Why I love pop art

The appealing art of Warhol, Lichtenstein...and why I love pop art

Many of my friends and family enjoy visiting art galleries. In reality, there are few galleries where I find a majority of works that are transfixing or immersive. The appeal of a gallery is in hunting down the minority that are beguiling.

We have a rule that after our visit we should reveal what artwork was our favourite (sometimes the least favourite is obvious and mentioned).

On a recent trip to London, the sole purpose of which was to see Radiohead in concert, my daughter and I managed to squeeze in a visit to the Tate Modern. So the question after each event was: what was the best?

For the concert we agreed: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi.

We were also in agreement about the Tate Modern. It was the 'Marilyn Diptych' by Andy Warhol, closely followed by Roy Lichtenstein's 'Whaam.'

Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol

So here are the questions: How comes you can visit a major gallery featuring the most famous modern artists - Picasso, Richter, Matisse, Modigliani and so many others - and yet it is the pop art that has the greatest impact? Why do I love pop art?

As mentioned in content on this website I like music and art that is immersive. Many critics of the genre hate that it seems to exemplify the garish, in your face hype of materialism and commerce. No imagination required.

However, the sheer scale of the two Warhol pieces, the black and colour, draws you in. Each one is over 2 metres tall and nearly 1.5 wide. Together they make a colossal work. The couple who approached Warhol directly and became the original owners urged him to display the works together.

What is interesting about 50 Marilyns? Well, each one is different.

How did he get the idea to create 25 monochrome and 25 colour Marilyns? How did he form the multiples after numerous single silkscreens? What impact did the death of the most famous woman in the world have on the artist? Why did conservators at the gallery spend two years restoring the art to its original purchased condition?

The monumental works of Roy Lichtenstein similarly draw you into a remarkable world. The critic or cynic would just dismiss his art as cartoons. Yes they are, but 1727 x 4064mm?

How did he conceive of such work? What level of planning was required to pull it off? How commonly do artists manage to attempt a 4 metre wide work and succeed in challenging the viewer?

Interior with Waterlilies by Roy Lichtenstein (3209 x 4553mm)

At the outset I mentioned that I like the challenge of finding something in an art gallery that will be memorable. As I write this I am rebuking myself for ignoring all the works that don't have instant appeal and not taking time to contemplate the human being, motivation and skill required to produce a work that can hang in a gallery.

Some of my own artwork is inspired by the pop art genre and whilst I don't make silkscreen prints I try to reproduce the style.

Why not check out my pop art collection. Maybe you might like one!

Thanks for reading this! JME