Week 8 - Industrialisation Industrialisation and Cao Fei's RMB City

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012

Week 8 - Industrialisation

Industrialisation and Cao Fei's RMB City

Dynamism of a dog on a Leash (1912) Giacomo Balla

Industrialisation in the late 1800s, and today.

RMB City (2007-9)  Cao Fei

The artists of the late 1800's and early 1900's, in Europe, were influenced by the Industrial revolution.

1. What and when was the Industrial Revolution?
The industrial revolution was a time period when Europe began to be industralised rapidly with power-driven machinery and manufacturing. Inventions  like electricity, railroads and advancements in communications happened in that time and the European world forged ahead. 

Both paintings featured on this blog, that are from the early 1900s were painted by Modernist painters from the group called 'Futurists'. The Futurists celebrated the machine, and objects in motion. Their primary objective was to depict movement, which they saw as symbolic of their commitment to the dynamic forward thrust of the 20th century.

2. Research both Modernist paintings in order to comment on the subject matter, form and style used to celebrate the machine and motion in each painting. Answer the question in 2 parts for each painting.

UMBERTO BOCCIONI-

The City Rises

This painting records the building of an electrical power plant. The painting is dominated by the constant moving figure of masculine men who are slaving away to get the job done. It is  typically a Modernists painting beacause it shows the advancement of times and the results of that being; making way for new buildings or factories, in this case an electrical power plant. The painting is energetic and lively showing movement in an urban setting, it celebrates and beautifies the progress that is taking place. 

DYNAMISM OF A DOG ON A LEASH-

GIACOMO BALLA 

In this painting Balla aims to record the movement of the scurrying dachshund. Beside the dachshund is its owner who is a lady, it looks as though she is also scampering around like her dog, her skirt looks clumsy and as though she might trip over it. The word "dynamism" was used to describe the modern machine world, so it is said to be comical to describe this mere little dog by using such a powerful word.

Cao Fei's RMB City (2007-9) refers to China's recent rapid industialisation and urbanization.

(www.artspace.org.nz/exhibitions/2009/cafeintopia.asp)

3. Research Cao Fei's RMB City (2007-9)  in order to comment on this work in more depth.

Cao Fei RMB City is based around the rapid advancement of her home country China. Cao Fei was born and raised in Guangzhou China where in the early 1990's art was greatly influenced by rapid urbanisation. Her work is influenced by the electronic world of entertainment and pop culture. Cao Fei makes her characters look magical she places them in the midst of the city to add a sense of  fantasy which is acts as an escape from mundane city life.

i.e describe the images that has she used in her digital collage that refer to China's present and history, and explain why has she used these images.

In the title RMB stands for 'renminbi' (chinese) which means people's money in English. The work combines real symbols of China for example the national flag and the panda. At the top there is a rotating ferris wheel that leads to the People's Heroes. There are also well known places in China for example Feilai Temple, the Grand National Theatre found in Beijing. Over the city hovers gigantic planes and floating statutes of Mao Zedong who used to be the leader of China. The real and virtual subjects in the painting cover boundaries between the past and future, and depicts China as cosmopolitan and contemporary.

4. RMB City is described as a utopia/dystopia. Comment on what these terms mean, and how they can be applied to the work.

Utopia refers to an idyllic place where it is perfect in all social, political and moral aspects. Dystopia is "an imaginary place where the conditions and quality of life are unpleasant. " (Farlex Inc 2012) it is the opposite of utopia. 

These two terms can be applied to the work because it paints an image of China that it fantasy like it makes the viewer feel as though its wonderland, an idyllic place, almost like a dream come true. The symbols in the painting are real Cao Fei has taken China's heroes and well known places and have put them altogether into one City. However it has a double meaning at the same time Cao Fei is showing the bad effects of China's rapid advancement, where city life has become mundane, oppressive and unenjoyable. It feels unnatural to live in such a place.

5. Although the Modernist paintings and the contemporary digital work have emerged from different contexts, there are also many similarities. Comment on the similarities that you can see in the work. Look at the moving digital image at vimeo.com/4272260, if you have not already researched it.

One similarity between Modernist paintings and a contemporary digital work are the movement that we see in both. The whispy strokes and thrust that is felt in the two. Movement represents the advancement that has been made it illustrates the progress of technology and inventions, that occur constantly in today's world. The Second similarity is colour for example looking at "The City Rises" and "RMB City" we see  vibrant colours used in both this depicts liveliness and dynamism, to show the energy that arises when urbanisation occurs. 

