Candyland ultra/2014

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on August 25, 2021 at 11:40am

Curator’s Comments:  

 

Candyland Ultra, from back in 2014, was featured randomly on the site today. The imagery alluding to life as a game of chance certainly seems apropos given current events. But I imagine the piece is timely on any given year. The graphic nature of the screen print lends itself to multiple focal points within the circular movement of the compartmentalized path. Combining symbolic elements in profile with aerial views also injects dynamic movement into the piece.  The value reversals on either side of the board further set up a dichotomy, but they don’t seem to be aligned with positive or negative symbols. It’s difficult for me to make out the organic forms in the background of the picture.  They appear to be photographically generated, in contrast to the simple stencils of the Candyland pieces.  The phthalo version becomes even more complex, and what it loses in simple clarity, it gains in visual complexity and textural interest. I do hope you consider posting new works to the site.  I read recently in The Atlantic Magazine that the original Candyland game was created for polio wards in the 1940’s. I wonder if you’ve been compelled to create a contemporary pandemic version.