Sol Lewitt

Wall Drawing1996 - 1996

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/walldrawing/vQE5aLIzF257kA?projectId=art-project

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/wall-drawing-1091arcs-circles-and-bands-room/dgFvb3C3qvBYCA?projectId=art-project
"Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands"

Sol Lewitt's art caught my attention, I selected two works of art without
knowing that both works belonged to him. I first came across with Lewitt's
painting named "Wall Drawing" which consists of colorful thick zigzag lines
on a wall with the dimensions of w482 x h298 cm. Lewitt painted this in
1996, for his medium he used ink on a wall. His second work of art I selected
is an installation/painting named "Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and

bands" which consist of different colorful lines, Lewitt painted this in 2003
using synthetic polymer paint and a wall. The wall painting is part of a room
so the dimensions are w16000 x h2000 cm. Both works of art have their
similarities and differences when comparing and contrasting their visual
elements and principles of design.
Both of Lewitt's paintings consist of many lines. For example, on "Wall
drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands" it consists of vertical lines that run
from the top and bottom of the wall, horizontal lines that are placed next to
the curved lines, along with hard lines and lines that are created by an edge
through the use of different colors. Through his use of different types of lines,
one can visually sense a form of organization as they are depicted in
different parts of the wall. Yet, each section of lines seems to guide us onto
the next set of lines. On the other hand, Lewitt's "Wall Drawing" consists of a
fewer amount of different types of lines such as his use of sharp, jagged lines
across the entire wall. He also created lines by using the edge of other lines
in his painting. I personally think he used fewer types of lines in his painting
to try to convey a different meaning when comparing it to his other wall
painting, maybe in this painting he wanted the viewer to focus on the
movement that these zigzag lines create, such as the vertical ups and downs
our eyes guide us through. The zigzags were painted horizontally, yet our
eyes dont view the zigzags completely horizontally because our eyes are
distracted by the sharp, jagged lines these zigzags create causing our eyes

to move up and down from the wall as they slowly work their way
horizontally across the wall.
Although, both works of art by Lewitt use different forms of line, both
of the works don't include the visual element of shape. For example, in "Wall
drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands", it includes geometric shapes that
are painted such as circles (half circles), and rectangles, along with organic
shapes that are irregular as some of them curve in their distinct manner to
create a unique shape. The reason for his use of shapes both geometric and
organic could be for the simple reason Lewitt wanted to bring variety into his
work of art, by combining both types of shapes he is able to achieve a
unique, different look upon each section making it more fun and creative to
view. Lewitt's "Wall Drawing" does not include shapes for the reason that he
might be trying to focus on a particular single idea compared to his other
painting. Both pieces of art use color, but the choice of color is completely
different from one another. "Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands"
uses intense, warm colors (red,yellow, and orange) along with some cool
colors (blue, and violet). The colors used in this wall painting consist of
primary hues such as red, yellow and blue, along with secondary hues such
as orange, green, and violet. The colors used in "Wall Drawing" are
completely different in the sense that only one color is a primary color such
as yellow, making it the only warm, intense color across the painting. Three
colors fall under the category of cool colors such as baby blue, light pale
blue, and dark violet. He also used complimentary colors such as yellow and

violet which are opposite to each other on the color wheel. By painting these
two colors next to each other he created unity and variety by placing them
together. Even though these two colors have nothing in common, yellow and
violet seem to compliment each other really well. Since yellow is a bright
warm, color when it is placed next to violet, which is a cool, dark color both
colors create a sense of harmony. Lewitt's color scheme in "Wall Drawing"
provides the viewer with a sense of tranquility and comfort because the
colors he selected seem to flow well with one another. On the other hand
"Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands" consist of primary and
secondary hues which depict a more playful, colorful, creative mindset taking
us back to when we were little kids in elementary school. Although, Lewitt
used warm and cool colors for "Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands",
it seems like the brighter colors are the ones that stand out the most filling
up the painted room with a very intense, chaotic energy.
Lewitt used repetition and rhythm in both of his paintings. In "Wall
drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands", one can clearly see how he
repeatedly uses the same type of lines within each specific section creating a
pattern. For example, there are six different sections with different types of
lines in each, if we take a look at the vertical lines, one can see how these
lines are repeated as they create a pattern. Same concept applies to the
horizontal lines, curved lines, and the other lines that appeared among each
section. By painting lines repeatedly, Lewitt created a sense of rhythm across
the painted wall. Each section that holds different lines create their own

