Ron Mueck's sculpture and Humanism

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012

Week 4 - Humanism and contemporary sculpture.

 Ron Mueck's sculpture and Humanism

Mask II (2002) Ron Mueck

A girl (2006) Ron Mueck

Ron Mueck has become internationally recognised for his unique sculptures, which replicate the human figure with unrivalled technical skill. His work has a powerful psychological range, focusing not only on universal experiences like birth, life and death but on emotional states such as isolation, fear and tenderness. His startling manipulations of scale are key to our experience of each work.

Mueck's work showed at the Christchurch Art Gallery from the end of 2010 through to January 2011. Research Mueck's sculpture in order to answer the following questions;

1. Mueck's sculpture is described as 'hyper-real'. Define the meaning of this term and explain how it is evident in his work.

When referring to art hyper real means that the work has been render in a detailed and photo realistic manner. The subject looks so real and life like. Mueck's sculptures are incredibly realistic and highly detailed.

2. Mueck says he is not interested in making life size sculpture. Find out why he is more interested in working with the scale of the figure which is not life size, and mention 2 works which use scale that is either larger or smaller than life.

Mueck likes to play with scale because he thinks that life size is ordinary and it is what we see everyday, it make you see it in a different way not as something that's just normal. 

"Big Man" is large in scale, "Spooning Couple" is small in scale. 

3. Define Renaissance Humanism , and identify which aspects of Humanism can be seen in Mueck's work. Note that the contemporary definition of Humanism is much broader than the Renaissance definition.

It is the rediscovery and re evaluation of classical civilization. Humanists had a large appreciation for ancient artifacts and would embark on journeys to go find these. They had an interest in Naturalism and anatomy. There was a shift from the church dictating peoples morals, rather the desire to be individuals increased.

Humanism is evidently seen in Mueck's work, he has rendered his sculptures in such a detailed way. The viewer experiences 3 dimensionality and perspective when looking at the figures. The figures are also naturalistic and tonally modeled, they look so life like and real.  All these characteristics are also clearly seen in Renaissance Humanism paintings.

4. Research and discuss one of Mueck's sculptures that you might find challenging or exciting to experience in an art gallery. Describe the work, upload an image of the work, and explain your personal response to the work. Comment on other student blogs to develop the discussion around the variety of our own personal and individual responses to art and design.

I appreciate the work "Two Women" a lot, and it would definitely be very exciting and captivating to see in person. The sculpture is of two frail women who are huddled together in conversation. They are smaller than life size, Mueck's describes them in great detail even adding thin stockings and the wrinkles on their skin. Although they are engaging in a private conversations it looks like they are fully aware that someone is listening. The intense facial expressions suggests that they are suspicious or paranoid. 

I find this work very interesting because the two women look fragile but at the same time I'm intimidated by their stern looking faces. It would be amazing to see them up close, it would send chills down my spine!

 

Reference websites and books used at the end of your blog.

http://www.chilloutpoint.com/featured/ron-muech-hyper-realist-sculptor.html 

http://artblart.com/2010/01/21/opening-ron-mueck-at-the-national-gallery-of-victoria-international-melbourne/ 

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/learn/schools-resources/art-start/image-bank/ron-mueck/ 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/816457/ron_mueck_australian_hyperrealist_sculptor/

christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/ron-mueck/

Damien Hirst work 'For the Love of God' and Mercantilism

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Damien Hirst's work 'For the Love of God' and Mercantilism

For the Love of God(2007) Damien Hirst

Research Damien Hirst's work For the Love of God (2007) in order to answer the following questions;

1. Describe the work, giving details of the form and materials. 

The skull is made from platinum it is a cast of a real human skull, the teeth are also from the original skull. It is encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds. On the large forehead sits a pear-shaped diamond that is light pink in colour.

2. What does the work mean? What is Damien Hirst communicating in the work?

Subject matter is death, most of Hirst art is based around death. The artist says:  "Death is such a heavy subject, it would be good to make something that laughed in the face of it.” 

In "For the Love of God", Hirst take the ultimate symbol of death and embellishes it with luxury. So to say to "hell with death".

3. How does Hirst's diamond encrusted skull relate to Mercantilism and to conspicuous consumption?

There was the controversial matter over blood diamonds, the piece of work might have the potential to bring about death in a literal way. "That’s when you stop laughing,” Hirst says. “You might have created something that people might die because of. 

This work relates to mercantilism, but of the obscene amount of money that was spent towards sourcing the materials for it. It definitely classifies as conspicuous consumption, its outrageous and over the top.

4. How much did the work cost, and how much was it sold for, and who bought it?

It cost around 16-20 million to make, and is worth about $100 million pounds.

5. What are some of the differing opinions of the journalists in the newspaper and blog articles?
   What did they think of the work?

People were quite critical of his work saying that it was excessive and extravagant.

A writer of a magazine has a more mixed review of "For the Love of God", he makes the comment on the uncomfortable proximity of art and commercialism. He raises the question why if Hirst's work “embodies the fact that art works have become the crown jewels of our age” that “its aesthetic value remains uncertain.

