Chess players as artists

There has always been a very strong connection between chess and art and music. Although it may seem like a huge contradiction, the fact is those both complement each other and enhance the other’s potential. In fact there are surprisingly plenty of artistic chess players who are professionals in the game and have embraced art too!

» Musicians dedicated to chess

There are also many full-fledged musicians who have dedicated several songs towards chess. For example the song ‘I’ve seen all good people’ by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire is closely related to chess. There is also a very famous musical created by Benny Anderson titled ‘Chess’ itself! Even dance forms have been influenced by moves of the pieces in chess. For example the ballet called ‘Checkmate’ is a 50 minute work that is encompassed in a single scene. It has been composed by Sir. Arthur Bliss and was performed way back in 1937. So since ages artistic chess players have been using chess as a medium to influence their art forms.

» Paintings that depict chess

There are several famous paintings that are related to chess. For example the painting called ‘Chess Knight’ created by Gregory Gorham is a masterpiece. The painting titled ‘The Chess Players’ is another fabulous painting created by Ture Cederstrom. Other works by artistic chess players include ‘Chaos and Order’ by M. Walker, ‘King’ by David Nichols, ‘Bishop’ by Warren Kimble as well as several other noteworthy creations.

» Artistic experiments with chess

There are several notable artists who have moved away from traditional art forms and tried to use chess as an interested influence. One of such famous artistic chess players is Henri Robert Marcel Duchamp. After dabbling with regular art forms he soon tired of it and instead started experimenting with forms like cubism, altering regular objects and even making his own motor constructions! Later he got engrossed with the game of chess and realized the potential of using chess in his art. In the words of Duchamp himself: ”The chess pieces are the block alphabet which shapes thoughts; and these thoughts, although making a visual design on the chess-board, express their beauty abstractly, like a poem… I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists”. He is one of the many artistic chess players who used chess as a powerful medium.

» Variations to the chess board

There have been several companies who have dabbled with the form of the chess board. One such company is Bauhaus school of art which was originally from Germany. They believed the pieces on the board needed to be shaped according to their functionality. That is why they designed the King as a cube set in diagonal manner on another cube. One of the famous artistic chess players Max Esser designed futuristic looking chessboards with terracotta and chocolate brown chess pieces. These were reminiscent of the Art Deco style. For example the Knights had stylish horse heads, Bishops were like Japanese tsunami etc.



Chess Game- It’s an Art in itself

Many artists have always believed that the chess game is the purest form of art. In fact there is a whole new art form that has evolved. It is called chess art and involves using chess and its concepts into regular paintings and photographic renditions.

» Various interpretations of the game

The chess game has always been an object of fascination for artists all across the world. Artists belonging to various cultures have interpreted this game in their works and created new masterpieces. The game itself is considered to be one of the most challenging in the world. Some famous artists who have dedicated themselves to chess art include Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. She usually encloses her art works inside a pumpkin marked by unique polka dots. Another famous artist called Damien Hirst is also well known for his renditions of the game. In fact the chess board markings are a favorite motif that has been repeated very often in visual arts as well as literature. There are several other reputed artists such as Rachel Whiteread and Tunga who have literally changed the way the game is perceived in art forms!

» About Justin Michael Jenkins

This is a man who has dedicated all his art work to chess! He has created several famous chess art works that have earned him fame and respect in his niche area. Using creative pencil strokes this artist creates compelling works of art. Jenkins has dabbled with writing, designing, art as well as illustrations. He has created a wide range of works right from a mural spanning 13 feet to acrylic compositions over a period of 3 years.

» Art of chess

The game of chess has always been a powerful source of motivation for many aspiring artists. The motif of the chess board and the game itself has been an enigma of sorts. For example the artist Tom Friedman has created a simple yet powerful rendition of chess using a variety of materials like walnut, pine, maple etc. Another artist called Maurizio Cattelan has employed the influence of the game in a rendition that talks about good versus evil. He has used interesting materials such as porcelain, wenge and American black walnut in his work. The famous artist Damien Hirst has been a regular in this art form and his most classic piece includes ‘Mental Escapology’ created in 2003 which shows two empty chairs facing each other and an empty chessboard on the table. The pieces of the chessboard are inside a cupboard.

