From Matisse to Kosuth: How James Joyce’s Ulysses Inspired the Art World.

Vaishnavi Srivastava

16th June 2023. ON THIS DAY.

 

“The supreme question about a work of art is out of how deep a life does it spring. The paintings of Moreau are paintings of ideas. The deepest poetry of Shelley, the words of Hamlet bring our mind into contact with eternal wisdom; Plato’s world of ideas. All the rest is the speculation of schoolboys for schoolboys.”

– James Joyce, Ulysses. 

On June 16th, we celebrate Bloomsday which is essentially the day James Joyce’s Ulysses is depicted in the year 1904. The day is named after one of the central characters of the novel named Leopold Bloom. The day also has a special significance in Joyce’s personal life, as it was on this day that Joyce went out for a walk for the first time with his future wife Nora Barnacle.

Over the years, Ulysses has been established as one of the greatest literary fiction out there. The Bible to literary theorists, students and enthusiasts alike, James Joyce’s Ulysses has influenced generations of literature and artworks. Just last year, Ulysses completed 100 years of its publication. As the book’s famed history goes, it garnered a good amount of celebration with a number of art exhibitions that revolved around artists and their depictions of Ulysses in their art. For instance, the Irish author’s famed book had its celebrations by the National Gallery of Ireland, as they exhibited 34 never before seen artworks by Günter Schöllkopf. He was a German artist who drew multiple pieces inspired by James Joyce’s works and brought his characters to life. Moreover, London’s Irish Cultural Centre held an exhibition by Aidan Hickey named, “ Painting Ulysses” in August of 2022. These are not the only artists who have depicted the works of James Joyce, as even the infamed Henri Matisse has art titled “Ulysses” in 1935.

Needless to say, Ulysses by James Joyce has had an indelible impact on art and artworks. One such artist who has portrayed Ulysses in his works is Joseph Kosuth the notable Conceptual artist. In his work titled, “ Ulysses,: 18 Titles and Hours”, Kosuth Features the episodes and times from Joyce’s novels. It was exhibited and represented in white neon in approximately chronological order by the artist. The Times called the artist’s installations as a “sky map of Ulysses”. Richard J. Gerber writes about the exhibition, “ The glare of Neon lent an almost psychedelic effect to the work, hinting at one’s entering another dimension of time as well as space”. One of the guiding principles of neon signs was the fact that neon signs were first introduced in the United States by the year 1922-23. This was also the year Ulysses was first published hence the usage of neon signs in the Conceptual artworks. The installations also consisted of works inspired by Duchamp and Samuel Beckett’s literary work Waiting For Godot.

Finally, there are numerous artworks that have famously been inspired by the historically celebrated work of fiction that is James Joyce’s Ulysses. Be it Ulysses Suite by Robert Motherwell or the infamous Marilyn Monroe photograph by Eve Arnold who captured Monroe reading the book. The literary marvel has had a deepening impact on past and present generations and will continue doing so for generations to come.

References

Review of Three Joseph Kosuth Installations by Richard J. Gerber.

National Gallery of Ireland.