by Leslie Thompson | 4 June 2010 | Contemporary
Last night the Dallas Museum of Art presented a talk with Luc Tuymans. The DMA recently opened the first US retrospective of the artist (organized by the Wexner and SFMOMA). I enjoy how the subdued palette of his work combined with the paintings’ subject matter produces a feeling that lingers, or haunts the viewer (like a memory).
Something from Tuymans’ talk that resonated was in his discussion of referencing the horrors of history in his paintings (whether it be the effects of WWII, post-colonial Congo, the global aftermath of 9/11, etc). As an artist working with these subjects, he paints not as a way to come to terms with the events. One can never come to terms; that’s not the point- he says. The point is not to obliterate these emotional events of history, these inhumanities, from culture. We cannot choose our history.
While Tuymans doesn’t think art should be full of political content (propoganda), his paintings definitely become politically charged (so many examples: Lumumba (2000), The Secretary of State (2005) and Gas Chamber (1986) to name a few).
Tuymans’ views on these historical tragedies seems to reflect my own. I would have enjoyed this event. Sorry I missed it, but thanks for reporting!