WP3: Pre-Write 4

Fragment X-O was created by Juan Hamilton, who was born in 1945. He began his career as a potter and worked largely with clay. His career was furthered by his interaction with Georgia O’Keefe. As a classic American artist, she painted masterpieces that have a simple, yet sensuous feel to them and she used bold shapes and colors. Hamilton actually lived with her as a confidant and caretaker in the later years of her life after the death of her husband until her own death in 1986. His close interaction with O’Keefe and his origins as a potter likely influenced the creation of Fragment in the fluid lines and smooth construction. It seems as though he took the same approach to working with the bronze of this sculpture as to working with clay when potting. The influence of O’Keefe is reflected in the boldness of the shape and the soft, simple lines created within the “O”.

Hamilton’s art was also influenced by Zen Buddhism. He first encountered this fresh world view on a trip to Japan in 1970. He worked to capture the philosophy and aesthetics of this religion in his sculptures. His abstract forms developed out of this fascination and he has said that “they come from inside me. I feel them three-dimensionally in the center of my chest.” This sculpture is also perhaps a representation of the innermost portions of the body from Hamilton’s perspective.

Much of Hamilton’s art is also related to Fragment. His sculptures tend to be created from the same bronze metal and have similar smooth edges. He also has a trend of creating circular forms similar to Fragment. These purely abstract forms all share smooth, dark forms that reflect light and interact with their environment in specific yet very different ways, whether it be in the outside world or inside a museum filled with artificial light. However, despite these similarities the most distinct difference that is in the titling of Fragment. This title captures the audience and makes them take a closer look at the seemingly simple form before them. While the other titles of his pieces are descriptive and informative, like Portrait #2 or Curve and Shadow #2, the title of this large circle is not necessarily informative but thought provoking and beckons as many questions as the sculpture is large.

This piece, Fragment, stands out among Hamilton’s sculptures not only in shape and size, but also in the name. However, this piece also shares many similarities to these other pieces that helps to further the understanding of the origins of this piece in relationship to the artist.