The most profound obscurity

In the book "Joan Miró" by Carolyn Lanchner (published by the Museum of Modern Art, New York), I was reading today about the experience of surrealist artist Miró during World War II.  Miró was in Normandy for a bit when the war was in its infancy, but with the sudden attack of the Germans on France, Miró was compelled to leave France and return to his native country of Spain (unlike many other artists who fled to the U.S.).  Miró, who was described by Surrealist leader Andre Breton as "one of the most outstanding examples of character", led an uneasy existence in Europe during the war. Meanwhile, reports from the artists now in America were quite rosy, regarding the acceptance of their work by the population there.  But Miró was not overly consoled, and lamented of his conditions,"One must be ready to work amidst total indifference and in the most profound obscurity."  The Germans of course did not think highly of the "degenerate" artwork produced by Miró and his peers, so the future looked bleak indeed in Europe.  


I look at the artwork of my favorite artists with such a fondness, that it's easy to forget that they often had to deal with situations so much worse than anything we are dealing with, what with an ailing economy and seemingly endless bickering in government.  Miró did not accomplish much painting between 1941 and 1944 due to the difficult conditions in Europe (paint supplies were not easy to obtain, and a low profile was best).  But his spirit was not broken, he merely bided his time until the creative door was open again (Miró returned heavily to lithographs, painting and ceramics at some point in 1944).  


I thought I had it bad, I had to make chili today without beans.  I have two cans of beans that have been expired for seven months.  Anyone want them?  

Benedict Oddi

Here's a contemporary artist that I just discovered... Benedict Oddi, of Pittsburgh, PA.  His website can be reached here!  In particular I enjoy the paintings listed under his "Eternal Escape Unknown" heading. These paintings are of a surrealist nature, and we can see the possible influence of several different artists here.  Primarily Oddi's works are reminiscent of Yves Tanguy, except that they contain more lurid color.  His painting "F Your Sailboat" also reminds me of a Roberto Matta work, with its possible depiction of the landscape of the mind.  The bird figure in "Flight of Icarus" is suggestive of the same expressionless animal seen in several of Salvador Dali's paintings, such as "Little Ashes", in combination with Dali's frequent self portrait in which he paints himself face downwards and with a distinctive nose, as in The Great Masturbator.  Also the bird seems to be evocative of the figures found in Joan Miro's famous painting "Dog Barking at the Moon", with the primarily white body marked by splashes of color.  Anyway, lots of influences here!  Or so it seems to me.  If I get out to the Pittsburgh area one day, I wouldn't mind looking up this artist and maybe catching an available show.