Back in 1972 the Australian Art Gallery, with government financial aid, bought Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Poles” for 1.3 million $AUD (a shipload of money in those days) much to the consternation of the average citizen. In fact there was so much of a huge outcry over the decision at the time, part of the reason that the Labor (left) government was kicked out of office. One reason for the outrage was that Jackson had produced this piece whilst quite drunk and had stamped out a cigarette butt on the painting which is still there today. Today, almost 50 years later, we look at this work of art and marvel at it’s originality and uniqueness as a drunken masterpiece. Who amongst us could replicate such a unique and angry, drunken piece of art with such a spellbinding confusion?
Back in 1972 the Australian Art Gallery, with government financial aid, bought Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Poles” for 1.3 million $AUD (a shipload of money in those days) much to the consternation of the average citizen. In fact there was so much of a huge outcry over the decision at the time, part of the reason that the Labor (left) government was kicked out of office. One reason for the outrage was that Jackson had produced this piece whilst quite drunk and had stamped out a cigarette butt on the painting which is still there today. Today, almost 50 years later, we look at this work of art and marvel at it’s originality and uniqueness as a drunken masterpiece. Who amongst us could replicate such a unique and angry, drunken piece of art with such a spellbinding confusion?