Sundaram Tagore Gallery presents an historic body of work by American artist Susan Weil (b. 1930). Weil is among the key female figures who pushed the boundaries of Abstract Expressionism, a movement largely defined by male painters. As the narrative of modern art is rewritten and women artists are finally entering the spotlight, Weil’s contribution is coming to the fore.
Tracing the arc of her seven-decade career, this retrospective features landscapes from the 1960s, iconic blueprints (1949–2020), figurative paintings, series inspired by the natural world and work made this year.
Weil studied under Josef Albers (pictured above) at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, the rural mecca for young artists, composers and choreographers. She often scoured campus rubbish dumps with Robert Rauschenberg where they found unexpected materials to incorporate in their experimental works.
Weil moved to New York in 1949 with Rauschenberg when the art scene was erupting. She came of age at the center of the New York School—a group of vanguard artists working in the city in the ’40s and ’50s—known for its eclectic cultural influences and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her peers included artists Cy Twombly, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and Jasper Johns as well as dancer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage.
When she introduced Rauschenberg to the blueprint technique, which she used to create life-size cyanotypes of human figures and foliage, it had an indelible impact on his practice. He later went on to stage a significant exhibition featuring work in China in 1985, which in turn inspired Chinese artists to explore new approaches to art-making.
Venue: Sundaram Tagore Gallery, 5 Lock Road 01-05, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 11am-7pm
Open Sunday by appointment, Closed on Mondays & Public holidays
When: 17 Sep - 27 Nov 2021,
By: Sundaram Tagore Gallery Singapore