Comparison Of Wilfredo Lam - 1158 Words

Comparison of Primitivist imagery in Wilfredo Lam’s Untitled, 1953 and Matta’s Untitled (Flying People Eaters), 1942. Wilfredo Lam’s Untitled, 1953 and Matta’s Untitled (Flying People Eaters), 1942 share a wall in gallery 397 of the AIC. The two drawings were completed within 12 years of each other, and they seem be in conversation as surrealist compositions. Both pieces incorporate primitivist imagery into their engagement with the surreal. However, where Matta uses this imagery to further Freudian shock value and bring forward abject discomfort, Lam uses â€Å"primitive† symbology to discuss notions of Afro-Cuban identity through a cubist and surreal lens. Untitled, 1953 is a graphite drawing on cream wove paper. The paper has a visible†¦show more content†¦This figure’s body is cropped, leaving the viewer with only its torso and head. While portions of this figure’s body are more humanoid than the previous, (a pronounced shoulder and breast ground the character) once we move up from these shoulders the body seems to break into geometric abstraction. A spiky neck extends and transforms into a sort of scaffolding to hold up the mask-face. This figure is also decorated with flowers and hair like protrusions, suggesting an almost ritualistic garb. Taking up the entire right side of the composition a third character ascends a staircase and rests one hand on a disjointed platform. This figure wears an elaborate headdress, fabric sash and holds a large knife tucked at it’s side. The figure’s long toes curl around the top stair where it stands surveying the other two figures. This figure also has a tail, and the same mirroring happens between the extending hairs of the headdress and the hairs of its tail as with the candle light and tail of the first figure. The decorations and prominence of this figure give it an air of spiritual significance, the word priest seems apt. Behind this figure is the forth and final figure of the composition. This figure stands lower on the staircase behind the figure with the knife. This figure has a head shaped like a goblet filled with toothpicks. We only see the head and shoulders of this figure,