Week 7-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?

A:During the 1800s the Industrial Revolution spread throughout Britain. The use of steam-powered machines, led to a massive increase in the number of factories (particularly in textile factories or mills)(Nettlesworth Primary School).

The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way. Most notably, average income and population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth. In the two centuries following 1800, the world's average per capita income increased over 10-fold, while the worlds population increased over 6-fold(Maddison, A. 2003).

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.

A: Futurism spanned from approximately 1910 to 1930, and originated in Italy, although there were parallel movements elsewhere. Futurism is one of the movements that developed during the Modern Art period, alongside other movements like Cubism(Wildy,J. 2010)

The transition between the 19^th and 20^th century has brought further development of modernistic ideas, concepts and techniques in art. Inspired by Cezanne’s idea, saying that all nature objects can be illustrated with just three geometrical figures: cube, sphere and cone.The industrial revolution and the early 20^th century introduced fauvism with its expressively vivid colors verging on aggression in the works of Henri Matisse, Andre Derain, Maurice de Vlaminch and Raoul Dufy. Italian artists, refusing everything with old roots and inspired by the rapid development of technology, appearance of first cars and airplanes, developed in their turn the art movement under the name “futurism”. (Paul Viluda,2010)

Part One. The size of  this painting is :Width: 301 cm ; Height: 200 cm. Using the warm color and a part of blue.  Boccioni said:  "A painting three meters by two in which I attempted and shows the great power within the human body.   a great synthesis of labor, light, and movement . . .It is done completely without models, and all the tricks of the trade are sacrificed to the ultimate cause of emotional expression." The way he draw the painting perfectly shows the movement. Also, the bright color  is relate to Modernist.  The work depicts the labours of men on a construction site utillsing the power of hourses in their labours. It is the power taht appears to be the central focus of the painting as the strong hours in a dominating position filling the centre of the composition.

Part Two, Dynamism of a dog on a Leash from Balla describe a women and her dog are walking on the road. It also shows the movement from using the repeat and locus. The movement also shows the energy.And in the early 20th century, it was through the example of chronophotography that the effect finally made its way onto canvas. The wish to imitate the machine and the mechanised image seduced the would-be modern artist. We find oil paintings doing something that they had never done before – using multiple limbs to indicate bodies in motion. It appears in Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase and in the works of the Italian Futurists. Giacomo Balla's Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash is one of the most striking. (Rinaudo, 2010)

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

A: RMB City is an art community in the 3-D virtual world of Second Life, which is an online platform that has amassed 14 million registered users. The project explores the potential of an online art community, seeking to create the conditions for an expansive discourse about art, urbanism, economy, imagination and freedom. (Serpentine Gallery). In the work, it shows the flag of China, the development, Tower form Shanghai, the panda, and the buddha. 

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

A:One of the first art projects taking place in RMB City is Master Q’s Guide to Virtual Feng Shui by Huang He, a young artist who brings the ancient Chinese spatial methodology into the new virtual metaverse of RMB City.Reflecting on China’s recent urban and cultural explosion, the architecture of RMB City is an amalgam of ancient and modern Chinese icons from the panda to the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics(Serpentine Gallery). All of these architectures mean here is China, some of the buildings are in Beijing, and some of buildings are in Shanghai. RMB is the money in China. The panda and the Flag is typically means China. Cao Fei mixed them all together to show: This is China. Also, the 3-D display the movement of the work.

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.

A: The video shows the movement by using the 3-D. All the items are relates to China, not only the typical buildings, but also the animals. I think the similarity between this video and the industrialism is the showing the movement, and also the Futurism.

6. Comment on other student's blogs.

Reference List:

Nettlesworth Primary School,  Child Labour & The Industrial Revolution,

         http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vindust.html

Maddison, Angus (2003). The World Economy: Historical Statistics. Paris: Development Centre, OECD. pp. 256–62

Viluda,P. (2010). Modern Art- Revolutionfrom dawn to dusk,

          http://www.cruzine.com/2010/08/17/modern-art/

Wildy,J.(2010). Fururism and Umberto Boccioni's The City Rises,

         http://www.suite101.com/content/futurism-and-umberto-boccionis-the-city-rises-a280519

Rinaudo,D (2010). Giacomo Balla: Dynamism of a dog on a leash.

         http://www.scienceandart.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145:giacomo-balla-dynamism-of-a-dog-on-a-leash&catid=57:artworks&Itemid=97

www.artspace.org.nz/exhibitions/2009/cafeintopia.asp
www.artchive.com/artchive/B/boccioni/boccioni_city.jpg.html
www.artchive.com/artchive/B/balla.html 
vimeo.com/4272260

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. What and when was the Enlightenment?

