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Unveil the Veiled: An Interdisciplinary Study of Aesthetic Ideas in the Works of Piet Mondrian and Samuel Beckett

Chang, Chinhong Lim

Abstract Details

2003, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Comparative Arts (Fine Arts).

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate a relationship of aesthetic ideas in the works of Piet Mondrian and Samuel Beckett. This study takes a conceptual and aesthetic approach when examining the creative processes undertaken by both artists in presenting their aesthetic ideas through the use of different media. The works of art created by both artists serve in this study as physical evidences for the presentations of their aesthetic ideas. Their writings, which include letters, art criticism, literary criticism, and theoretical essays, are used to justify observations and investigations made in this study.

In order to investigate whether a shared notion of aesthetic ideas exists between the works of both artists, stages of stylistic change from each artist’s early to the late works are examined. Influences from historical, philosophical, religious, and aesthetic ideas are noted. The discussion focuses specifically on the ways in which ideas affect the artistic choices made by the artists. A case study between Piet Mondrian’s Composition with Red, Blue, Yellow, Black and Gray and Samuel Beckett’s Quad I is made to further explore four aesthetic concepts: dynamic balance, ultimate reduction for universalization, establishment of relationship through differentiation, and the expression of the presence of the absence.

The investigations of the works by both artists and the cross-examinations done through the study of their writings demonstrated that there is an intricate similarity in the aesthetic ideas pursued by both artists despite their differences in aesthetic goal. The similarities can be seen through the progressive reductive methodology adopted by both artists from their early to their late works. In the process of reduction, both artists’ works continuously reveal an emphasis on a notion of relationships. This dissertation concludes that the shared notion of aesthetic ideas between Mondrian and Beckett is reflected through the reductive methodology they used in portraying a notion of relationship. For Mondrian, this notion of relationship is a dynamic balance between the contraries. For Beckett, this notion of relationship cannot be defined in concrete terms because it is an unresolved paradox.

William Condee (Advisor)
395 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chang, C. L. (2003). Unveil the Veiled: An Interdisciplinary Study of Aesthetic Ideas in the Works of Piet Mondrian and Samuel Beckett [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1056724937

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chang, Chinhong. Unveil the Veiled: An Interdisciplinary Study of Aesthetic Ideas in the Works of Piet Mondrian and Samuel Beckett. 2003. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1056724937.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chang, Chinhong. "Unveil the Veiled: An Interdisciplinary Study of Aesthetic Ideas in the Works of Piet Mondrian and Samuel Beckett." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1056724937

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)