Others receive Hirst's exhibition very well. It fascinates them and intrigues them. Some reviews embrace the decadence of "For the Love of God". One writer says:" I can't remember another art work that so perfectly embodies the cynicism and ambivalence successful artists must feel towards those who promote and collect their work. Part of what interests me so much about this whole project is the fact that Hirst is the main person who will profit by its sale. Confusing, but fascinating."

The Telegraph, For the love of art and money, Richard Dormen,12:01AM BST 01 Jun 2007.

6. Based on your research, what is your opinion of the work, as an object or a work of art.

Damien Hurst's work "For the Love of God" is very glamorous and extravagant. I like how outrageous it is. It makes a bold statement and get people talking which is what I like about the piece its controversial.


Its also visually attractive, and I like the meaning that the artist is trying to convey, about death and how terrible it is, but we don't have to view it in that stereo typical way. Rather we can retaliate and look at it in a different light.

Mercantilism

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Week 1- Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

'Tender' (2003-05) Fiona Hall

Fiona Hall's contemporary work reflects ideas that come from the Renaissance concept of Mercantilism.

Research the two examples; 'Tender'(2003-05) and 'Leaf Litter'(1999-2003) to explain how they relate to this concept.

1. First define mercantilism, using material from your ALVC handbook, and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance.

Mercantilism was the system in which a nation accumalted its wealth and increased its economic power. This was acheived through exporting more than they imported. Mercantilism focused on the interest of the whole state and not individual interests.

At the end of the high Renaissance a new economic system started to take over. Some people viewed mercantilism as a system that only benefited the government, it was then suggested that economic growth could only happen if markets were free. In a free market consumers would have more choice. This created more competition and encouraged development of new products and ideas.   

2. Identify the ideas or concepts in Hall's work that relate to Mercantilism?

Fiona Hall's  artwork relates to mercantilism the idea that  deforestation is part of global trade the homes and nests of animals were being destroyed. It also illustrate the in which the species live in has cash value attached to it similar to our homes. However animals don't a have a voice and humans assume the right to take over their area.

In the 16^th – 18^th century the time of European colonisation where many tribes were robbed of their land and rightful home. In her artwork 'Tender' the title has two meanings, ‘Tender’ in economic terms means ‘currency’ as well as ‘Tender’ to describe human emotion of fragility.

3. For each work describe the shape, form and materials used, and also explain the ideas behind each example.

In the artwork 'Tender' Fiona Hall has used U.S dollar shredded U.S dollar bills to create fragile looking bird's nests to represent that mordernisation and the impact that global trade and deforestation has on the different species and its own natural habitat.

In the artwork 'Leaf Litter' Hall uses bank notes of varying currencies, the artwork shows the relationship between the natural and commercial world. She has bank notes from all different countries to form panels. On the bank notes she has drawn the leaf of the native plant of that country. These plants become endangered due to the economic pressures to grow commercial crops.

4. In your opinion do the materials communicate the ideas of the work? Please explain your answer.

The materials that Hall has used in her works communicate her ideas about ecology, history and globilisation. By using bank notes she illustrates the complex connection between the natural world and the human system of trade. Hall makes her viewers think about what happens when one's natural habitat has been disturbed and eroded, and what happens when the almighty US dollar becomes the world's only accepted currency.

5. Fiona Hall's recent project The Kermadecs focuses on issues around the Pacific ocean. Research this project to summarize the importance of the area and upload an image to your blog for discussion.

In May 2011 nine contemporary artists were invited to tour the Kermadec region of New Zealand. The Kermadec exihibition showcases the artworks that were inspired by that voyage. The Kermadec Initiative is a project conducted by the Global Ocean Legacy programme of The Pew Environment Group. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness about one of the world's greatest, least known natural wilderness on the planet.

In 2010 the Kermadecs was declared the one of the "last pristine sites left in the ocean". The purpose of the intiative is to ensure the creation of a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, which would afford protection to the entire Kermadec region and would be the world’s largest marine reserve.

                        

' Leaf Litter' (1999-2003) Fiona Hall

These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on Youtube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.

www.abc.net.au/rn/legacy/programs/sunmorn/stories/s1451093.htm
australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/fiona-hall
www.qag.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/.../Fiona_Hall_EdKit.pdf
www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/fionahall/

CADI Blog 2012- Assignment One

Welcome to the Cadi Blog 2012

The CADI BLOG will be the site where you get information regarding what to write about each week in your own blogs. Your ALVC class will be divided up into two groups, A and B. Group A will blog on weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, (at least 250 words plus images, etc), while group B will blog on weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7. On the weeks that you're not blogging you'll need to add comments to the blogs of at least 2 other students (100 words for each comment).

In week 1 you'll need to set up your own blog in blogspot.com (you'll need to get a google account first as blogspot uses the same account number/password). Then read the CADIBLOG2012 blog each week to find out what the focus of your blog/comments will be. These will relate to the concepts discussed in the ALVC class - and exhibitions that we'll visit throughout the year.

Remember that the blogging component is an assessed event of the two ALVC papers.

The blog assignment must be complete by 10am on Tuesday 29 May. You will submit an
assignment cover sheet with your blog address on it, to your tutor on this day.

Film (2011) Tacita Dean. Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, London