American painter and printmaker Frank Stella (born May 1936) specializes in the art of ‘post-painterly abstraction’ and ‘minimalism’. He has been a standard-bearer for these innovative modern techniques that refuse to follow conformist art. ‘Post-Painterly Abstraction’ refers to a form of painting, which has its origins in ‘Abstract Expressionism’. The uniqueness of it is attributed to its depiction of symmetrical geometric patterns, often set in vibrant color combinations, which can be as few as two shades of color. ‘Minimalism’ is a movement associated with ‘post-painterly abstraction’, which is a form of visual art in which the fundamental characteristics of the work are highlighted. It belongs to the genre of ‘Modernism’ and carries its underlying methodology of ‘reduction’. In 1984, Stella devised his groundbreaking work “The Science of Sloth (La scienza della pigrizia)”, which is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
This large relief, “The Science of Sloth (La scienza della pigrizia)”, is created on a canvas base using various media. It makes use of oil paint, enamel paint, which has the property of drying to a tough but glossy finish, and alkyd paint. Alkyd is a modified form of polyester, which has the property of drying to a glossy surface, but with greater surface flexibility than enamel paint. Stella’s creative use of three types of paint was specifically designed to add degrees in the appearance of the colors and give the piece a truly eclectic look. Other media used are etched magnesium, aluminum, and fiberglass (extremely thin glass in fibrous form, known for its strength and optical properties).
Engraving is a process in which the surface of a metal is cut, using acid or mordant, to create engravings or different shapes. The prominent colors that adorn the background of “The Science of Sloth (La scienza della pigrizia)” are red, blue, green, and brown. On the left edge of the piece is glued a white semicircular disk with brushstrokes of red and green. A conical, fan-shaped structure, with ridges, sticks to the upper side of the disc. The left side of the set features three cylindrical structures, radiating from the center, but randomly placed one above the other. In keeping with Stella’s fascination with striped patterns, all three cylinders have vertical bands of varying width. A flat and elongated abstract piece that covers the entire width of the work is glued to the top of the set. It is painted with bluish-white paint, adding a masterful brushstroke to the work.
Frank’s association with unorthodox art gave him the opportunity to experiment with his mature imagination to create some of his most striking works, with “The Science of Sloth (La scienza della pigrizia)” being the best example.
