To See Takes Time: MoMA Georgia O’Keeffe Exhibit
Inspired by the quote, “To see takes time, like to have a friend takes time,” the MoMA’s Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit provides an intimate look at the creative process of Georgia O’Keeffe. Though she is best known for her flower paintings, the exhibit includes other pieces by her using mediums such as charcoal, pencil, watercolor, and pastel. The exhibit features pieces by her over five decades in chronological order, allowing viewers to see the progression of her work. Her pieces range from observational to abstract, with a consistent emphasis on shadow and depth.
Along with highlighting her works, the exhibit explores O’Keeffe’s process as she is working on a series. When creating a new piece, she developed, repeated, and transformed many motifs. This process of repetition is a clear example of her persistence in capturing form and rhythm. In many of her series, there are several almost identical compositions done in a variety of different mediums to test the effects of each one. By doing so, she can determine which medium allows her to get the desired effect. During this period of exploration and discovery in her creative process, O’Keeffe experimented with different perspectives or lighting. For example, when implementing this process in the creation of a portrait. She acknowledged that one depiction can’t express the complexity of a person. Her creative process was a direct reflection of her famous quote, and guiding principles of the exhibition, “To see takes time,” as with art to create takes time.
After a period of experimentation from 1915 to 1918, she produced pieces featuring bold lines, landscapes, nude bodies, and abstract charcoals. Though many of her pieces were done on canvas, her most experimental works were done on paper with pencil, charcoal, or watercolor. For example, in 1916, while teaching at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, O’Keeffe experimented with watercolor. She described this time as never having time to think as the ideas came to her rapidly. Especially evident in the works produced during this period, O’Keeffe explored the convoluted relationship between representation and abstraction, an idea she would continue to explore throughout her career.
As demonstrated through her creative process, O’Keeffe was determined when working on a new series. As a viewer, the main takeaway from the exhibit is that failure as well as trial and error are key parts of the creative process. Like O’Keeffe, it is important to remain persistent and never give up. Allowing yourself to experiment and try new things is critical in the creative process and can lead to amazing results. These ideas and processes are evident in her work and remind the viewer “To see takes time.”
Article + Images by Angie Hines, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine
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