I Am Curious (Blue)

The color blue brings with it an array of emotions and interpretations. Blue evokes a feeling of calm or serenity, as well as the depths of the unconscious mind and imagination. Blue is the essence of natural elements like water and sky, and the vast expanse of the universe -- conveying the hidden depths of our nature. Blue is also darkness made visible, described by Carl Jung as representing the shadow self, or our own “collection of repressed aspects of our identity...recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real.” The use of blue to convey spirituality and religious meaning has been present throughout art history -- from the depiction of the robes of the Virgin Mary in Renaissance paintings to Yves Klein’s use of monochromatic blue as representative of life and immortality.

 

In this online exhibition titled I Am Curious (Blue), taken from Swedish director Vilgot Sjöman's film compendium I Am Curious (Yellow), a selection of twenty international artists use blue in their work to touch on a range of emotions and ideas. Blue is recognized by these artists as representing a deeper level of existence. From the melancholy of Aris Moore’s imaginary creatures executed in the simple medium of ballpoint pen (a tool chosen by a number of artists in this show), to New York based artist Cody Tumblin’s celestial bursts executed in canvas collage on dyed linen, these artists use the depth of blue. As written by Italian artist Leon Alberti in his seminal treatise De Picture (On Painting), "blue, is the color of the element of air" and like air, its depth is "a quality of mind...an invisible power that permeates all things...".