As a Mother's Day gift to myself, here is an image gallery of the recently-opened exhibition The Modern Myth: Drawing Mythologies in Modern Times (on view at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, from March 10 through September 5, 2010). Drawing, the king of visual art, will always be my first love, mythology has always thrilled me and the roster of artists included is stellar. Any time a curator manages to show the connection between Francisco de Goya and every other artist who followed, we can safely assume it is a show worth seeing.
Beyond that, the theme intrigues me because we all deal with mythology in everyday life. Take, for example, Yves Tanguy's The Great Mutation (1942), pictured here. For many, this will register as a prime example of Surrealism-on-paper. For me, it is a perfect metaphor of motherhood. We mutate from daughters to mothers--often with unexpected and, initially, unrecognizable results. The tallest, central element? Could be any one of us, balancing the myriad parts of our unique lives' compositions.
"Ah," you say. "But where does the mythology come into play?" To which I can only give you my interpretation: "Mother" is dealing with the mythologies that clean socks and underwear appear (magically) only in designated sock and underwear drawers; that ice cube trays refill themselves; that umbrellas are indicated when it is raining; that a uterus is necessary for finding the television remote (note the figure lounging on the right); that children don't need hugs, an anchor and their wings; or that Mother deserves--let alone gets--one day off per year. I assure you, I am smiling as I write this. I know the drill and love the job. Nice work if you can get it ... just don't ever buy into the myth that motherhood is not work.
Enjoy the gallery. And Happy Mother's Day!
Image Credit:
Yves Tanguy (American, b. France, 1900-1955)
The Great Mutation, 1942
Cut-and-pasted painted paper, gouache, and pencil on paper
11 3/8 x 8 5/8 in. (29.1 x 21.9 cm)
Kay Sage Tanguy Bequest
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
© 2010 Estate of Yves Tanguy / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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