In Art Gallery in Ontario, Canadian artist group General Idea, which consists of A. A. Bronson, Felix Partz, and Jorge Zontal, has a series of artworks in the retrospective “ Haunt Culture: General Idea”. What impressed me most is a painting “ Baby Makes 3”, which was created by General Idea from 1984 to 1989. “ Baby Makes 3” not only meets people’s aesthetic needs, but also has abundant social meanings.
“ Baby Makes 3” gives people a sense of tranquility and felicity. Baby Makes 3”’s beautiful scene consists of three men’s lovely faces, visional background and warm colors. These three lovely men are all filled with happiness; however, they still have their own characteristics. The man in the low right corner is looking squarely into our eyes with wide eyes. His mouth is slightly upward raised. I do not know whether he is a little worried or surprised. But I can see a turmoil inside, which is filled with liberation of human nature. The man in the middle is smiling confidently.
It looks his eyes is holding something, which really moves me. I suppose it might be a type of relief for being understood. The man in the top left corner is looking into the distance with a big smile. His eyes gleam with a constant delight. His expression gives people a sense that everything looks hopeful. But we cannot see a line of white teeth from this big smile. It seems there is something he cannot tell. This leaves me more imagination. Behind three men, it is cloud that looks like sweet marshmallow.
There are also a bed, three comfortable pillows, and a soft blanket in the sky. Three lovely men are at ease in the bed. They are like to live in paradise, quiet and happy. As for the color, there is a balance of colors. And the color tune is warm. Their faces are ruddy with satisfaction. The pink blanket is warm and sweet. The white clouds and pillows give people the spirit of tranquility. Overall, “ Baby makes 3” make me feel quiet and warm. I feel the warmth of family from it. Therefore, I was deeply attracted by “ Baby Makes 3” at first sight. Baby Makes 3” is of historical significance, and it has social meanings. It mainly has two aspects. First, it shows a nuclear family. In dictionary, a nuclear family is defined as a family group that is made of a father and a mother and their children. In Canada, nuclear family was universal in 1980s. Newlyweds left their own parents to start a new family with their partner. It was a traditional way of constructing a family. However, nuclear family usually consists of both sexes. In “ Baby Makes 3”, there are three men without any woman.
The father is a man. The “ mother” in the family is also a man. This artwork reflects a certain history in Canada. In 1980s, influenced by family values and ADIS, gay liberation was on a roll. The gay liberation brought homosexual more rights and much hope. Nevertheless, homosexuality has never been more acceptable than now. For striving for homosexual’s rights, there was still a long way to go. According to this period of history, it is easy to understand the big smile of the man who is looking into the distance.
That’s why we find hope and secret sorrow from his eyes. With the development of society and technology, it is possible to start a family between homosexual. As a famous Chinese Artist Song Dong says, “ Art is life; life is art. ” “ Baby Makes 3” through the way of painting to interprets this sentence perfectly. “ Baby Makes 3” is given sense of happiness and rich connotation by General Idea. People are influenced by its beautiful image, its background and its spirit behind. I am also influenced by such an excellent artwork deep inside.