A frame is not just a border that protects a canvas; it is a mediator between the painting and its viewer.
This is a true statement from William Bailey, a consultant to the New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
And it holds true for the Art Frames, a line of newly launched modular art frames from COSIGN India.
William Bailey further
states that the design
of a frame must effect
a transition from the existing
physical location, usually a wall
in a room or a gallery, into the
illusionistic realm of the painting.
“This should occur graciously
and imperceptibly. The frame
should also prepare the eye and
mind of the viewer to accept
and embrace the domain of the
painting on its own terms,” he
points out.
Art frames have been central to
works of many artists, almost
becoming a part of the artwork
itself. Van Gogh was one of the
illustrious names in the world of
art who worried incessantly about
the framing of his work. Salvador
Dali is another great example of
an artist using the art frame as an
integral part of his work.
As times move towards the
minimalistic from the ostentatious
richness of the frames from the
early centuries, ‘framelessness’
is now viewed as a natural state
for most contemporary art…
almost like a mark of reverence
to the artist. It would be safe
to say that a piece of art is not
complete until it has been framed
correctly. An artwork can reveal
its full potential, its complete
beauty… only when it is framed.
As art frames enter the world of
minimalism, thick gilt frames that
have the power to turn any room
into an 18th century boudoir are
on the slow exit.
The whole idea of a frame is to
draw attention to the artwork,
not to call attention to itself.
Nowadays, PVC or wood frames
are familiar for artworks.
However, these materials usually
demand a heavier upkeep and
can be expensive. While PVC
is lightweight and durable, it
is definitely lacking in style
and charm. Wood has been
an art frame staple owing to
the elegance it offers; and it
demands as much care as the
artwork itself and can be heavy
on the pocket.
Meanwhile, fine metal frames
like aluminum have become
a mainstay of museums
and galleries owing to their
conservation quality, sturdy as
well as lightness, their versatility,
ease of assembly and costeffectiveness.
Keeping this in
mind, COSIGN India introduces
its Art Frames series designed
for diverse applications, as
aluminum profiles for framing
the painted or printed canvas
are perfect for retail spaces,
hospitality industry, art galleries
as well as homes since their
lightweight design does not
asphyxiate the painting or
artwork by overwhelming it with
its presence.
Metal frames such as aluminum
are known for their strength
despite being incredibly
lightweight. With aluminum
metal frames one can be rest
assured that the material won’t
bow, shatter or spilt. Another
thing to bear in mind with
aluminum frames is that they are
remarkably affordable even when
compared to wood! And despite
being affordable, these frames
in no way look cheap. One can
expect some very professional
finishes and a very classy look
with aluminum frames…whether
brushed, mirrored or polished.
The strength that comes with
COSIGN Art Frame makes it
a perfect choice for mounting
large canvases that need
slender support. It is also a
good frame choice for artworks
that are exposed to harsh
environments such as extreme
moisture or sunlight as it does
not render itself to corrosion
easily. Canvases stretched over
aluminum are guaranteed to
remain stable and straight
irrespective of the size and the
environment they are placed
in. Along with this, aluminum
frames also offer the ease to
change the canvas. They are
manufactured and recycled with
equal ease leaving behind a low
carbon footprint…something
that should be considering today.
Making a good choice on the
final presentation of the artwork
in question can impact the
potential sale of the artwork. The
artwork and the frame should
ideally work together as one. The
frame should never overpower
the artwork by drawing the
viewer’s attention from it but
compliment the art in question.
Because of their understated
elegance, aluminum frames are
fast becoming the popular choice
for art enthusiasts, galleries and
museums alike. Clearly, when the
marriage of the frame and the
artwork is right, then both the
parties sing.
Take a look at COSIGN India’s
recently launched Art Frames
line and connect with the
company to see how they can
help bring artworks to life.