Born in Springfield, Illinois in 1943, David Hammons is a world-renowned African-American installation artist, performance artist, and sculptor (“David Hammons” 2016). In 1963, Hammons moved to Los Angeles to study advertising at Los Angeles Trade Technical College (“David Hammons” 2016). While in advertising school, Hammons began taking night classes at the Otis Art Institute where he studied under the notable artist Charles White (“David Hammons” 2016). After unearthing his prodigious abilities and passion for art, Hammons deserted advertising and enrolled full-time at the Chouinard Art Institute in 1966 (“David Hammons” 2016). After graduating from art school in 1968, Hammons began creating works of art referred to as “body prints” which
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The movement, known as Arte Povera, “marked a reaction against much of the abstract painting that dominated art in the period” (Falconer 2016). The Arte Povera movement was led by a group of artists who emphasized “materiality and physicality” when creating their artwork (Falconer 2016). The name Arte Povera, meaning “poor art,” was given to the group by Italian art critic Germano Celant in 1967 (Vanegas 2013). The name references the groups use of “poor” materials such as “borrowed forms” and objects from everyday life (Falconer 2016). The artists’ use of everyday materials “contrasted with the apparently industrial sensibility of American Minimalism” (Falconer 2016). Minimalism was unlike Arte Povera in that it “avoided overt symbolism and emotional content” (Wolf 2016). Arte Povera artists sought to create emotionally significant and symbolic artwork. Like many of his notable pieces, David Hammons’ Pray for America exemplified the Arte Povera style in both symbolism and method of composition. Pray for America was undoubtedly emblematic and emotional due to it's politically charged content. In regard to the use of poor materials popularized by Arte Povera, Pray for America was composed utilizing household greases such as margarine and involved simply the human body as a tool for application. All of Hammons’ body …show more content…
Through his metaphorical artwork, Hammons peacefully advocated for the civil rights and black nationalist movements. At a time of great violence, Hammons employed art as a peaceful weapon against oppression and injustice. With his body prints, Hammons familiarized his audience with the African American form and personified black people at a time when they were treated as less than human. Furthermore, he empowered the African American people by making a name for himself as a respected figure in the art community. In addition to his political and social influence, Hammons’ artwork also had a lasting impact on the artistic culture of America from the 1960’s to the present day. Influenced by the Arte Povera movement that emerged in Italy in the 1960’s, Hammons created pieces of art that evoked an “individual and personal response” from its viewers (Falconer 2016). His body prints stressed an “interaction between viewer and object that was unrepeatable and purely original’ (Falconer 2016). In addition to his unique artistic style and profound use of symbolism, David Hammons will forever be regarded for his ability to promote peace, unity, and equality with the art he
The movement, known as Arte Povera, “marked a reaction against much of the abstract painting that dominated art in the period” (Falconer 2016). The Arte Povera movement was led by a group of artists who emphasized “materiality and physicality” when creating their artwork (Falconer 2016). The name Arte Povera, meaning “poor art,” was given to the group by Italian art critic Germano Celant in 1967 (Vanegas 2013). The name references the groups use of “poor” materials such as “borrowed forms” and objects from everyday life (Falconer 2016). The artists’ use of everyday materials “contrasted with the apparently industrial sensibility of American Minimalism” (Falconer 2016). Minimalism was unlike Arte Povera in that it “avoided overt symbolism and emotional content” (Wolf 2016). Arte Povera artists sought to create emotionally significant and symbolic artwork. Like many of his notable pieces, David Hammons’ Pray for America exemplified the Arte Povera style in both symbolism and method of composition. Pray for America was undoubtedly emblematic and emotional due to it's politically charged content. In regard to the use of poor materials popularized by Arte Povera, Pray for America was composed utilizing household greases such as margarine and involved simply the human body as a tool for application. All of Hammons’ body …show more content…
Through his metaphorical artwork, Hammons peacefully advocated for the civil rights and black nationalist movements. At a time of great violence, Hammons employed art as a peaceful weapon against oppression and injustice. With his body prints, Hammons familiarized his audience with the African American form and personified black people at a time when they were treated as less than human. Furthermore, he empowered the African American people by making a name for himself as a respected figure in the art community. In addition to his political and social influence, Hammons’ artwork also had a lasting impact on the artistic culture of America from the 1960’s to the present day. Influenced by the Arte Povera movement that emerged in Italy in the 1960’s, Hammons created pieces of art that evoked an “individual and personal response” from its viewers (Falconer 2016). His body prints stressed an “interaction between viewer and object that was unrepeatable and purely original’ (Falconer 2016). In addition to his unique artistic style and profound use of symbolism, David Hammons will forever be regarded for his ability to promote peace, unity, and equality with the art he