Revolution in the Head - 1960s

I found this weeks lecture with Jim extremely interesting, revolving around the evolution in design through the late 1950s/1960s due to the cultural changes. I found the contrast between the generic, stereotypical, happy work from the 1950s, and the angry and rule-breaking messages which came from the 1960s work fascinating. I love the way the artists translated these messages into their work, contradicting the society's 'norm', providing the period of 'Nouveau Frisco'. I have chosen to research Victor Moscoso further.

Born in 1936, Victor Moscoso was a student in New York City, and then Yale University where he was a student of Joseph Albers. He later moved to San Fransisco in 1959 where he studied at the San Fransisco Art Institute, a school where he later began teaching. Victor Moscoso was clearly an artist of the psychedelic era. Moscoso was mainly known for his psychedelic rock and roll posters, and album covers. It is clear that Moscoso's main influence was the wild, crazy, music culture in San Fransisco at the time. Due to the rise of drugs during this period, the colours and craziness which we see through his work is due to the hallucinations and 'trips' that he had whilst on drugs which is evident through many artists' work during this period. Furthermore, he was a student of Joseph Albers, who had a deep knowledge of colour theory and therefore was a great influence to Moscoso which is notable through is extravagant use of complimentary colours. It became clear to me through watching some videos of interviews that a lot of his inspiration came from going against everything else that was seen in previous art work. He has a very unique and individual style and he dared to use clashing colours, bright vivid effects, illegible text - an overall style which broke the 'norm' of society. I find his work, and other artists of this era, fascinating.