Chapter One: Artist Contrast 1

Two artists that were mentioned in Chapter One: Living with art, are the sculptor Constantin Brancusi and Architect Maya Lin.

Constantin Brancusi, as mentioned before, is a sculptor who was born in Romania but eventually resided within Paris France where his studio was eventually made into a museum. From what I understand from both the books and from what we discussed in class, Brancusi believed in the simplest, most basic of words, shapes, and forms. His works such as the ‘Endless Column‘, ‘Fish‘, and ‘Bird in Space’ are simple but powerful.

Maya Lin was born in the united states after both her parents imigrated from China. Her father was a ceramist and her mother a poet. She is most famous for designing the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington D.C. Other pieces that she has designed include the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery Alabama, The “Wave Field” at the University of Michigan, and the Langaston Hughes Library in Clinton Tennessee.

I wanted to compare these two artists together because, while Brancusi is a sculptor and Lin is an architect, it mentioned in the reading that Lin often classified herself as both a sculptor and an architect. They both use simple means to portray powerful meanings. Take for instance “Endless Column” sculpted by Brancusi. It is very simple yet powerful and, as the book mentioned, seems as though it could go on forever. I found this style to be very similar to Lin’s Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial because at first glance it is very simple. Just a black wall, cut into the earth. Yet when you take the time to look at the polished black surface of the granite, it reflects the world back at you and when you reach out to touch a name its as if you’re touching yourself because of your reflection. Also, following the simplicity of the design, which reminds me of the ‘Endless Column’ as well, is how the wall subtly grows higher as you walk down the path. Like the column, it seems as though it could go on forever with name after name of the deceased.