“The Baroque: The Grit in the Oyster of Art History” by Helen Hills was a rather difficult reading in terms of both its language and its ideology. I was very stereotyped about the term “Baroque” as I usually only encounter it in arts and not other areas of my life. When it is first introduced to me as an adjective that could be applied to a broader context, I found it hard to understand and generally apply to other aspects other than arts.
However, Hills stresses that my understanding of the Baroque style is representative of the current misunderstanding and underappreciation that exist in our society. She clarifies that it can be more complex and more diverse as it has experienced a variety of influences around the world and can be applied to many areas other than art.
One of the most prominent factors of the Baroque style is its use of light and shadow to emphasize the dramatic emotions of the artwork and to reveal important social messages to its audience. Five Car Stud by Edward Kienholz is one of the most famous contemporary art pieces that employ the Baroque style to convey its messages on violence and race. The artwork itself tells the problematic story of the castration of a young Afro-American as a consequence of the alleged intercourse he had with a white girl. This encourages the reflection on society on its own. In addition, the curator helps to show this installation with the contrast of light and shadow-another important Baroque element. According to the picture below, the artwork is displayed in a dark environment with two light sources coming from the front and behind, which helps to show the drama and emotion that are going on with these characters depicted.
Picture from: https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/contemporary-baroque-luc-tuymans-muhka