References

http://www.mutualart.com/OpenArticle/Cao-Fei--Building--RMB-City-/5A8FD7ADF04F9369

http://interventionsjournal.net/2012/01/26/rmb-city-spectatorship-on-the-boundaries-of-the-virtual-and-the-real/

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/utopia

http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/173/index.html

Week 7- Science and Reason Video Art Pipilotti Rist

Week 7- Science and Reason Video Art Pipilotti Rist


1) Define the seventeenth century 'Scientific Revolution', and say how it changed European thought and world view.

The 17th century Scientific Revolution was a time period where an intellectual movement took place. Also known as the Enligtenment period this was when man's thinking changed, their view towards man, society and nature, Enlightenment intellectuals challenged the traditional world view which was dominated by Christinanity.


This changed the European thought and view instead of going along with the traditional thinking of the clergy and Christianity, people thought with reason and rationality. Intellectuals reasoned that human life can be understood the same way the natural can be understood. This new way of thinking was accompanied by and influenced many aspects of art for example writing, printing, painting, sculpture. 

2. Give examples of how we can we still see evidence of the 'Scientific Revolution' in the world today.

People are entitled to their own opinions, they have the freedom to express themselves and be individuals. Man's thinking is rational and many people rely on science, therefore the world has developed tremendously technologically and industrially. W live in a secular society nowadays man rely on themselves and their careers, to survive and no so much God and religion

Research Pipilotti Rist's video installations to answer the following;

3. From your research, do you think that the contemporary art world values art work

that uses new media/technology over traditional media?

In my opinion the contemporary art world definitely values art work that uses new media and technology, but at the same time traditional media is still valued very much. Humans are so used to having technology so it is great to see it being used in art, its almost like a celebration of our advancement and progress. I think the contemporary art world find that technology being used in art very refreshing and edgy. 

4. How has Pipilotti Rist used new media/technology to enhance the audience's experience of her work.

Pipilotti uses new media to enhance her audience's experience by using colour and movement she mesmerizes and captivates them through their sight. Adding to that she has sound accompanying her video this entraps her viewer through their sense of hearing ,you feel as though you are being enveloped in the chaos that is happening.  

I love her video installations because it's crazy, and the happenings in the video is fantasy and ordinarily would not occur in real life. When I was watching the video however I did not realise how unrealistic it was, I was fully immersed in it, I felt like I had been brought to a different world. It made me forget about where I was I felt part of that world. I find her videos eccentric and refreshing, Pipilotti's video installations have you in a trance it's enchanting and has an eerie feel to it.

5. Comment on how the installation, sound and scale of 'Ever is Over All' (1997) could impact on the audience's experience of the work.

The scale of it is larger than a  human. So the lady in the video looks powerful and her irrational behaviour is quite disconcerting. She shows no remorse for smashing the car windows, it made my sort of fearful of her and her sadistic like behaviour.

The sound surrounds and encircles her audience, this makes the audience feel as though they are the ones following and observing this lady. 

6. Comment on the notion of 'reason' within the content of the video. Is the woman's behaviour reasonable or unreasonable?

The woman's behaviour is reasonable, ONLY for a mentally UNstable person. Because of her unreasonable actions I tend to think that she is psycho.

7. Comment on your 'reading' (understanding) of the work by discussion the aesthetic (look), experience and the ideologies (ideas, theories) of the work.

Pipilotti is often time seen as a feminist most of her works change the hierarchy of male and female, empowering females. Rist's bases her works around the idea of "love, death, everyday life and fiction." The installations are about the negative aspects of being female however she depicts it in a positive light. She blends music and video art together create a whole different experience for her audience. 

Aesthetically Rist's video installations are dynamic, she uses bright colours. The big scale puts the subjects in your face they are confrontational. It is said that her video represent the "birth of a sophisticated visual language, expressing the direct, realistic senses of the MTV generation."

Here's a short video showcasing Pipilotti Rist's video installations"

http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/ever-is-over-all/

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3246502?uid=3738776&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21100759331441

http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=81191

http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/pipilotti-rists-innovative-video-installations-give-audiences-a/

Pipilotti Rist - Ever Is Over All

Pipilotti Rist video installation, MoMA

http://www.e-flux.com/announcements/pipilotti-rist-2/

Week 6-Landscape and the Sublime

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Week 6-Landscape and the Sublime

'Wanderer in the mists' (1818) Caspar David Friedrich

'Untitled #2" (2002) Richard Misrach

 'Untitled # 394-03' (2003) Richard Misrach

Richard Misrach's photography reflects the concept of the Sublime, from the Enlightenment.

