Sol LeWitt

Kevin Kennefick (Wall Drawing 1152)

Standing in front of a Sol LeWitt wall drawing is an experience. The ideas LeWitt came up with are so radical and exciting that his work continues to be executed even after the artist's death. LeWitt focused on the process, so he left clear instructions in the titles of his pieces to ensure that his work could be enjoyed over and over, always being a surprise. Even with instructions, the same piece is different every time it is produced because of the different people who work on it, among other factors. The piece below from the Early LeWitt section is a great example of what made Lewitt a leader in Conceptual Art.

Kevin Kennefick (Wall Drawing 51)

In Wall Drawing 51, every corner on a wall is connected by line to virtually every other corner, including those of the fire alarm. This piece is the perfect example of how LeWitt's work can be so different depending on where it is installed. Different walls will help yield different results just as different people doing the installations will cause variations in line intensity and, perhaps, even accuracy. The results may be impressive, but while standing in front of these large-scale drawings, there is awe for the tedious work that went into creating them. Wall Drawing 51 in particular made me want to install this idea onto my own wall... some far-off day when I have unlimited free time, of course.

Kevin Kennefick (Wall Drawing 415D)

Despite many very simple shapes and colors, there is an intense energy emanating from LeWitt's work. Standing in front of these cube-like forms makes the viewer feel at one moment as if a box is levitating off of the wall. The next moment, the viewer is looking into a space with two walls and a ceiling. Perhaps both sensations are seen at the same time. There is a collaboration between the profoundly contrasting color and scale that can only be experienced while standing in front of a Sol LeWitt piece. Pictures simply can't convey the same effects. There is vibrancy and motion that are not normally associated with something as flat as a wall. Just stand in front of Wall Drawing 880 (below) for a few seconds and see what I mean.

Kevin Kennefick (Wall Drawing 880)

I swear, looking at this wall does something to you. It's the visual equivalent to drinking.

Overall, I found Sol LeWitt's work to be an awesome thing to experience first-hand, the way it is meant to be seen. All periods of his pieces are impressive in their own ways, from the extreme precision and tedium of the line drawings to the mind-boggling colorful spectacles of his mid to late career. I will definitely recommend a visit before 2033 to as many people as I can.

(via MASS MoCA)