Serial compositions are multipart pieces with regulated changes. The differences between the parts are the subject of the composition. If some parts remain constant it is to punctuate the changes. The entire work would contain subdivisions which could be autonomous but which comprise the whole. The autonomous parts are units, rows, sets or any logical division that would beread as a complete thought. The series would be read by the viewer in a linearor narrative manner (12345; ABBCCC; 123, 312, 231, 132, 213, 321) even thoughin its final form many of these sets would be operating simultaneously …
We can use the above excerpt to examine how comics create meaning. “Serial composition”, or sequential images, is one of the most distinguishable features
of comics as well as LeWitt’s works, especially his artist books. “Autonomous
parts” could be a panel since these are the principle elements of information
in comics. When the reader reads a whole work, sequential panels can form a new
message, or a “narrative” as LeWitt said above, which is related to but
different than the message derived from an individual panel.
Most of
his artist books systemically examine the very nature of forms, spaces,
geometry and colors, especially in 2D space (plane). Comics are the best medium
to study these things due to their sequential nature and LeWitt’s artist books
prove this. As LeWitt said above, changing specific parts of forms, geometry,
or colors regularly allows readers to see the effect of the parts.
Four Basic Kinds of Straight Lines (1969) and Four Basic Colors and Their Combinations (1971) show this principle. LeWitt explained:
These drawings, using parallel lines closely drawn, were used to make a finite series. They also provided the vocabulary for further series. Later four colors were used with the four lines. The directions of the lines (vertical, horizontal, and two 45-degree diagonals) were absolute possibilities. The colors used were the three primary colors (yellow, red, and blue) plus black. The page was white. Superimpositions of line and color provided progressive gradations of tone and color.
Art-Rite, Issue No.14. (1977)
Mathematics
prove that we can make a plane with only these absolute possibilities. Also
three primary colors plus black (CMYK) make a whole spectrum of colors in the printed
pages of comics. Systemic study of the plane is not unheard-of in comics. For
example, Alexis Beauclair’s LOTO series investigate the relationship
between movement, narrative, object, line and plane.
Sol
LeWitt also analyzed how 2D objects are placed in 2D space as well as how 2D
space is composed of its elements, 2D objects. This problem of geometry was the
main subject of Locations of Three Geometric Figures (1974), The
Location of Eight Points (1974), and The Location of Lines (1974). “Page
composition" or “page layout”, as it is called in comics, has been a main interest of many
artists. Recently, poetic or immersive schools of artists such as Aidan Koch, Warren Craghead and Juliacks have studied this problem of geometry in their
works.
One of the
2D objects LeWitt exhaustively studied was grids. Grids help us to see his
artist books as comics on the surface because of the visual similarities
between the two. This is because a grid inherently follows regulated sequential
images.
Autobiography (1980)
is one of the Photogrids works by LeWitt. It has photographs of his living
and working space and the objects in them. The photographs are arranged by
their positions within his space and also by categories: bookshelves are on the
same page; kitchen wares are on the same page. This narrative by systemic
(taxonomical) study is reminiscent of the work of comic artist Jochen Gerner,
especially his Contre la Bande Dessinee [Against Comics].
Artists’
books are, like any other medium, a means of conveying art ideas from the
artist to the viewer/reader. Unlike most other media they are available to all
at a low cost. They do not need a special place to be seen. … art shows come
and go but books stay around for years. They are works themselves, not
reproductions of works. Books are the best medium for many artists working
today. The material seen on the walls of galleries in many cases cannot be
easily read/seen on walls but can be more easily read at home under less
intimidating conditions. It is the desire of artists that their ideas be
understood by as many people as possible. Books make it easier to accomplish
this. Art-Rite, Issue No.14. (1977)
The
Modernist artists / critics argued that the mass produced works lacked the craftsmanship
and individual artist’s vision the Art possessed. Hence, comics were degraded as
“mass culture”, rather than the Art objects. In contrary, LeWitt
embraced the reproducible, especially printed books, just as comics artists
do. This crystallizes him as a comics artist.
