Vasa Velizar Mihich: Acrylic

VASA VELIZAR MIHICH

ACRYLIC

VASA VELIZAR MIHICH

ACRYLIC

taylorandgraham.com

– Vasa Velizar Mihich

After coming upon the above quote by Mihich, I knew there would never be a need to write extensively about his vibrantly colored, sometimes monumental, and always dynamic acrylic sculpture, the merits of which literally and metaphorically stand on their own. To own it – yes, to show it – yes, to be a part of its future and where it moves – yes.

These cast and laminated acrylic sculptures are wholly the result of the right person meeting the right medium at the right time and place, Los Angeles in the 1960s. Thriving in the ethereal and atmospheric Light and Space and Minimalism movements popular in California at the time, Mihich drew inspiration from contemporaries including John McLaughlin, James Turrell, and Larry Bell, though emerged with a body of work that is distinct, unrepeatable, executed with a singularity of vision and beauty.

Our appreciation of these works will only increase as we move forward into the future and it is with great respect and appreciation that we put this book together.

– Abby Taylor

Note to reader: With the exception of the following pages, and pages 22 and 23, we have illustrated only one sculpture per spread, described by an information panel on each page. These sculptures may consist of a single element or multiple elements however, despite the great difference in appearance of the detail images, only one sculpture is represented. The nature of Mihich’s work is that, when viewed from alternate angles, any single object can appear to be a completely different object.

Left: SAILBOAT FORM , 1991

Acrylic, cast and laminated 38 3/8 x 22 3/8 x 3 inches detail, see pp 12-13

Cover: FOUR COLUMNS #2856, 1987

Acrylic, cast and laminated 98 x 37 x 6 inches detail, see pp 20-21

5

My work is only about itself.

FOUR COLUMNS #1447, 1979

Acrylic, cast and laminated 76 x 30 x 12 inches

Signed: #1447 Vasa 79 detail left

9

FOUR SMALL COLUMNS, 1972

11

Acrylic, cast and laminated 13 3/8 x 4 7/8 x 2 1/4 inches (each) Signed: Vasa 72 / BA6 / 6/25 detail of two elements, left

SAILBOAT FORM , 1991

13

TOWER 2989, 1991

Acrylic, cast and laminated 79 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches

Signed: #2989 Vasa @1991 three views left, detail this page

15

Acrylic on Canvas

In 1988, Mihich turned to painting and primarily using acrylic. Often conceived in sections they could be rotated or flipped as the composition was formed. With some, Mihich based the color scheme on the juxtaposition of a dark and light color on a background of a value exactly in the middle creating an effect where the eye registers both colors at the same time. He also worked with colorized gray scales and computers. His approaches have a methodology to them and it is important to note that these canvases are simply about that approach and the optical effects they create.

The analytically titled C-3808 is comprised of 6,144 squares with an additional 2,976 squares within those squares totaling 9,120 squares. It took Mihich and an assistant two months to complete this painting.

UNTITLED C-3808, 2019

Acrylic on canvas over tri-panel construction 72 x 108 inches

Signed: Vasa, upper left edge of canvas detail right

16

Each of the three sides of this triangular column have a completely different personality, independent from each other in pattern though dependent upon each other and the angle at which it is viewed, a bit of wonderment in majestic totem form.

20

This commanding column is stunning in the complexity of angles artfully arranged in it’s top third. To look at it and understand how this was achieved is challenging to the eye. There are two options with Mihich works; to study them and attempt to figure out what he did or to let that remain a mystery and simply enjoy the surprising light and color plays that emerge and disappear.

21

FOUR COLUMNS #2856, 1987

98 x 37 x 6 inches

23

PARALLELOGRAM #2977, 1977

Acrylic, cast and laminated 23 x 11 x 2 1/2 inches

Signed: Vasa 2977

PRISM, 1992 Acrylic, cast and laminated 4 1/2 x 6 x 1 3/8 inches

COLUMN, 1986 Acrylic, cast and laminated 14 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches

TRIANGULAR COLUMN #2324, 1984 Acrylic, cast and laminated 24 x 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches

Signed: #2324 Vasa 84

24

TWIN COLUMNS, 1989

25

26

28

TRIANGULAR COLUMN #348, 1992

Acrylic, cast and laminated 74 1/4 x 14 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches Signed: #348 Vasa 1992 two details, left

29

TOWERS #1123, 1977

Acrylic, cast and laminated 103 x 13 x 13 inches (each) Signed: #1123 Vasa 77’ detail left

31

32

“I developed sculptural shapes gradually. One shape inspired the next. Spheres preceded cylinders, and cylinders led to triangular columns. -Vasa Mihich

TRIANGULAR COLUMN #2403, 1984 Acrylic, cast and laminated 80 inches two views, detail left