unique rhythm such as the section with the half circles they create rhythm as
these half circles pull in our eyes to their center kind of like a red bullseye.
The vertical lines were painted straight as they are repeated to highlight the
height of the wall itself. While the other set of lines on the left hand side are
created by an edge they appear to have more of a fun, playful rhythm
because they appear to be painted more freely as they create organic
shapes. It appears that Lewitt decided to use different kinds of lines along
with his use of repetition to create a fun, colorful, rhythm that comes off as
friendly and fun just by viewing it.
In "Wall Drawing", one can also witness how Lewitt repeatedly uses the
same type of sharp, jagged lines (zigzag). In this painting he also created
rhythm, but in "Wall Drawing" the rhythm is quite different, it appears to be
more organized as to the other painting where the rhythm seems to flow
differently from section to section. In "Wall Drawing", the rhythm flows
smoothly as our eyes follow the sharp, jagged lines horizontally as our eyes
move up and down. This type of rhythm reminds me of a roller coaster ride
because of the ups and downs, but in this case it is a very smooth rhythm
across the wall. Both works of art share variety as both works demonstrate
that their elements belong together. For instance, in "Wall drawing #1091:
arcs, circles and bands", the way he used primary and secondary colors
complete the entire painting creating it as a whole. If one of those colors was
to be eliminated, then the entire work of art would change its meaning. Also,
the fact that it was painted on the walls of a room it contributes to its

element, therefore, the entire work of art has unity as each single element is
needed to produce the feeling and emotions one can feel upon viewing it.
Unity is also present in Lewitt's "Wall Drawing" in the manner that each
zigzag line contributes to the effect of rhythm as our eyes move up and
down, each line is essential in order to create rhythm. Both paintings also
seem to include variety, "Wall drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands"
seems to include more variety than "Wall Drawing" due to his choice of color
and the different types of lines he used. When taking a look at Lewitt's "Wall
Drawing" there is some variety, but not as much. In this case the only variety
one can see is through his choice of color, in the manner that they follow a
pattern from light to dark, light to dark and so on. There is no variety with his
use in lines, since it only consists of sharp, jagged lines.
The two wall paintings are non representational art since neither of
these wall paintings depict the appearance of things or objects. Both of
Lewitt's painting just consist of a wall painted with different colors and lines.
Since both wall paintings are non representational it creates a challenge
when having to interpret them since we are not viewing any objects,
persons, events etc. Based on what I've learned from this class I think "Wall
drawing #1091: arcs, circles and bands" represent the child within all of us, it
definitely takes me back to my childhood because it is depicted as fun,
colorful, brilliant, and energetic with a little bit of chaos, since there is so
much going on. My interpretation is based on his use of primary and
secondary colors along with the use of different types of lines and shapes.

Secondly, in Lewitt's "Wall Drawing"I feel that he is conveying a different

meaning such as tranquility and calmness. The zigzag lines remind me of the
ups and downs a roller coaster provides. Through his use of color I am able to
relax and make the connection of how life consists of ups and downs but one
should feel calm just how this painting appears to be with its sharp,jagged
lines.
Both of Lewitt's painting reveal similarities with their use of visual
elements such as line and color. A difference between both paintings is
that"Wall Drawing" doesn't use shapes like the other painting does. Both
paintings share principles of design such as repetition,rhythm, unity and
variety. Even though, both paintings look completely different and both
evoke different emotions, both paintings are very alike when comparing
Lewitt's use of visual elements and principles of design.