Shooting Picture

Shooting Picture

splattered paint pods on textured material, made by being shot at by bullets

This work of art is centered on the performance of the artist as Saint Phalle is very interactive with her work. She will create this textured board, created with wood, wire, and plaster to create a textured canvas. Saint Phalle finishes off the canvas creation with different colored paint packs on top. In this particular piece she uses purple, yellow, blue, red, and black paint to create the work. Saint Phalle would invite an audience to watch her create the art piece, which was done by shooting bullets into the paint pods and then letting the paint drip down. The paint mixing with all the other materials creates an amazing texture and effect. It looks borderline destructive, which is part of the intention and message.

Niki de Saint Phalle

1961

American artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, as well as unnamed audience members had a hand at help shooting paint packs on the material.

Plaster, paint, string, polythene and wire on wood; Dimensions: 1430 x 780 x 81 mm