Thursday, July 15, 2010

eugene andolsek



untitled (347), n.d., ink on graph paper, 16 x 20, untitled (354C), n.d., ink on graph paper, 12 x 17, untitled (294), n.d., ink on graph paper, 16 x 16

i love this work for the powerful use of the grid, the bright colors and repetitive qualities. but what most intrigues me about this work is the story of the artist and why/how he created these pieces.
for fifty years eugene andolsek had a secret life creating drawings with vibrant colors and linear complexity in his free time. working at his kitchen table on graph paper with compass and straight edge he laid out black lines and geometries filling in spaces with colored inks mixed with eye droppers to achieve dazzling compositions....
surprising the pictures were never displayed on his walls nor exhibited. once completed the pictures held no interest for eugene and were put in the closet or a trunk. in fact eugene did not think of himself as an artist nor see any value in what he created beyond the desire to draw them each evening. his drawings gave him a means to cope with his insecurities and dislike for his job as a stenographer for the rock island railroad. concentrating on the the intricacies of each drawing would release him from worries and make his humble surroundings disappear as he withdrew into his self made world of dazzling colors and the space he created on graph paper...
see the entire biography here and more work here.

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