Brianna Barnes reporter
Artist Robert Dohrmann spoke on his art display, “The Golden Age of Polymer,” Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. in Porter Hall. His exhibition displayed 28 pieces of mixed media art.
Chloe Chappelear, junior majoring in 2-dimensional studio art said, “I think (the exhibition is) more of an influence for me, because for my art, I just want to have other people see the art that I do. I want them to experience what I experience when I make my art. I’m doing independent studies as one of my classes and I have a theme for emotions and I’m branching out to working on mixed media works instead of just sticking to one thing that I enjoy like painting.”
The inspiration for Dohrmann’s art comes from movements like dada, which had the main purpose to challenge the social norms of society; the anti-art form, surrealism, which aims to revolutionize human experience; pop art; neo-dada, characterized using modern materials, popular imagery, and absurdist contrast; and postmodernism.
“It was part of the class, but I was also interested in the products, because I’m very interested in dada, and this type of art movement,” said Darcy McDonald, senior majoring in illustration art.
For his art, Dohrmann likes to go by Leon Richmond. He has a website under that name with pictures of his art and different exhibits. According to his website, “Core samples have been drilled in these non-fine art things and born again from merely rummaging through the graveyards of consumable ‘goods’ re-swapped for more money in the stores of thrift and performing fleas.” Dohrmann’s art consists largely of thrifted paintings and other thrifted items.
“I was shocked coming in because of all the variety,” Chappelear said. “It was the first time I’ve actually stepped foot in here since they put it all together. I’m expanding on working with mixed media, so this is fun to see what he was able to make because I’m more on the two-dimension and traditional. I’m also pushing myself out there to learn more techniques and media. So, it’s always fun to come and see artists and what they create on their own time and what media they are drawn to, also, how they use their minds and their own creative aspects. So, even if it wasn’t an assignment, I still would have come out here because it’s really inspiring to see other artists and how they have their gallery set up.”
The neo dada movement, largely seen in the art, consists of absurdist humor and employs elements of rejecting the traditional and embracing the strange or absurd. A lot of Dohrmann’s art challenges consumerism and the idea of white supremacy.
“It’s very inspired by Americana,” McDonald said. “Which is interesting to talk about, especially with a historical sort of look into it. The imagery used in today’s show has very vintage and very nostalgic for a lot of people. It is a cool collage of three-dimension mediums and advertisements that all kind of come into one beautiful piece.”
Dohrmann’s work was similar to that of Robert Rauschenberg early on, as he was figuring out his own identity as an artist. Robert Rauschenberg was an American painter and graphic artist whose early works anticipated the Pop art movement.
“I don’t know my own identity yet basically. That’s another thing, I like to come out here and see how they build themselves up because I’m still learning about myself and my art,” said Chappelear.