Saturday, April 6, 2013

Campbell's soup and Graffiti


Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol 


Everyone knows the Campbell’s soup cans, and I'm pretty sure most have tried it! Best remembered for his paintings of Campbell's soup cans, Andy Warhol was one of the most important artists of pop art, which became extremely popular in the second half of the twentieth century.
As a child, Andy was almost always sick and was often mocked by his peers. As a result, he becomes very attached to his mother. This bond lasts well into his life, and Warhol missed a lot of school during several month-long periods of bed-rest. Plus, “large, pink blotches” on Warhol's skin, also from St. Vitus' dance, didn't help his self-esteem or acceptance by other students. He eventually lost his “angelic” look, and gained a “great bulbous cherry” nose, according to his mother; but the only thing that would help him get through this phase was with a can of “tomato soup” (Bockris 1989).
After his phase with the blotted-line technique, Warhol decided to use paint and canvas to express himself, but at first he had some trouble deciding what to paint. Warhol began with Coke bottles, comic strips, magazine ads, but his work wasn't getting the attention he wanted. In December 1961, Warhol gave $50 to a friend of his who had told him she had a good idea. Her idea was for him to paint what he liked most in the world, perhaps something like money and a can of soup. Warhol painted both, and the Campbell’s soup was a hit! Now he’s famous for it.
A contemporary pop artist, Mr. Brainwash, who directed and was featured in “Exit Through the Gift Shop” actually did a huge size Campbell’s Soup spray paint can, and I fell in love. That movie is honestly the best, so I recommend watching it, IMMEDIATELY. As a fan of graffiti and Warhol, I was a happy little schoolgirl when this movie was put in Netflix, and available in Youtube. You're welcome.

“The Life and Death of Andy Warhol” by Victor Bockris

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