Bleak Art: The Giant, By Kurt Wenner

Montmartre street art has been around for centuries and has progressed through this time as many art forms do. Street painting or chalk art, has taken on many façades, all of which mesmerize and befuddle the busy public that looks while passing by. Chalk art was traditionally used as a way for artist to develop and display their skills. Although the nature of the medium lends this art form to not being a permanent fixture on the sidewalks, these artists still put in countless hours molding these masterpieces into perfection. Kurt Wenner, originally an illustrator for NASA is one of the most well-known artists of this form and has been a key contributors to bringing this form into the eyes of the modern public. The Giant, by Kurt Wenner which

More specifically, the movement and direction around the piece all center towards the chest and facial expression of the giant. The facial expressions display that of yawning. A furrowed brow and arms stretched lead the viewer to believe that giant is relaxing. Another way to describe the action of this piece is that the giant is falling and that the farrowed brow is actually from that of anger. This notion is further confirmed with the use of a deep unknown under the giant which appears to be an endless pit. This uncertainly appears to be intentional and is the second thing you notice following the unique and grandiose size of the work. As previously stated the artist renders the lights, darks, and shading masterfully to create a contrast the lock they eye to the piece. The artist uses every aspect possible to keep viewers around the piece in which was of vital importance while he was developing his skill because the longer people watch his work, the more tips he could accrue. This piece, from photographs (which are all that remain) doesn’t appear to be of overwhelming scale. Due to the use of foreshortening, this shear mass of the work can’t be appreciated until you walk around the piece, most likely getting winded in the process. Another design aspect which brings viewers is that is it lying on the ground, unlike other artistic styles where a piece is hung on a wall. This changes the angle from which the viewer must observe which in turn creates a different a novel response. Wenner is able to utilize this and create this work which would not be possible on a taught canvas on