Why Robert Longo’s Art Doesn’t Fade Away
In today’s fast-paced world of endless scrolling and quick gratification, Robert Longo’s art stands as a powerful counterpoint to the fleeting nature of social media visuals often viewed for a brief second on small smartphones. Longo’s work—particularly his charcoal drawings—is designed to evoke a deep, lasting impression, far removed from the constant barrage of images we encounter daily.
As usually, you can find all my photos of Robert Longo at Albertina at my Gallery Website.
Exhibition view of Robert Longo at Albertina, Vienna, 2024
Artistic mission and techniques
Robert Longo sees his art as a moral obligation to make the dystopias of the present visible. The starting point (often other photographs he encounters) are there, yet they are not able to keep a lasting impression. His work is a visual exploration of social and political realities, particularly in the United States, and he hopes that these depictions will inspire change. Longo's works, predominantly charcoal drawings, appear photorealistic, although they are exclusively in black and white. Through extreme contrast and the technique of chiaroscuro (light-dark contrast), the drawings appear three-dimensional and dramatically intense.
The large-format works, often spread over several sheets of paper and set in individual frames, dominate the room and leave a strong impression. Longo chooses photographs as models, but reduces them to their essential message and gives them a new expressiveness. Charcoal is his preferred medium, although he was initially sceptical as he felt it was too ‘imprecise’. Charcoal allows him to explore nuances in the effect of black - from deep, dense black to delicate shades of grey that create different atmospheric and emotional effects.
What sets Longo’s art apart is his thoughtful, hands-on process. While many artists create solo, Longo, like the Old Masters, works with a team of assistants to execute his monumental pieces. This collaboration allows him to bring his ambitious, large-scale visions to life which would be impossible working alone, ensuring that the work maintains the quality and detail that defines his signature style.
Social criticism and symbolism
Longo's works illuminate the power structures and obsessions of modern society. In the ‘Bodyhammers’ series, for example, he addresses the gun fetishism in the USA. His depictions of firearms symbolise the influence and fascination of weapons in American culture. Longo's ‘God Machines’ series, on the other hand, is dedicated to the monotheistic religions of the world and their role in society. Here, too, the drawings are in black and white, which conveys an aura of awe and unease.
Exhibition View Robert Longo at Albertina, Vienna, 2024
Longo reflects on the flood of images and the rapid flow of information that characterise our modern lives. This inundation often leads to numbness rather than deeper understanding. By freezing and emphasising moments through his art, he creates a contrast to the fleeting nature of media impressions and invites us to engage with them intensively.
Iconic works - ‘Men in the Cities’
Robert Longo became famous in the 1980s with his ‘Men in the Cities’ series. The series shows figures in elegant business attire, depicted in extreme, unnatural poses, as if they had been struck by invisible forces. The people appear as if they are frozen in a moment of collapse or an inner explosion - symbolising the tension between success and inner pressure. For this series, Longo used photographs of friends and acquaintances whom he asked to assume dramatic postures, inspired by a film scene in Fassbinder's ‘The American Soldier’.
The series has become a symbol of the 1980s, characterised by the dynamics of the economy and social pressure. The depictions reflect the feeling of being torn apart and the striving for freedom, but also the harshness and loneliness of life in a performance-orientated society. The drama of the poses and the monochrome style create a powerful, emotional expression and show the figures in a state of inner tension.
Longo's motifs and philosophical dimension
Longo's works are not just illustrations, but symbolic representations of the human soul and conflicts in the modern world. Many of his motifs stand for freedom, power and passion - such as the only coloured work in the exhibition: a close-up of a red rose. The rose is a symbol of beauty and passion, but also of transience and vulnerability, which reflects the basic themes of his works.
The charcoal Longo uses for his drawings is itself a symbol of transience and death - as burnt wood, it contains an allusion to mortality and destruction. The choice of this medium reinforces the emotional depth of his works and makes it clear that his works capture not only the external but also the internal reality of our society. Longo's artistic vision shows the complexity of human life and the conflicts that arise from power, identity and society.
In this regard, I urge you to visit the Albertina and see Robert Longos' work - take your time and don't rush!
Ultimately, Robert Longo’s works are not just images—they are statements. They challenge the superficiality of the visual overload that characterizes today's digital age, urging us to slow down and engage with what truly matters. In a time when so much is disposable, his art refuses to fade away, offering timeless insight and reflection.
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