Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art

Identity can be found in most pieces of art, more specifically within the ideas of individual, cultural, and historical themes.

The first piece I found reflects cultural identity. Andrea Zittel made a series of drawings titled “sfnwvlei (something for nothing with very little effort involved) series #1-6.” Zittel created six different drawings to represent one idea. She wrote under one of the drawings, “I like the fact that I can make something out of nothing… and in this case it is even better because I am turning something with negative value (my hand) into something with positive value.” In the montage of drawings, the girl is holding what I believe to be dirt in her hands, which is then transferred onto a tray. I think the girl in the drawing is making a contribution to society, to what looks like farmland in the background. Therefore, she is using her hands to create something out of nothing, which could possibly serve as fulfilling a goal to her community with that contribution.

The second piece I found reflects individual identity. The piece created by Charles White, is titled “Solid as a Rock (My God is Rock).” In the piece, the man is standing alone and has a certain firmness in his presence. The man is wearing a robe, which some religious people are known to wear. I think this piece falls under personal identity on account of its reference to God. People often relate spiritual experiences to personal revelations, and on a larger scale individual identity.

The third piece I found reflects historical identity. Jasper Johns created a screenprint titled “Flags.” It’s a print of the American flag duplicated, standing side by side. It has a historical significance since the American flag plays an important part of the country’s journey to independence and the values it holds today. The flags on the print appear to have some wear to it, as if by extension America experienced some hardship. The flag holds a sense of patriotism in times of war, and also represent the difficulties Americans endured.

Individual, cultural, and historical identities each have a specific message the artists try to portray through their work. Zittel shows that community involvement doesn’t have to be complicated since anyone can turn nothing into something. White shows that there can be a sense of stability and serenity in having God as their rock. Johns shows that pride for the country lies in the American flag. Comparatively, they all have have a message that people can look beyond their own personal needs for something more fulfilling and worthwhile. 

Andrea Zittel

“sfnwvlei (something for nothing with very little effort involved) studies #1-6”

Gouache, felt-tip pen, colored pencil, and pencil on paper

2002

Charles White

“Solid as a Rock (My God is Rock)”

Linoleum cut

1958

Jasper Johns

“Flags”

Screenprint

1973