Research Misrach's work by reading about his intentions, and also by looking at the work. Then answer the following questions;

1. Define the Enlightenment, including its context (time and place).

The Enlightenment was a time period in which an intellectual revolution took place.  Known as a time of emergence from the darkness into a new age enlightened by reason and science. It challenged the beliefs and traditions of the monarchy and the nobility of the church. The Enlightenment spanned from the 16th century to the 19th. 

Some of the Enlightenment principles were: 

• human perfectibility
• equality
• reason (good judgement)
• power of thought and education
• individualism
• optimistic world view.

During the 18th century the newly affluent middle class throughout Europe and America challenged the vanities of Rococo style paintings because they did not reflect social responsibility and hardwork. The invention of the printing press in Europe in the 14th century allowed a rapid dispersion of knowledge and ideas.

The Enlightenment promoted Platonic ideas of human perfection prior to one being born, this went against the idea of the church's doctrine of original sin.

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The British writer Burke puts it this way: " The depiction of a terrible".

The famous British painter Constable's friend Wordsworth's, called it a "tranquil sublimity"  being one with nature inspired by means of enduring presence and calm harmony. "Terribilita" landscape emphasized the spatial infinity and elemental power of nature, on the other hand countryside scenes stressed the harmonious coexistence in a continuum of eternity.

3. Explain how the concept of the Sublime came out of Enlightenment thought.

Landscape paintings were not accepted by the Salon at that time, in fact those paintings were ignored by critics, it was considered to be unimportant. Rococo, Neoclassical and religious subjects topped the list of hierarchy for subjects. 

The Enlightenment moved away from traditional religious ideas of the church, similarly the sublime broke away from the stereo typical criteria of the Salon, to painting religious subjects.

The time of the Enlightenment was emerge from the darkness be an individual and not to be dictated by the churches. Therefore the concept of the sublime reflected this, the landscape paintings dealt with the idea that the life and spirit depended on a harmony within the larger order of the universe. 

Individualism was also a main idea of the Enlightenment, this is also reflected in the sublime where emphasis is put upon the individual and their relationship with the universe.

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Include some quotes from art critics and other writers who have written about his work. 

Misrach's work definitely reflect the ideas of the sublime, his photographs are likened to the painting of the famous artist Turner. His subjects look like they are being completely engulfed by the nature surrounding them. However the subjects are at ease there is no danger, they are immersed in tranquility. 

By Blake Gopnik
Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, June 15, 2008 :"In Misrach's work, even images of figures lost in an infinity of water don't make us worry for their safety or sanity. They make us envy their leisure...These images assert a comfort with wild nature that we haven't always had. We now feel sure that we can tame it, use it, enjoy it, even endanger it at will".

Art review: Liz Magor and Richard Misrach at Henry Gallery :"The photographs look down at vast expanses of beach and ocean, composed as allover patterns or simple geometries. In some, a lone human figure or two sprawl on the beach, entwine or float in the surf far below. They exist to provide a trope, the notion of the tininess of human life in the grand scheme of things."

5. Add 2 new images of his work to your blog.

Untitled #1132-04 by Richard Misrach, 2004. Chromogenic color print

White Man Contemplating Pyramids, Egypt, 1989-1991

6. Describe how does Misrach's photography makes you feel. How does it appeal to your imagination?

When I look at Misrach's photography I truly grasped the meaning of the sublime. Nature is powerful and as humans we often forget that. It also emphasizes the importance of having that connection or relationship with nature because we are both part of the universe and the grand scheme of things.

His photographs have an eerie feel to them, it makes me feel the immense power of nature, his subjects look vulnerable, but at the same time they are completely safe in nature's hands.

7. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.

John Constable was famous for his works with the sublime. He was known for landscape paintings, his dappled and painterly techniques. Constable painted farmers working in the countryside, his subjects scale would be very small in comparison to nature and the surroundings. Which are typical characteristics of the sublime.

Haywain- John Constable

William Turner was also a famous painter who worked with the ideas of the sublime he painted a few scenes showing the progress of the times and new inventions relating to nature. For example the invention of steam trains, in his painting "Rain Steam Speed" Turner paints the steam travelling through and nature is totally surrounding it as though it is being engulfed.

Rain Steam Speed- William Turner

8. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.

Refer to examples above.

9. Reference your sources (books and websites)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment

http://www.brucekelly.com/library/enlightenment.html

See Honour 1979, .pg72 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/profile/richard-misrach-on-the-beach,1147784/critic-review.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2008374684_henry11.html

Week 5 - The Social Status of the artist - The Renaissance and now.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012

Week 5 - The Social Status of the artist - The Renaissance and now.

