The Absolutely Naked Fragrance, Plywood Covered with Fiberglass and Resin (All Photos By Gail)
John McCracken (American, 1934–2011) began producing his vibrant monochrome Planks in 1966. While the polished resin surface captures the aesthetic of surfing and car culture unique to Southern California in the 1960s, the title — The Absolutely Naked Fragrance (1967) — was drawn from advertising slogans in fashion magazines.
The work’s interaction with both the floor and wall is meant to call attention to the space occupied in the gallery by both viewer and object.
“I see the plank as existing between two worlds,” McCracken said. “The floor representing the physical world of standing objects, trees, cars, buildings, human bodies, and everything, and the wall representing the world of the imagination, illusionistic painting space, human mental space and all that.”
The Absolutely Naked Fragrance is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Photo of a Photo of The Artist, By Gail
Hi Gail! This is a great photo of McCracken. I’m wondering if you wouldn’t mind if we used this to highlight John as an artist we buy and sell the art of on our website? Let me know if this might be possible! Thanks!