The artist Paul McCarthy has innovatively used the chess board pieces to create a unique kitchen set. On the other hand artist Rachel Whiteread has innovatively used the chess game to create a modernistic chess set. The board is not the usual black and white and instead boasts several colors on it. The famous artist Tunga created a beautiful black and chocolate brown piece called ‘Eye for an eye’ in 2005. He used iron stands and plated bronze for this creation.



3d chess/video chess game

The 3 dimensional versions of chess seem to have caught on with aspiring chess players. It literally adds a whole new dimension to the game by adding more interest. The popular version today is the video chess game which promises to popularize the game via video.

» Variations via 3D

One of the significant variations to the game of the chess is the creation of a 3 dimensional model. In fact surprisingly this 3D version has been in existence ever since the latter part of 19th century. They were first created and introduced by Ferdinand Maack and this piece is called Raumschach. He cut up a cube into 5 pieces of equal sizes. Each of these pieces or floors is demarcated with the alphabets. The movements of the chess pieces is as follows – Bishops can move through cube edges, knights can move rookwise on the cube while the Queen is able to use a combination of the bishop and rook moves. The movement of the King is pretty much like the Queen except that he is allowed a single step at any time. The modern day 3 dimensional version of the game is through a compelling video chess game where the movements of pieces are exactly like in this cubed version.

» Check out Star Trek!

Yes, one of the original versions of the 3D chess versions appears in various episodes of ‘Star Trek’. In this version of the game the 3d board was made using 3 dimensional variants of checkerboards and tic tac toe. Then chess pieces that were futuristic looking were added on to provide an appropriate effect. Since then with the advent of the Internet there have been many video chess game variants introduced.

» Available video games

There are plenty of versions of the video chess game that are available for easy download these days. Depending on your operating system and the type and skill level you can find the chess game of your choice and download it. The game features 2 players who can play over a local computer or even existing IP networks. These games thus allow players to compete with each other from across the world and with the Internet the geographical barriers are reduced completely.

» Hone your skills

Many of the modern day video chess game variants also come with a tutorial that provides useful tips and tricks to succeed in the game. So even if you have never really played chess in your life before you can still hone your skills with the video versions of the game. Right from analyzing your weaknesses and strengths to analyzing your competition the games provide strategic tips to make that much awaited check.

» Free sites

There are plenty of free websites that allow you to download video chess game versions. Thus if you are a novice player who wants to learn the tricks of the game you can simply do a search on any of the popular search engines and download the game of choice.



Japanese chess and Chinese chess

It has been said that the game of chess knows no boundaries. Nothing seems to convey this truth more than versions of the game found in countries like India, Japan and China. While in India the game was called ‘Shatranj’ the Japanese chess form is called Shogi.

» The differences in the game

The game of Shogi is very different from the regular chess played in Western countries. While the basic rules remain the same (that is, black pieces play against white and the aim is to check the opposite person’s King), in Japanese chess it is played on various board sizes. Right from the 25 x 25 sized board to a 7x 7 board, to even the 9 x9 version. However out of these versions the 9x9 board size is the most common in Shogi. Also unlike traditional chess where a captured piece cannot enter the game again, in Shogi this is possible. There may also be promotions that can be allowed for certain pieces depending on the situation.

» Identification of pieces

The pieces used in Japanese chess are quite different from the regular pieces used in western chess. Instead of having pieces with distinct shapes, all the pieces are wedge shaped and have a definite pointedness to them. This is to ensure reusability of the pieces when they enter the game after capture. You can identify the pieces with the help of 2 characters of the Japanese language. The various pieces used in the game are as follows – King. Gold, Silver, Knight, Lance, Bishop, Rook and Pawn.

» The Chinese version

The chess game has also been extensively played in China. Here the Chinese chess version is called ‘Xiangqi’ or ‘Xianchi’. The rules of the game are similar to regular chess as in pieces once captured cannot re-enter the game. However unlike conventional chess where the aim is to capture the King in the Chinese version the goal is to capture the general of the enemy’s team. Checkmate refers to when the general cannot make any move to save himself from capture. Stalemate refers to when there isn’t any legal move remaining but the player isn’t in check still. It is considered illegal to make moves that make the general vulnerable to attacks. Also in Chinese chess one cannot repeat the same pieces or moves in order to avoid defeat. Even giving check repeatedly is not allowed. Both players need to vary their moves.

