Pink Bermuda

• Size: 14″ x 14″ x 1.5″
• Substrate: Canvas
• Medium: Oil pen on Acrylic

Continuing on the path of the “Geometric Series”, I decided to work on a few elements here, beyond just chromatic shapes. My focus on this piece was from a particular notorious period of style in the 80’s influenced by “The Memphis Group”

“The Memphis Group” was a Italian architecture and design group formed by Ettore Sottsass, whose primary aesthetic was the chaotic blending of Italian Futurism, Art Deco, and Pop Art. While this group primarily worked with sculpture, furniture, and accessories, their aesthetic was the MOST influential design movement that defined the very style of the 80’s. Often met with great criticism and considered one of the most obnoxious modern art styles (even to the point of playfully being called a ‘shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fischer-Price), Sottsass’s style was possibly one of the most notorious and yet the most misunderstood visions of our time.

This piece, entitled “Pink Bermuda” (in reference to “The Bermuda Triangle”, and the pink sands notoriously associated with Bermuda itself) was influenced by The Memphis Art Group’s “George J. Sowden’s “Acapulco” clock prototype in 1981. This piece, whose colors were cerulean blue and pink, which were considered completely unconventional and bizarre, YET became a staple for The Memphis-Milano Movement, and singlehandedly became the trend forecasted color combination for years to come in fashion and art.