an artist who changed the philosophy and paradigm of modern art. How did he become famous and why did his art become so popular? Surprisingly, he was not that rich when he was young. He came from poor family and his mother served Campbell Soup as a meal throughout his childhood. The little boy never forgot that and produced 32 Campbell's Soup Cans when he became older. However, that was just one example of his innumerable works. He painted other iconic American products such as Coca Cola bottler, as well as paintings of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, and so on. Why did he choose such ordinary subjects for his work? There was an exhibition that attempted to answer those questions and to appreciate Andy Warhol's art: the King of Pop Art, beyond the Era Andy Warhol, from December 12, 2009 to April, 4, 2010 at Seoul Museum of Art(SeMA).
2. The American Dream Machine
Andy Warhol said, "My image is a statement of the symbols of the harsh, impersonal products and brash materialistic objects on which America is built today. It is a projection of everything that can be bought and sold, the practical but impermanent symbols that sustain us." He was called the "Pope of Pop (art)." Pop art is an art movement of the twentieth century expressed by themes and techniques drawn from popular mass culture, such as advertising, comic books and mundane cultural objects. He was a great artist who made art out of mass production. He founded The Factory, his art studio, and produced prints using the silk screen method. The silk screen method was a perfect method for his ideals. It allows repetition and the use of different color. His art was produced like mass-produced objects in a factory. He said, "I want to be a machine," and he became the American Dream Machine. By seeing his work, I had a chance to think more clearly about the true meaning of art and mass culture.
3. Andy Warhol, the Greatest
In spite of the cold weather, there were many spectators in the Seoul Museum of Art. A lot of people were coming to enjoy this exhibition. The ticket booth was decorated by Andy Warhol's famous art, Campbell's Soup Cans, and it was very quaint. Andy Warhol, the Greatest is divided into 10 thematic sections that span Warhol's career as an industrial designer, artist and film maker. Each section is organized well so that visitors can imagine his art, philosophy and daily life. There are over 400 pieces of Warhol's work. In addition, there are videos, documents, photographs, and keepsakes. Seoul Museum of Art has an audio guide rental system for people to understand his work easier. Also, it had a docent program too. One of the most interesting things was Warhol's memorable quotes. He had interesting quotes on every surface of the wall in the exhibition place. That allowed me to understand Andy Warhol in more depth.
4. 15 minutes of fame
By Cha Yoon-jae CP Reporter
yukixiah@cnu.ac.kr