New York Couple 8
New York Couple 8
Signed Print
Julian Opie
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125 x 91cm, Edition of 55, Screenprint
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Meaning & Analysis
Showing two figures walking in the same direction, New York Couple 8 is a screen print from Julian Opie’s New York Couple series from 2019. Set against a plain blue backdrop, the two figures are depicted in Opie’s trademark graphic style in bold lines, block colours and with circles as heads.
Opie creates a tension between the specific and the generic in his New York Couple series, using the title to suggest the whereabouts of the figures whilst setting them against a plain, blue backdrop with no specificity. This tension is further explored in Opie's attention to detail in clothing, hair and body shape makes each figure unique. At the same time the figures are anonymised in rendering them faceless with a blank circle as a head.
Captured in the artist’s structured and graphic visual language, New York Couple 8 encapsulates contemporary life in New York in a way that makes the viewer think about their own body in relation to the compelling image. Opie rationalises the human form in a decidedly stylised manner, striking a balance between the soft and human, and the hard and artificial, producing an uncanny effect. Undertaking a task that has preoccupied artists for generations, Opie captures modern life in an entirely unique way.
Julian Opie, born in 1958, dances through the contemporary art scene with a distinctive digital allure. A trailblazer of the 1980s New British Sculpture movement, Opie's work is a highly stylised blend of Pop Art and minimalism which navigates the intersection of technology and visual expression. From his early experiments with computer-generated art to his iconic portraits and animated installations, Opie's work exudes a captivating simplicity. His signature style, marked by bold lines and reduced forms, is internationally recognisable and has made him a key player in British contemporary art.
