Aviation: Evolution of Forms under Aerodynamic Limitations 1937

Arshile Gorky created Aviation: Evolution of Forms under Aerodynamic Limitations using paint, likely oil or acrylic, applied to a flat surface. Gorky’s choice of these materials might seem conventional, but it's his application that gives the work its distinctive character. Notice the smooth, almost graphic quality of the shapes, each a solid block of color. Gorky seems less interested in the expressive possibilities of paint, its capacity for gesture and texture, and more in its ability to define form and space. The hard edges and flat planes suggest a process of careful planning and execution. It's as if Gorky approached painting with the precision of a draftsman or engineer. This emphasis on clarity and control perhaps reflects the social context of the time, a period marked by industrialization and technological advancement. By focusing on the materiality of paint, Gorky invites us to consider the ways in which art can engage with broader social and economic forces, blurring the boundaries between fine art and other forms of making.