Remember the jaw-droppingly gorgeous floor from Catherine Kwong's rock 'n' roll lounge at the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase? I can't stop thinking about it, and more to the point, wishing I had a client courageous enough to allow me to make such unabashedly artistic gestures in their home. I loved Catherine's process, and the storied and curated inspiration for her room - from Mick and Bianca Jagger and the rock 'n' roll glam culture they helped to create; to the hum and vibe of backstage life; to the iconic art of Cy Twombly, the direct inspiration for that inspiring floor.
So today I'm taking some time to sit and savour - like sipping a fine wine - the artist who inspired Catherine's spectacular art floor: Cy Twombly.
Born in 1928, Twombly was known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, calligraphic-style graffiti paintings. Painted on solid fields of mostly gray, tan, or off-white, it is their graphic simplicity bursting with emotion that sets them apart and has led to his work being exhibited and collected around the globe.
His approach to painting blurred the lines between painting and drawing, making lines and gestures subject matter unto themselves, holding their own next to traditional landscapes and figurative work.
Twombly was influential amongst his peers, and an agent of discomfort for critics in the postwar era of art. He had a capacity to polarize his audience - from discomfort to passionate admiration of his boldness.
How do you respond to the gestural work of Cy Twombly? Confusion? Admiration?
My hope is he inspires all of us to push the boundaries of exploration and expression. He certainly succeeded with Catherine Kwong, and I tip my hat to them both.
Happy Monday!
xo
s.
Labels: 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, abstract expressionism, art, Catherine Kwong, Cy Twombly, graffiti paintings, house, postwar art, The Curated Collection