Self Portrait in Fur Coat (1500)

Albrecht Durer

Knob (1997) Gavin Turk

Damien Hirst and Maia Norman (1995)

Albrecht Durer's 'Self-Portrait in Fur Coat' (1500) shows a significant change in the way that the artist views and portrays himself. Research the paintings by Albrecht Durer, Gavin Turk and Damien Hirst in order to answer

the following questions;

1. Identify aspects of Durer's self portrait that show a changing view of the artist's view of himself as an individual.

Durer portrays himself in a Christ-like figure he makes himself looks superior and righteous. During the time that Durer did his self portrait he had just rose to the upper class social circle. He is adorned in a fur-trimmed coat these coats were usually worn by humanists and patricians. There is clear evidence of geometry in his portrait and were everything is placed, he also adds a Latin inscription in the top right hand corner of the painting. Durer adds these mathematical and rhetoric elements to distinguish himself from the mere craftsman, rather he wants to be acknowledge as an intellectual labourer.  

2. Explain how the artist's social status increased during the Renaissance period. Briefly explain why this happened.

Around the 16th century there were a few artists who rose to fame two of them being Michelangelo and Raphael.The ideas of the "artist" changed, an artist was someone "who had made serious study of his art" as told by :The Elder Pliny's Chapters on the History of Art (1977). 

There was also a change in artistic patronage, Italian rulers and the papacy in Rome provided artist with gigantic projects which meant a big commission. This enabled artist to stop relying on the guilds and escape from them. The workshops had a rival; art institutions were started, where various artists would gather together for training in three arts; painting, sculpture and architecture.

Poetry was viewed as an intellectual skill, the reasoning arose that poetry and painting should be viewed as equal because both are created through the exercising of the imagination. Hence if poetry was seen as a liberal art  painting should be too. 

3. Comment on Gavin Turk's work in relation to individualism, status of the artist and egotism.

Turk's work "Knob" is a screenprint of the artist's signature. This relates to individualism because his signature is his trademark, his has printed on white wove there are no distractions around it the focus is solely on HIS name. 

Because this work is egotistical is shows that Turk thinks quite highly of himself, the print is so simplistic and it is what it is, he lets it speak for itself. In my opinion Turk is showing that he doesn't have to try to impress because he has already made a name for himself. 

4. Comment on Damien Hirst's use of his work and the media for self promotion.

Damien Hirst's works make a statement his collection of animal deal on quite a heavy subject matter. It get's people talking, he seems like quite an outspoken man and he sounds his ideas out through his art. He uses the media very well for self promotion as we see in the photo, Hirst is pictured there he looks gregarious and eccentric, I find him intriguing.

5. Find 2 images of work by any artist or designer that reflect some of the ideas of individualism, self promotion or egotism that have been discussed on this blog. Upload images to your blog, title and date the work, identify the artist/designer and comment on the work in relation to the question.

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889) Van Gogh

In his portrait Van Gogh has painted himself in a very vulnerable state, it shows his fragile state of mind. It was rumoured that Van Gogh had cut of his own ear to prove a point to someone. Van Gogh's self portraits can be seen as self promotional he is known for his many portraits of himself.  




Self Portrait (1906) Henri Mattise


This is the most well known self portrait of Mattise, the artist gazed right at you he looks confrontational. He paints himself in a striped T-shirt that was most commonly worn by fishermen in that day. He presents himself as a "human being" rather than an  artist.  This portrait reflects the ideas of individualism because the artist is depicting just himself he has not add anything fancy to give his audience more information about him. His stare is enough to captivate someone. 

6. How do you think artists and designers are viewed in Western society today?

In my opinion artists and designers in the Western world today are well respected. They have the freedom to express themselves, their thoughts and ideas. Art is no longer seen as a lowly skill or talent compared to academic studies, it is viewed as equal.

The world needs artists and designers to make people's lives more interesting, Our environment is so diverse and ever changing, unlike the times in the Renaissance period there are no more rules our boundaries. Artists and designers are definitely not looked down on rather they have a place in society, and they can make their own mark .

8. Reference the websites and/or books you have used, at the end of your blog.

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/durer/self/

http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth200/artist/durer_intro.html

http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth200/artist/durer_koerner.html#anchor436030

http://www.smk.dk/en/explore-the-art/the-royal-collections/french-art-1900-1930/highlights/henri-matisse-self-portrait/