Critique Number 2

Roy De Forest, The Airplane (1993). Color lithograph (22 1/4"x29 15/16")

            Roy De Forest's The Airplane (1993), is a color lithograph strewn with chaotic lines and surreal images on a solid white base. The ground of the image consists of what appears to be a mountain range made up of dogs of varying shades of green. Lines shooting out several of the dogs' eyes suggest that they are projecting lasers or beams of light. A pink plane with bird heads attached to its front end is soaring through the sky. It contains a line of bird passengers seen in a row of porthole windows running along the side of the plane. A solitary red bird-like figure with long thin legs and a small brown hat accompanied by their dog-like companion watches this plane from atop the dog-mountains. Another bird flies above this figure's head, moving in the same direction as the plane. A series of chaotic lines and smudges complements the surreal feel of the piece. The lines in the air, in addition to the slight foreshortening of the plane adds a sense of motion. Cross-hatching on the dog-mountains and trees hidden within them add a contrast between the bottom and top halves of the piece -- they ground the image, in a sense, by weighing it down with a high line density at its end. In fact, there is a higher density of lines along the sides of the image as well, drawing focus to the plane in the center. The colors in this piece are complementary (reds, pinks, greens, and some blues), and heighten the feeling of chaos that emanates from the work. In fact, the matching colors among the birds and among the dogs help to create a strong sense of unity amidst the chaos. The grouping of similar line styles both for the dog-mountains and for the plane also reinforce unity through repetition and continuation. 

            The solitary figure at the bottom right of the piece appears to be close in color to the birds in the sky, but upon close inspection doesn't quite look like a bird. They are followed by a white dog with an orange-red eye that matched their body color. The hat on the figure implies some human qualities. This implication, tied with the fantastic landscape spread before them evokes the fantasy trope of the hero and their dog traveling to lands unknown on some quest. They have entered into a land where their own physical qualities are reflected in the world around them -- the white dog by the dog-mountains, and the orange-red by the birds in the air and in the plane. The whole concept of a plane made of its passengers is surreal, and bring complete self-sufficiency and technological upgrades to mind (the plane with many birds versus the solitary bird flying alone beneath it). Hunting dogs can prey on birds, but there is no sense of hostility in this image -- in fact, the dog-mountains appear to be fairly benign. 

            The work is hung by a solid rectangle of styrofoam running behind its top edge. It has torn and messy looking sides along its top and bottom, and cleaner sides to its right and left. The Airplane is located in the Faulconer gallery, on the far right wall from the entrance. The surprising amount of color and action in the work draws focus in that area of the gallery, as do all of Roy De Forest's pieces that are spread throughout the space.

Tursman