Art Comparison

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Madison Courtney

Dr. Decker

ART 217

March 7, 2014

ES2

Formal Analysis: Surrounded Islands

Surrounded Islands was in Biscane Bay, Greater Miami, Florida. Christo surrounded eleven islands with bright pink fabric. On May 7th, 1983 the project was completed and it was on display for two weeks. This was right around the time of the Miami revival.

Surrounded Islands were eleven islands covered in vegetation that were surrounded by pink fabric extending out from each island into the bay. 6.5 million square feet of polypropylene fabric was used in this project. Each island was enclosed individually with the fabric. If looking from an overhead view, they looked like forms of pink with green in the middle. The fabric encompassing the islands was not a geometric shape but rather a free form that went along with the natural shape of the islands.

When first looking at the islands the most striking thing is the bright pink color. The color could be described as flamingo pink. This color highly contrasts with its surroundings of water and island vegetation. The use of the color seems very unnatural because of the amount it is used, suggesting that the piece was created in order to contrast with its natural surroundings.

Another thing that suggests the contrast is the sheer size of the piece, 6.5 million square feet of polypropylene fabric is no small amount. This color pink may be a natural color on some instances but not in this amount. However, because the width of the fabric on each side of each island does not seem much wider than the island itself, it isn’t overwhelming. The fabric is also floating in the water, not overly obstructing nature. There is enough pink to be noticed and make a statement but it is not overwhelming or overly intrusive to the natural environment.

The freeform shape of the fabric surrounding the islands does not have a geometrical shape and goes along with the form of the island. This seems more natural and complimenting to island rather than contrasting. If the shapes were geometrical shapes such as a square or triangle, there would be a stark contrast to the nature with the addition of the bright pink color. If the surroundings where freeform in a more natural color for the size such as blue or green, the work would seem to go along and blend in with the islands and the water. Because there is the combination of the contrasting color along with the blending freeform shapes, the work seems to compliment its’ setting.

The color pink used, while a natural color, is not natural when exhibited in the amount it was used in this work. Even with the color, the sheer size of this work doesn’t overwhelm its surroundings. The shape also aids in making the work go along with nature by following the natural shape of the islands that are surrounded. While the stark contrasting color of the fabric surrounding the island seems to contrast greatly with nature, the free forms make the work more complimenting rather than contrasting.