Thurst of Life 1990

Benny Andrews made this collage, Thurst of Life, from paper and fabric on illustration board. It feels like Andrews is improvising, composing directly from the materials. This kind of immediacy reminds us that artmaking is a conversation with materials, a real time negotiation between hand, eye, and thing. The texture is so varied, isn’t it? The vase is just this simple, flat piece of paper, but look at the flower on the left. Notice the blues layered into it? It gives the flower depth. And the fruit on the table—each one is a little world, with its own patterns and colors. It is tempting to reach out and feel it! The orange tabletop is inviting. See the dark lines running through it? Andrews’ work reminds me of Romare Bearden, who also used collage to create these lively, fragmented scenes. Like Bearden, Andrews is making a statement that embraces multiple perspectives. It's about seeing the world in a new, vibrant way. It's about the thurst of life, right?