A Must See Exhibition: Giacometti at the Guggenheim
From the Guggenheim Museum, Alberto Giacometti Untitled, Bronze
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is currently displaying an exhibition, Giacometti, featuring the works of the prominent twentieth century Swiss artist, Alberto Giacometti. This exhibition examines the unmistakable style and aesthetic Giacometti developed over the many decades of his career. This retrospective unfolds chronologically and thus immerses the individual into the artist’s mindset as they progress through his works.
From the Guggenheim Museum, Alberto Giacometti’s Three Walking Men II, 1949, Bronze
Alberto Giacometti, was born in a Swiss village, Borgonovo. He was introduced to art as a young age by his father Giovanni, a well known post-impressionist artist. Giacometti moved to Paris in 1922 and settled a studio in Montparnasse. It is in this small studio that Giacometti vigorously produced work until the end of his life. During his early years, he looked to artists like Picasso and Brancusi, which led to his fascination with cubism and his association with the Surrealist movement. He was also intrigued by non-western art such as African, Cycladic, Egyptian, and Oceanic art, many of which influenced the development of this sculptures.
From the Guggenheim Museum, Alberto Giacometti’s Four Women on a Pedestal, 1950, Bronze
Giacometti was stuck in Geneva in the 1930’s during World War II and it was during this time he began sculpting pocket sized heads and figures that explored perspective and distance. He became infamous for the paintings and sculptures he created during the 1940’s once he was back in Paris. His sculptures depicted elongated figures, often standing alone, of men and women. These figures were devoid of flesh, cadaverous, and almost even skeletal. Giacometti somehow managed to capture this essence of the dark side of humanity, arousing this pervasive yet subtle sense of melancholy into viewers. These post-war sculptures resonated with the public struggling with the profound alienation and anxiety onslaught by the devastation of the war. Although Giacometti’s sculptures capture and reiterate this deep sadness, they also appear optimistic, revealing the tenacious nature of humanity.
Giacometti is curated by Megan Fontanella, Curator, Modern Art and Provenance, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and is now on through September 8th, 2018.
From the Guggenheim Museum, Alberto Giacometti’s Seated Man, 1949, oil on canvas
Check out similar works by Roberto Torterolli, Patricia Machado, and André Ghaoui