Why abstract art functions like a musical score over time
In short: Abstract art is often dismissed as static, but for some, it behaves more like a symphony. By shifting the focus from literal subjects to the interaction of color and depth, these works reveal themselves in layers that evolve every time you look.
In a collaboration between the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the BBC, actor and art collector Steve Martin explores early 20th-century American abstraction. Rather than seeking recognizable figures, Martin highlights how paintings by pioneers like Stanton MacDonald-Wright and Morgan Russell utilize color as an equivalent to music. In this framework, a composition is not a fixed image but a dynamic experience where different areas of pure color create the necessary structure for the viewer's imagination. The discussion features Ann Temkin, who serves as the Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture. This radio series is part of a larger thirty-episode project featuring various creative thinkers.
The specific works discussed are significant because they represent a pivotal moment in art history when abstraction became a primary obsession. The artists demonstrated that the juxtaposition of colors alone could provide all the composition needed to evoke emotion or atmosphere. For Martin, these pieces possess a sense of depth and a 'symphonic' quality, allowing shapes to transform into natural elements like mountains, sky, and water as the viewer engages with them. Martin chose these specific pieces because they appeared lonely within the gallery space. These works are considered essential for defining how abstraction became a dominant artistic obsession.
This perspective emphasizes that high-quality art is iterative; it 'keeps on giving' as you return to it. By moving away from the demand for immediate narrative, these works invite a slower form of observation where the painting evolves over time. This approach positions abstract art not as a lack of subject matter, but as a sophisticated visual language designed to be decoded through repeated viewing and emotional resonance. The program is hosted by broadcaster Alastair Sooke and available on BBC Sounds. Martin also recently curated an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Steve Martin on how to look at abstract art | MoMA BBC | THE WAY I SEE IT
- Also: Steve Martin on the Synchromists | Magazine | MoMA
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