Liberation Richard Tuttle Light Pink Octagon Analysis

At the turn of the 20th and further into the 21st century, art began to drop the baggage carried from the masters of the Renaissance and began a trajectory of change. Artists began challenging the schools and galleries of art around the world in an effort to break away from the chains that were wrapped around them in an effort to control the basis of art. Strange patters, shapes, colors and spaces emerged as each one challenged every norm known to the artistic circle. Critics and viewers alike were suddenly required to think less about the topics of paintings and more about their formal aspects. As decades passed, the singularity of art began to intensify and different forms of art demanded the same recognition as others before. Liberation

During the 1960’s, a new branch emerged from this style to further challenge the boundaries that artists constantly fought to expand. Minimalism sought to emphasize attention to the physical properties of space and materials as being the artwork itself, without any connotative meaning attached to it. One of Tuttle’s earliest works, Light Pink Octagon, exhibits characteristics from this movement and encourages the viewer to value this piece for what it is by itself and nothing else. With this artwork, Tuttle forced critics and viewers to eradicate the presupposed boundaries and humbly demanded an open mind for the acceptance of art in its simplest and purest

It is made from a piece of cloth cut into an octagonal shape, hemmed all around and later dyed with Tintex into a pale pink color. During the process of dyeing the cloth the artist also permanently wrinkled it, giving it not only a unique texture but also a shabby and neglected appearance. Supporting this presentation is also the lack of perfection, from the unequal sides of the octagon to the uneven hem lines, this piece becomes so intriguing precisely because it does not conform to the usual guidelines of art. None of the elements call attention on themselves but instead together create something peculiar that strongly demands the attention of the viewer. Displayed in the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, this piece can capture the eye with no limitations on its location inside the museum. It can be hung anywhere or placed carefully in the cold floor and it will capture the same effect and draw the same attention, regardless of where it may be. This is important because this piece allows its beauty and simplicity to exist anywhere, precisely because of those