gemma's blog.: April 2011

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Week 6 – Landscape and the Sublime

Wanderer in the mists (1818) Casper David Friedrich

Untitled # 394 - 03 (2003) Richard Misrach

Untitled # 2 (2002) Richard Misrach

1. What and when was the Enlightenment?

“In it’s simplest sense the Enlightenment was the creation of a new framework of ideas about man, society and nature, which challenged existing conceptions rooted in a traditional world-view, dominated by Christianity”. Hamilton (1992)

As discussed by Hooker (1996) it is hard to find a beginning or end to the enlightenment, so it is simply referred to as seventeenth century thought. Hooker goes on in saying, “we can’t really identify an end point either for we still more or less live in an Enlightenment world”.

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The concept of the Sublime defined by Burke (1729-1797) “was that the life of feeling and spirit depended on a harmony within the larger order of the universe. The sublime, therefore, was the ultimate experience of divinity, a mixture of awe, fear, and enlightenment produced by the contemplation of a powerful, terrifying nature; for Burke, the Sublime was already connected to landscape.”

3. How did the concept of the Sublime come out of the Enlightenment thought?

Enlightenment thought like the sublime challenged old ideas about nature but most of the emphasis of the enlightenment was on man and society. The sublime concentrates only on nature and how insignificant humans are compared to the natural world.

I believe without the birth of enlightenment thought man would not have realized the ideas of the sublime (as defined in question 2) and how important the natural world is to our lives.

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Add some more images of his work.

As the artist says himself “Paradise has become an uneasy dwelling place; the sublime sea frames our vunerability, and the precarious nature of life itself”. It is very easy for me to identify Misrach’s use of the sublime in his series of photographs called “on the beach”.

His photographs easily represent “the vastness of space and the human beings insignificance within it,” Richard Misrach: on the beach (2007). We can see this by the immense beach compared to how tiny the people are which are also captured within the photographs.

I find Misrach’s photographs very aesthetically appealing because the beach captured is so beautiful and his photos for me definitely seize this beauty.

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

Sunny Morning on the Hudson River (1827) Thomas Cole

Flatford Mill 1817 John Constable

The Grand Canal, Venice (1835) JMW Turner

Smokey Clouds over the River (1996) Chen Jun

6. How does Misrach's photography make you feel? Does it appeal to your imagination?

Studying Misrach’s photographs relaxes me. The vastness of the ocean and beach compared to how small the people are in the photographs also has an automatic calming effect on me and I find myself in quite a reflective mood.

These photographs also appeal to my imagination because I want to be included in the photographs and I start to imagine what it would feel like to be there.

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

Sketch for Landscape from Flagstaff (1942) Colin McCahon

Reference List:

A picture of britain (2005, June 15)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/apictureofbritain/works/east_constable_flatford.shtm

Burke, E. (1757). A philosophical enquiry into the origin of our ideas of the Sublime and beautiful. London, England: T.W. Copeland.

Chinese art paintings
http://www.chineseartpaintings.com/3cj046Sf.html

Hooker, R. (1996). Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought.
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PREPHIL.HTM

Olga's gallery.
http://www.abcgallery.com/C/cole/cole.html

Richard Misrach: On the Beach (2007).

http://www.vincentborrelli.com/cgi-bin/vbb/105104

Turner, Joseph Mallord William.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/turner/

Week 5 - Science and Reason

1. Define the 17th century 'Scientific Revolution', and say how it changed European thought and world-view.

“The Scientific Revolution was, in reality, a series of changes in the structure of European thought itself: systematic doubt, empirical and sensory verification, the abstraction of human knowledge into separate sciences, and the view that the world functions like a machine” (Hooker, 1996).

From this definition I have gathered that the ‘Scientific Revolution’ changed European thought and world-view by such theory processes like Systematic doubt, meaning the revolution made it acceptable and normal to doubt something until its certainty had been proven. Another example is empirical thought, which meant that people’s knowledge in general relied more on observation or experience. This scientific reasoning resulted in the provision of answers for people rather then their reliance on religion and superstition. These new thought approaches made science a priority and new ideas were developed.

This progression of scientific thought was also reflected in the 17^th century art. Hooker states that it is apparent from the period’s paintings, sculptures and architecture that “people of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are looking at the world very differently”.

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

We can still see evidence of the ‘Scientific Revolution’ in the world today because the revolution created scientific thought and reasoning. Scientific thought and reasoning “helped to expand knowledge and experimentation even more. Scientific institutions were built, new methods and theories were taught,” (Nisotro).

We would not be able to live the lives we do today without this freedom of thought that came from the ‘Scientific Revolution’ and also the inventions that were created from it. Examples of the revolution are all around us, such as the advancement of medicine, technology in general and the creation of Mathematics and Chemistry.

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

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

that uses new media/technology over traditional media?

The definition of the word ‘art’ has definitely broadened throughout history because of the influence of different eras in the renaissance period such as the individualism movement. A modern definition of the word ‘art’ is: “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power”. From this definition and my research I have gathered that people would generally envisage traditional art such as a painting over new media art and is used to define the word art more but I don’t think this makes it anymore valued. I think it’s more to do with personal opinion and the social status of the artist that makes the artwork more or less important or ‘valued’.

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

Rist is know as a ‘video artist’ and uses new media/technology by creating video installations “that push imagery to its extreme, and invite viewers into a dreamlike fantasy world of havoc, play, and rebellion,”(Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 2011). She uses captivating audio sounds and video imagery to enchant, and deeply involve her audience, so they can lose themselves and really experience her installations.

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.

