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