GIOVANNI ANSELMO
Entrare nell’ opera (Entering the Work) 1971
Inkjet print on canvas 93-1/4 x 73-1/4in
Courtesy of the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery
The first time I saw Giovanni Anselmo’s , “Entering The
Work”, it was on the wall of MOCA in downtown Los Angeles. This massive inkjet print on canvas (
you literally feel like you can walk into it) of a male figure running through
a field… larger than life , filled me with excitement. It brought me back to a
time and place in my childhood where I’d seen an open field of grass and had
the intense urge to run, but was not allowed. The man in Giovanni’s work was
doing what I wanted to do, and I felt his exhilaration. However after looking
at some of Mr. Anselmo’s other works, I decided to revisit “Entering The
Work”, and got quite a different understanding.
Work”, it was on the wall of MOCA in downtown Los Angeles. This massive inkjet print on canvas (
you literally feel like you can walk into it) of a male figure running through
a field… larger than life , filled me with excitement. It brought me back to a
time and place in my childhood where I’d seen an open field of grass and had
the intense urge to run, but was not allowed. The man in Giovanni’s work was
doing what I wanted to do, and I felt his exhilaration. However after looking
at some of Mr. Anselmo’s other works, I decided to revisit “Entering The
Work”, and got quite a different understanding.
As a whole, I find Mr. Anselmo’s work to be an exploration
of the frailness and weightiness of life… a head of lettuce juxtaposed with a
block of granite. A block of granite perilously suspended above Mr. Anselmo’s
head. The repeated photos taken from a boat, trying to catch the setting sun to
illustrate the fleeting nature of time… all of these images, as well as the
man running in the field in “Entering The Work” illustrate the angst that I
believe everyone feels at some point in their lives.
of the frailness and weightiness of life… a head of lettuce juxtaposed with a
block of granite. A block of granite perilously suspended above Mr. Anselmo’s
head. The repeated photos taken from a boat, trying to catch the setting sun to
illustrate the fleeting nature of time… all of these images, as well as the
man running in the field in “Entering The Work” illustrate the angst that I
believe everyone feels at some point in their lives.
It struck me as odd that a single image could be so inviting
and exciting and yet so tentative. The angle of his legs… the position of his
arms… is the man running joyfully or fearfully, as other Anselmo works would
suggest?
To me, the man running illustrates how we all run through our lives… at
times joyful… at times fearful… at times tentative… and how unnecessary that
fear is when you have faith.
and exciting and yet so tentative. The angle of his legs… the position of his
arms… is the man running joyfully or fearfully, as other Anselmo works would
suggest?
To me, the man running illustrates how we all run through our lives… at
times joyful… at times fearful… at times tentative… and how unnecessary that
fear is when you have faith.
We all have the need to control our lives, some of us more
than others. We even have terms
for it… “Control Freaks”, “Type A Personalities”… we are people who have a need
to control every aspect of our lives… to be masters of our own universe (and
sometimes other’s universe), but the truth is, none of can achieve this.
than others. We even have terms
for it… “Control Freaks”, “Type A Personalities”… we are people who have a need
to control every aspect of our lives… to be masters of our own universe (and
sometimes other’s universe), but the truth is, none of can achieve this.
There is One that is in control, that has absolute control
of the universe and that One loves us and if we believe that, we have no need
for fear. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of
love and of a sound mind” [2Timothy 1:7].
of the universe and that One loves us and if we believe that, we have no need
for fear. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of
love and of a sound mind” [2Timothy 1:7].
Admittedly, coming to accept the truth that we are not in
complete control (and it’s not the end of the world) can be a hard pill to
swallow. It doesn’t mean that we
have no control or input, we certainly do. Our actions, our decisions and our attitudes are very
important, but they don’t always determine the final outcome. There are always
contingencies… the unforeseen… and these things, I have found best to give to
God, because He is well able to handle them. I cast all my care… everything that would normally worry me
and I have no control over… on Him, because I know He cares for me. [1 Peter
5:7]
complete control (and it’s not the end of the world) can be a hard pill to
swallow. It doesn’t mean that we
have no control or input, we certainly do. Our actions, our decisions and our attitudes are very
important, but they don’t always determine the final outcome. There are always
contingencies… the unforeseen… and these things, I have found best to give to
God, because He is well able to handle them. I cast all my care… everything that would normally worry me
and I have no control over… on Him, because I know He cares for me. [1 Peter
5:7]
Giving “it” (whatever “it” happens to be… that thing you
can’t control) to God is not giving up.
You have to give it to Him in confidence, in faith, knowing that He is
touched by the feelings of our infirmity [Hebrews 4:15] and that His thoughts
towards us are “…good and not evil. To give us a future and a hope.” [Jeremiah
29:11]. This allows you to
appreciate what you have… to appreciate the time you’ve been given because the
moment that is past is past and the moment that will come will be predicated on
the moment that is right now. I
thank God that we can have an assurance and a calm and a peace… a peace that
surpasses all understanding [Phil. 4:7] that will allow us to be… To Be… just
to Be… in that moment. Just to Be…
who God created us to be. Just to
enjoy “Being”. Then we have truly
entered the work.
can’t control) to God is not giving up.
You have to give it to Him in confidence, in faith, knowing that He is
touched by the feelings of our infirmity [Hebrews 4:15] and that His thoughts
towards us are “…good and not evil. To give us a future and a hope.” [Jeremiah
29:11]. This allows you to
appreciate what you have… to appreciate the time you’ve been given because the
moment that is past is past and the moment that will come will be predicated on
the moment that is right now. I
thank God that we can have an assurance and a calm and a peace… a peace that
surpasses all understanding [Phil. 4:7] that will allow us to be… To Be… just
to Be… in that moment. Just to Be…
who God created us to be. Just to
enjoy “Being”. Then we have truly
entered the work.