The art I
chose for the aboriginal Pintrest assignment is a piece called The Chase by Kent Monkman, it is done with
acrylic paint on a 84" x 126" canvas. In the painting Monkman depicts a modern
buffalo hunt with his first nation chasing the buffalo through the crowded
streets on a motorcycle. The artist uses a variation of lines depending on what
he is drawing, for example the buffalos are all drawn in different styles, some
have a more geometric “surreal” look while others are done more realistically.
If you look on the fence in the background you can also see what looks like an
interpretation of a cave painting. The artist uses more defined lines on
objects such as the motorcycle and the buildings while the clouds are done in a
more “fluffy” light style.
The first thing I see looking at this piece is the motorcycle this is
because excluding the sky Monkman uses mostly washed out darker colors which
automatically draws my attention to the motorcycle. I like the sort of offset
of focus used in this picture. Positioning the motorcycle to the right of the
buffalo gives a feeling of motion, It makes you see the buffalo as being
enclosed or corralled. I also like that the buildings are well done but colored
in a way so that they do not draw too much attention away from the piece.
When I see this artwork I feel as though Monkman is trying to create a
metaphor for how the first nations were treated something about a man using
more advanced technology (motorcycle) to herd/hunt the buffalo out of a city
really seems more like symbolic meaning to me. I believe this represents the
first nations being forced somewhere they don't belong (plotted land, reserves)
and then being forced to always leave for a smaller and less ideal place.
Overall The Chase’s visual style alone is enough to
make it an attractive piece but I also believe that the many possibilities of
meanings are what would make it appeal to most people I think it is a
tremendously powerful piece of art and I enjoyed reviewing it.
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