Traces, Indexes, and Implied Presence
Definition
This term refers to artworks that focus on the remnants, marks, or signs of something that is no longer physically present, often using these traces to evoke a sense of memory, absence, or the passage of time, and exploring how presence can be suggested or implied through indirect means.
History
The use of traces and implied presence has been a significant theme in modern and contemporary art, where artists often explore the relationship between absence and presence, using marks, voids, or imprints to evoke the memory of something lost or past, and to challenge the boundaries between presence and absence.
Notable Examples
Robert Rauschenberg
Erased de Kooning Drawing, 1953
Rachel Whiteread
House, 1993
Key Artists & Movements
Key figures include Robert Rauschenberg, whose Erased de Kooning Drawinguses the act of erasure as a means of implying presence through absence, and Rachel Whiteread, whose cast sculptures capture the negative space of objects, evoking the physical and emotional presence of what is no longer there.
Techniques & Materials
Techniques involve the use of erasure, casting, imprinting, or other methods to create works that emphasize what is not seen, often with a focus on negative space, remnants, or the marks left behind by an absent subject. Artists may use a variety of materials, including plaster, resin, or ink, to create works that engage with themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time.
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