American painter and printmaker, Frank Stella (born May 1936) specializes in the art of ‘post-painting abstraction’ and ‘minimalism’. He has been the bearer of the torch of these innovative modern techniques that refuse to follow conformist art. The ‘post-painting abstraction’ refers to a form of painting, which finds its origin in ‘abstract expressionism’. Its uniqueness is attributed to its rendering of symmetrical geometric patterns, often in vibrant color combinations, which could be as few as just two shades of color. ‘Minimalism’ is an associated movement of ‘post-painting abstraction’, which is a form of visual art, where the fundamental characteristics of the work are highlighted. It belongs to the genre of “modernism” and carries its underlying methodology of “reduction”. In 1984, Stella presented her groundbreaking work “The Science of Laziness (La scienza della pigrizia),” which is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
This large relief, “The Science of Laziness (La scienza della pigrizia)”, is created on a canvas base with varied supports. Use oil paint, enamel paint, which has the property of drying to a tough but glossy finish, and alkyd paint. Alkyd is a modified form of polyester, which has the property of drying on a glossy surface, but with greater flexibility on the surface than in the case of enamel paint. Stella’s creative use of three types of paint was specifically designed to add degrees of color appearance and give the piece a truly eclectic appearance. Other media used are etched magnesium, aluminum, and fiberglass (extremely thin glass in fibrous form, known for its strength and optical properties).
Engraving is a process in which the surface of a metal is cut, using acid or mordant, to create different engravings or shapes. The prominent colors that adorn the background of “The Science of Laziness (La scienza della pigrizia)” are red, blue, green and brown. A white semicircular disk with red and green brushstrokes is glued to the left edge of the piece. A conical, fan-shaped, grooved structure sticks toward the top of the disc. The left side of the set features three cylindrical structures, radiating from the center, but randomly placed one above the other. In keeping with Stella’s fascination with stripe patterns, all three cylinders have vertical bands of varying width. A flat and elongated abstract piece is glued to the upper part of the assembly that covers the entire breadth of the work. It is painted with bluish-white paint, which gives the work a masterful touch.
Frank’s association with unorthodox art gave him the opportunity to experiment with his mature imagination to create some of the most fascinating works, such as “The Science of Laziness (La scienza della pigrizia”, which is the best example.