Andy Warhol on repeat

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I've seen Andy Warhol's artworks at the SFMOMA but not as a full exhibit. When I returned to the museum (this time with Alex and Tita Vicky), three floors were dedicated to his works. I noticed his fascination with repetition, particularly with his commercial art (for product ads, I think) and his portraiture. I found some sense in the repeated patterns because I also like doodling patterns in a sketchpad (when I'm extremely bored). However, his Cow Wallpaper (pink cows on yellow background) tested my senses: I found it over-the-top (which was what he was aiming for, I suppose) because it's a repeated pattern of pink cows on neon yellow background. But that didn't stop there... repetitive paintings of flowers were hung over the cows! 

Warhol's work reminds me of the pop of colours in the Austin Powers movies. His work is definitive of the 1960's and the 1970's, in my perspective. Unlike Suzanne Lacy's work, I don't think there's a deeper reading to Warhol's work... it's all about aesthetics for many of his works. 







He dabbled in black-and-white photography too, with images of car wrecks and electric chairs: a stark contrast to the bright colours of his other works. I glossed over the dark compositions because I didn't recognise Warhol in any of those. It felt like a totally different artist searching for his/her voice.

As we exited the exhibit, Alex gushed about the paintings we saw. Perhaps, for a psychiatrist, these paintings were windows into the artist's head. I, in contrast, was scratching my head as we left; I still hadn't recovered from the pink cows just yet!

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