abstract expressionist NY

“There’s no way of looking at a work of art by itself. It’s not self-evident, it needs a history, it needs a lot of talking about; it’s part of a whole man’s life”. Willem de Kooning

The exhibition Abstract Expressionist New York at the Art Gallery of Ontario explores the movement that shifted New York to the centre of the art world and redefined the possibilities of art. “The modern painter cannot express this age, the airplane, the atom bomb, the radio, in the old forms of the Renaissance or of any other past culture. Each age finds its own techniques”, states Jackson Pollock in 1940 when a group of American artists set out to change the face of painting. The Abstract Expressionists shared the conviction that they have to forge a new beginning for art expression. They sought to depict ideals of humankind, prove human beings capable of beauty, creativity and deep emotions. Although their styles differed widely, the Abstract Expressionists believed abstract art was a powerful way to convey personal identity, emotional truth and profound human values.

Beyond words, the exhibition is a see for yourself journey.