“Erasure is never merely a matter of making things disappear: there is always some detritus strewn about in the aftermath…some reminder of the violence done to make the world look new again”.
Additive substraction
“Erased de Kooning Drawing” by Robert Rauschenberg. I love this artwork so much because its concept holds so much weight. Because of Kooning’s fame at the time, not only is it a statement to erase his drawing. But the drawing actually gained more value by being erased. As I said in a previous reading response, what’s beautiful about life and people and things is that they don’t last forever. And going with the famous saying that you don’t appreciate something enough until it’s gone it applies perfectly not only to life but to artworks like this one.
“There is something seductive about an erased truth lurking between the lines”. I think he’s right because I’ve realized that as humans, we tend to be very curious and always want to know more or learn more. Even when it comes to dumb tabloids and celebrity gossip it still sells so much because people always want to know more especially if its considered secret.
“An erased human face remains horrible eloquent. In fact, a face cannot be made to vanish completely: it stays sufficiently human to horrify by its exact lack of humanity”. You still need to be able to associate to a once human form for it to have effect. I think association in general is super important because it’s what triggers everything in the brain like thoughts, ideas and feelings.
“Hold your etch a sketch at the right angle and all your previous inscriptions are still visible”. I think this is applicable but only works when you’re looking for it. The same can be applied to buildings. For example La Villette’s traces of its history and the slaughterhouse aren’t visible at first sight. Maybe not even visible at second or third, you really have to go look for yourself and do some research. I know this because I know a lot of people who know La Villette well and yet they’re always surprised when I reveal to them what it used to be.