Funk Art – The Concept & a brief history
Inspired by the contemporary trends, fashion, and lifestyle, Funk Art became probably the most unconventional forms of the current Art in the late 1950s through 1970s. Originated in California, this art style remained active mainly in the usa. Funk Art represented an eclectic mix of elements, including discarded & junk matter, torn bits of fabric, old furniture, photos. US Funk artist Edward Kienholz described these components as ‘the leftovers of human experience.’ Similarly, Funk had varying manifestations in the form of paintings, sculptures, and assemblages. It derived its name in the musical genre, ‘funky.’ The word ‘funky’ means earthy, sensuous, and passionate in the musical parlance, however it has another meaning literally, ‘smelly.’ The Funk artists made the second connotation, fundamental for their work.
The Details
Funk Art would be a reaction from the idealistic seriousness of Abstract Expressionism, that the Funk artists rejected as disconnected from reality and artistic social responsibility. It had been consciously executed in a distasteful manner to this kind of extent that it was considered ‘tatty’ or ‘sick.’ These artists often blended humor with vulgarity and explicit representations. However, bawdiness was not the best aim of Funk Art movement. The performers strived to confront the art scene in Ny through their satirically shocking pieces. Sometimes, these works were also autobiographical anyway that had a flow of the narrative. Sculptures and assemblages formed a great part of the body of works by Funk artists. Three-dimensional static pieces made of ceramic were a prominent style of this genre.
The performers & the Artworks
One of the most prominent names associated with the Funk Art Movement were Edward Kienholz, Bruce Conner, Roy de Forest, Gladys Nilsson, George Herms, Lucas Samaras, James Nutt, Paul Thek, and Colin Self. Other alumni from the University of California, who propagated this art further, included David Gilhooly, Peter Vandenberge, Margaret Dodd, and Chris Unterseher. Artworks, like ‘I’m All a Twit’ by Jim Nutt, had become the signature pieces of Funk Art. It is a operate in varying media, consisting of acrylic paint on vinyl window and enamel paint on wood frame. Similarly, Gladys Nilsson’s paintings capture a curious mixture of domesticity with the fantastical and deranged imagery. David Gilhooly, on the other hand, had mastery in ceramic works and etching. His classic piece ‘The Windshield Sam Francis,’ is composed of aquatint and colored etching.