» Significant difference

One major difference between Chinese chess and chess played in the West is in the board. Unlike conventional chess where it is played on squares, in the Chinese version the game is played on the lines. Since there need to be 9 files in a grid the overall size of the board used in this version is much larger than the chess board of western countries. In fact the size is almost 40% bigger! Also the shape of the pieces in the Chinese version is in the form of a disc. Identification can be made with ideograms in Chinese on the pieces.



Chess Paintings are Works of Art

The relationship between art and chess is not as wide a chasm as most people would think. The game of chess requires the players to see the world from a different point of view and perspective, and once you have played the game, it is difficult not to compare it to the many situations that arise in regular, daily life. Just being proficient in the game of chess is considered an art, so it would only logically follow that great works of art in many forms have been inspired by the game of chess.

» Chess Art 101

Artists have long expressed themselves by using the chess pieces and the board as inspiration for their work. For those deeply involved in playing the game, they view the play itself as an artistic endeavor. Chess art as a concept has been around for centuries as the game has flourished in many sectors and has been the inspiration for many chess paintings that hang in museums today.

Chess art and chess paintings can also be compared to a game of chess played without an audience. The moves are artistic and brilliant, yet there is no audience to appreciate the beauty of the play. The same can be said of chess paintings. Chess art can be created and hidden away though its proper place is to be displayed for all to see.

» Chess Themes in Art

Chess has figured prominently in some of the most eminent works on display. Not only was chess an inspiration for artists in the past, the theme is still being used in chess paintings from more modern artisans as well. Whether the chess theme is applied to literature, painting or caricatures, there is an abundance of artwork to testify to the popularity of the game. Chess is also used as a theme in the theater. There was a musical popular during the 80s in London called Chess that also appeared on Broadway, which used the romantic life of chess players as the basis for angst.

» Kings and the Nobility

In the distant past, the game of chess was only played by those who were educated and had the money to commission a fine chess set for themselves. Some of the oldest chess boards along with their pieces have found homes with enthusiast collectors and in some of the most prestigious museums simply for the artist that created them or because of the subtle beauty each individual piece has.

Chess can be a metaphor for financial, political and personal situations. Artists have long strived to convey their thoughts and feelings through the medium of art and chess art has long played a role in shaping the minds and thoughts of many educated people around the world. Many of the great leaders are master chess players and the individual who is not interested in the game to play, may be interested in seeing all the types of art that chess has inspired throughout the ages.



A World full of Chess Sculptures

Chess has inspired many an artist in all types of mediums. Chess art can include paintings, literature, and most importantly chess sculptures. One can consider the chess pieces themselves miniature works of art. The chess pieces made for the nobility of the past were magnificent chess sculptures made from the finest materials such as ivory and marble.

» You can See them Everywhere

Once you become aware that chess art are all around you, you can’t help but notice how often chess turns up as a theme in art. Chess has inspired many a player and artisan to create works from their imagination to reflect their feelings about the game as well as comparing it to many situations today’s society and that of the past has to face.

If you travel to any tropical all inclusive resort, you are bound to come across a life-sized game of chess where the pieces are chess sculptures made from light material that you will be able to move easily. This is an fun way to introduce yourself to the game and gives you the perspective of an authentic battlefield when you are playing so close to the pieces.

» In Museums and Out

As we mentioned, chess art can be found in a variety of artistic mediums. Chess posters, caricatures, cartoons and drawings are popular displays in chess collections as well as museums. Famous paintings showing noted names and faces playing the game of chess are proudly displayed in familial homes that have passed from generation to generation and many fine art galleries around the world. Chess is a special game, not typical of other games is the thought and strategy that must go into each movement of the chess pieces. Playing a good and challenging game of chess is an art in of itself and it is no wonder that the artistic minded have long used chess as a way to express themselves in their art.

» The Pieces Themselves

Creating the chess pieces that will be used in a tournament, club or for personal use is a craft that can be likened to any other sculptor. Each piece must be individually perfected so that not only the size depicts the rank, but what headwear and other ornamentation that can be seen to discern a king from a knight from a pawn. It is delicate work creating a chess piece that is considered a work of art. Not only are the pieces from the past chess sculptures that should be considered precious, but even today’s modern sculptors still take pride in creating chess pieces that appear to be miniature works of art.

Sculptors use many materials to fashion their works. Stone, ivory, marble, wood and bone have long been utilized by artists trying to express themselves and create beauty out of something plain and mundane. The same can be said of the sculptures that become chess pieces. They are carved out of the same materials that an artistic sculpture is with just as much care and precision put into the creation.

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