Hello Furies! My name is Alex and I’ve joined TNF to write a weekly column called “Media Mondays”. I have written for TNF in the past, and now I’ve returned after a brief hiatus. Every Monday, I will post a column relating to media. My goal is to have each post written in a conversational tone since that’s a skill I want to practice and refine. Since I have a fairly diverse set of interests, I hope to cover music, film, literature, and art.
With hope, I’ll have introduced you to something different or made you think about a piece of music, art, writing, or film in a different way within a few weeks. Some posts may not be particularly interesting to you, and I understand that- I would be surprised if everyone held the same preferences in the arts. In writing the Monday column, I am thankful that I do have freedom of expression when writing and choosing what to post each week. I’ll speak my mind, give you the way I interpret something, and I’m hoping that you will do the same in the comments section even if you disagree wholeheartedly (I’m always welcome to your thoughts and criticism). Best of wishes, and here goes with the debut post!
Apart from being a musician, John Lennon created lithographs and serigraphs throughout the duration of his life. His collection of fine art is recognizable for the style in which he drew- non-precise lines that resemble the sketches of a child and the minimalist manner in which he drew people. Images frequently incorporated within his artwork include his relationship with Yoko Ono, and various animals in a relaxed setting.
One of my favorite pieces of art from John is his serigraph “Shijin the Poet”. The serigraph depicts an individual dressed in a robe playing the guitar while standing in the middle of the road. The sun is setting in the middle-left as the day comes to a close. In “Shijin the Poet”, John Lennon testifies the continued relevancy of the arts and creativity in a manner that is soothing to the eyes. Part of what supplies the serigraph with its purpose is the faint, calming oranges and pinks that Yoko Ono added to the serigraph following John’s death. “Shijin the Poet” was produced as a series of three hundred prints in 1997.
In the left hand corner of the serigraph is the title of the piece as well as Yoko Ono’s signature and edition information. In the right hand corner is John Lennon’s chop mark to denote the art as his own (he rarely hand-signed his artwork). Surprisingly, artwork from John Lennon is available for a relatively inexpensive price if you could give up Starbucks and convert to homemade coffee for a few years. His artwork generally ranges in price from $2,000-$7,000. In relationship to the prices of art from other artists, I would say any piece of John Lennon’s is a bargain.
I am optimistic that his artwork will continue to be exhibited in the future, possibly even hundreds of years from now. For one, John Lennon held an immense impact in both the social and cultural spheres of the 20th century, and his talents were made visible throughout his every effort. With hope, individuals in the distant future will too be able to appreciate the creative endeavors of John Lennon.
