First Reaction

While coming upon Curve/Diagonal by Maki one might have the initial reaction that it’s just a curved steel structure, when there is really much more to it then that. When creating Curve/Diagonal, Maki was really interested in the way the light outside manipulated the curve to change the appearance of the sculpture.

Maki’s Background

Maki is most well known for his steel geometric sculptures. Some of his most famous sculptures are just in Seattle. Maki collaborated with landscape architect Robert Hanna to create Westlake Star Axis/Seven Hills, a design to unite the triangular space of Westlake Park. The seven sculptural elements represent the seven hills on which Seattle was built. Another work that is seen by thousands is Maki’s sculpture at SEA-TAC airport. In short video on youtube Maki discusses how his sculptures become “extensions of their surroundings and also extensions of the viewers body who is walking through the piece.” (Robert Maki) In Maki’s pieces he shows his interest in the many ways we see. In manipulating our perceptions, he has managed to manifest his own quiet, determined faith in the ability of forms to speak for themselves. As stated by Maki, “I think of my artwork as a fragment of something larger. My sculpture involves illusionary structures and situations lending to perceptual ambiguity in both interior and large-scale outdoor concepts” (Robert Maki).

Influence of the Times

Between the period of 1976 and 1979, the socio-political and institutional climate was fluctuating due to evolving pop-culture and the new generation taking over the reigns that drive our world. As the general population was trying to make sense of what was happening around them, many had to change their point of view in order to understand what was occurring. African American and Women’s rights were changing, the situation in the middle east was evolving, and everyday life interactions between the U.S. government and it’s citizens’ were changing along with the turn of the 80’s.  Jimmy Carter pardoned the draft jumpers, oppressed groups were given voices of their own. It was a time of healing and understanding driven by empathy which required people to try and understand other people’s point of view. To see the sculptures true value you have to look at it from different points of view, literally move your body to perceive the shape and lighting in different ways. Maki could be referencing the diversity in the world around him by acknowledging that each viewer can see something different based off where they are standing in relation to the object. The world around maki was understood by many people in many different ways, similarly, curve/diagonal can be observed in many distinct ways based on where you stand (World Events).

WWU’s Maki

The make of the sculpture is very interesting because it is only crafted together by two main sheets of steel that have been welded together. This creates an aerodynamic, “fast” feeling aesthetic feel to the whole piece.

To really understand the complexity and vision behind Maki’s design one must visit and interact with the sculpture at different times of day (in various lights). For example at night the shadows cast by the sculptures lights and the various campus lights make it look like there is a panel in between the (flat) front piece and the (curved) back piece when there is really an open space in-between the panels. However during the day time this shadow might not be there or be cast in a different area giving off a completely different illusion. 

Take Away

Curve/Diagonal makes one think about how, like the sculpture, there are many things in life that are not always how they appear.  Maki is  making a statement about how we as humans tend to perceive things. Just as the art piece changes with the daylight, life around us is constantly changing. Maki is trying to teach us that we cannot merely look once at something and make judgments, we must actually interact and get personable with people and things to really understand them (Canary II).  

Work Credit:

Blog Post: Alice Hiebert

Text in Blog: Alice Hiebert, Brandon Wolter, Karina Provo

Video: Alice Hiebert

Music: Dreams by Nuages

Citations

“PROGRAPHICA: In the Mind of the Artist.” PROGRAPHICA In the Mind of the Artist,  

prographicagallery.wordpress.com/tag/robert-maki/.

“Robert Maki – Canary II.” 24 Mar. 2014.

STQRY Inc. Canary II – Robert Maki – Discover – STQRY,

discover.stqry.com/v/canary-ii-robert-maki/s/8d7e1333de74b140ba1f45ed

05e5c79d.

World Events from 1970 to Today,

livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe70s/worldevents_01.html.