For the installation of ‘Ever is all over,’ Rist has used 2 cleverly overlapped projections (both projections fade into each other) to create one large movie that covers the corner of 2 walls. One of the overlapping projections is a beautiful young woman smiling and skipping in slow motion down a street gracefully smashing car windows with a large fake flower, the other is a projection of nature and flowers. She has also used audio techniques to enhance the audience’s experience. The audio used is a mixture of different types of sound which creates a type of song, with someone humming a tune, sounds of birds chirping and a piano playing overlaid with the sound of the lady in the video smashing car windows.

When I watched the video clip of Rist’s installation ‘Ever is Over All,’ I found that such elements as the sound and scale of her work described above helped to create a very immersive experience. There is so much occurring in her installations that I believe her work to be very captivating and would transfix the audience’s attention very easily.

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

In the content of the video installation ‘Ever Is Over All’, Rist shows a “princess-like young girl blithely smashing car windows,” (Phaidon).

In society it is not ‘reasonable’ behaviour to smash someone else’s property (like the woman in Rist’s video installation is doing) and it is also against the law. I think in Rist’s installation she is giving the audience the notion that it’s not unreasonable behaviour either. I believe this because the lady is happily smashing car windows while a policewoman walks by smiling at her. This notion makes her behaviour acceptable. I also believe the different visual and audio elements incorporated within the installation makes the woman’s actions tolerable as well.

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

From viewing some video clips of Rist’s installations, I felt that her work gave off feelings of relaxation and enchantment. My ‘reading’ of her work is that like Museum Publicity (2011) points out Rist uses captivating imagery and sound to give the audience an immersive experience and also “engages the viewer by offering a meditative and tranquil atmosphere”. Museum Publicity also goes on in saying her work is “mesmerizing in its fluidity” and has a spiritual element.

As Phaidon explains Rist’s skilful and unprecedented fusions of multi-screen video works along with her music used “invent new possibilities for poetry, feminine identity and the traditional genre of portraiture”. I believe this quote also points out some of the ideologies behind her work.

Reference List:

Albright-Knox art gallery presents Pipilotti Rist Dwelling (2011, March 24).

http://museumpublicity.com/2011/03/24/albright-knox-art-gallery-presents-pipilotti-rist-dwelling-within/

Hooker, R. (1996). The scientific revolution.

http://www.wsu.edu:8000/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM

Nosotro, R. Science and religion.

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t0w08sciencereligion.htm

Pipilotti Rist.

http://www.phaidon.com.au/store/art/pipilotti-rist-9780714839653/

Monday, 11 April 2011

Week 4 - The Social Status of the Artist

Self Portrait in Fur Coat (1500) Albrecht Durer

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

When l view this self-portrait I see that Durer has painted himself as a man of importance. With a look of knowledge and self-worth etched on Durer’s face he has successfully portrayed himself to me as an individual and captured the essence of the role he set out to create as an artist.

This type of painting is very innovative for it’s era because very few artists of the renaissance period were known to paint self-portraits. According to Bailey, Durer was the first known artist to have painted a self-portrait. I believe this revolution of Durer’s has helped pave they way for Artist’s today to become individuals.

I think that this self-portrait depicts the cultural rebirth of the renaissance period and the changing view of the artist as an individual.

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

“The renaissance period was the start of a great debate over the social position of the artist”, (Blunt, 1962).

As Artist’s Life explains, an artist was originally considered a tradesman, and their art served normally for religious purposes. Through the start of painting with artistic principals including proportion, realistic expression and rational postures the artist created greater depth and started claiming that their profession required intellectual ability and knowledge. “This permitted the claim that they were superior to mere craftsmen, and that painting and sculpture should be considered as liberal arts,” (Witcombe). This bought with it many important changes in the social and cultural position of the artist and more traditional values of an artist as an insignificant craftsman was beginning to be forgotten.

By the end of the renaissance period the artist had become a free educated individual and a steady rise in status began.

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

Knob (1997) Gavin Turk

I believe Turk’s work to be individualistic because its ambiguous and self obsessed. This is clearly seen in his above work as he has egotistically signed his name and called it art.

If it wasn’t for the renaissance movement of art and individualism then art like Turk’s wouldn’t be acceptable or considered art by any part of today’s society. I believe individualism has made way for art like this to exist.

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

“During the 1990’s Damien Hirst became Britain’s most famous, young, living sculptor and painter, in part because of his own flair in self promotion and publicity skills,” (Walker, 2009).

I believe Hirst would not be as successful as he is today without the public hype created by the self promotion of his art. Hirst has been able to spot lucrative opportunities within the media thus helping create his fortune. Hirst is “the world’s richest living artist ”, (Mr 10 Percent, 2008).

With his controversial production line artwork (he employ’s over 180 employees) and with shameless self-promotion he has become one of the most influential living artists.

5. Find 2 images of work by artists or designers that reflects 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.

Campbell's Soup 1 (1968) Andy Warhol

Marilyn Monroe Print (1960's) Andy Warhol

During the 60’s Warhol started creating paintings of iconic American products and well-known celebrities (as seen in the above examples of his work).

I believe that Warhol’s artwork (such as the above) reflect upon his individuality and uniqueness as an artist. If it wasn’t for his individualism I believe he wouldn’t be known (like he is today) as the leading artist in the art movement called ‘pop art’. His belief’s and way of thinking was so individualistic that he even published a book called ‘The Philosophy of Andy Warhol’.

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

I believe artists and designers are viewed as individuals in Western society today because they are very much free to express themselves in the way they chose. This is evident by the way in which artists such as Hirst and Turk have become successful with their controversial style of art. The evolution of art within the renaissance era has definitely paved the way for this to occur.

“The goals for artists that were formed during the renaissance – creativity, originality and innovation – are still what artists strive for today.” (The Artists Life)

Reference List: