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Merce Cunningham, 1919- :
One of the most influential choreographers of our era, Merce Cunningham revolutionized dance by embracing everyday movement and chance operations. During the course of his career, Cunningham has repeatedly collaborated with visual artists, including Andy Warhol, who lent his helium-filled silver pillows to Cunningham's performance "RainForest" in 1968. Warhol created this portrait as a proof for a print included in the portfolio "Cunningham I," a fund-raising effort for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Fascinated with the expressive potential of different paper patterns, Warhol experimented here with handmade English Cockerell paper. Whether by chance or by design, the gray, flamelike pattern blurs both Cunningham's face and feet, suggesting that the dancer is most recognizable through his lithe motion and physical extension.
Andy Warhol, 1974 |