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Manhattan and the merging of modernism

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posted on 2025-05-10, 11:01 authored by Grant Vercoe
My style of painting could be described as Precisionist , and this research draws inspiration from the great modern architectural icons (buildings) in Manhattan. With my paintings, I want to visually articulate the sheer awe I experience at the scale of this metropolis and the unshakable faith I have in the modern world and modernism. This faith is why I am fascinated with modernism’s more recent architectural incarnation, from 1980 to the turn of the century: Neo-Modernism and Deconstructive architecture. From the turn of the millennium to the present, architects on both sides of the Atlantic have been predominantly practicing forms of Post-Modernism; it just seems to be taboo to talk about it. With my work, I have created de-constructed paintings of iconic buildings in New York, as if working within the style of the Neo-Modern or Deconstructivist architectural movement. My work represents an affinity I feel with New York City. Few places on earth exist where you can experience multiple skyscrapers, the quintessential modernist icon, in such density. Manhattan still has one of the greatest surviving collections of modern architectural icons in the world. With my paintings I am trying to produce works that are representative of the Manhattan metropolis and the grid, at the same time rejecting the more restrictive practices of painting within strict modernist doctrine. I am working in paint, but articulating modern architectural forms. Using an aesthetic style and technique that is congruent with modern architecture (especially the International Style).

History

Year awarded

2015.0

Thesis category

  • Masters Degree (Research)

Degree

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Supervisors

Messham-Muir, Kit (University of Newcastle)

Language

  • en, English

College/Research Centre

Faculty of Education and Arts

School

School of Creative Industries

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 Grant Vercoe

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