A:  Enlightenment) is the era in Western philosophy, intellectual, scientific and cultural life, centered upon the 18th century, in which reasonwas advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority. It is also known as the Age of Reason.(Oxford Dictionary)

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

A: sublime is the quality of greatness or vast magnitude, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation.

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

A: The development of the concept of the sublime as an aesthetic quality in nature distinct from beauty was first brought into prominence in the 18th century in the writings of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, third earl of Shaftesbury, and John Dennis, in expressing an appreciation of the fearful and irregular forms of external nature, and Joseph Addison's synthesis of concepts of the sublime in his The Spectator, and later the Pleasures of the Imagination. All three Englishmen had, within the span of several years, made the journey across the Alps and commented in their writings of the horrors and harmony of the experience, expressing a contrast of aesthetic qualities.( Nicolson, Marjorie Hop, 1959) 

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.

A: The Untitled #2 showes the beauty of the sea and the beach, the coastline between the sea and the beach just cross the photo beautifully, and the tiny little person stand there looks weak or not stronger then the nature. Most of his work show the powerful of the nature and the weak of human, by using the strong comparison of the size of human and nature. Also, the sublime of his work is clear, and the weak people standing at the most of the sublime in his works. Some works use the natural comparison like sky and sea, clould and sky, mounten and sea as the sublime.

Monolake 2, California, 1999.




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

A:
6. How does Misrach's photography make you feel? Does it appeal to your imagination?
7. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.
8. Reference your sources (books and websites).

Reference List:

Oxford Dictionary    http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0013370#m_en_gb0013370

Week 5- Science and reason- Video art by Pipilotti Ris

Pipilotti Rist's video art- how can we link this to science and reason?

 

Still from 'Ever is Over All' (1997)

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

A：The Scientific Revolution was a period when new ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, human anatomy, chemistry, and other sciences led to a rejection of doctrines that had prevailed starting in Ancient Greece and continuing through the Middle Ages, and laid the foundation of modern science.(Encarta,2007) It changed the science, and developed the technology to keep European at the top of the world technical level.

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

A:The developments of The mechanical philosophy. The chemical philosophy.and the Mathematician during that period.

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?

A: Yes, I think no mater what media or technology they use on their work, are all values art work. Because the artists want to express the visual effect in different modalities.

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

A: She recorded a video of a girl use the flower to smash the cars' glass on the road, and another video showes the environment of where the flower grew.

She mix the two videos toghter and project in a 90° corner of a white wall.

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.

A: Firstly, the size of the projection war taller than 3 adults, it had real strong visual impact. Next, the sound of the video is natural which is soft and comfortable, but the video of the woman on the left hand side is using the beautiful flower scraping the window of cars with a big smill.

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

A: I think her behaviour is unreasonable, because I think there is no reason to make her do that.

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

A :  Firstly, the size of the projection war taller than 3 adults, it had real strong visual impact. Next, the sound of the video is natural which is soft and comfortable, and discribe the environment of  where the flower grew up. but the video of the woman on the left hand side is using the beautiful flower scraping the window of cars with a big smill. But the passing by police did not stop her but smilling to her.

Reference List:

Encarta (2007) "Scientific Revolution" 

Week 4- The social status of the artist

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.

A:  This is considered the most personal and complex of his many self-portraits and the one that has become fixed in the popular imagination.(Bailey) And also, the most self-portrait are so closely resembles earlier representations of Christ. This painting was painted just before his 29th birthday on 21 May. In my opinion, it was a gift for him self.

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

A: Because the technical skill is increasing by the artists. The claims of artists to a better social position sometimes simply take the form of showing that in earlier times the art of painting had been held in great respect.(The social position of the Artist, 1962)

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

A: The work of Gavin Turk is a signature of himself, and not only this one, he signed his name every where like he felt he is a famous person. He practise his signature and has cast himself in a series of detailed life sized sculptures as different romantic heroes.

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

A: Photography, pop, maybe photoshop...

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.

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

A: They have high social status, and most people started to appreciate their works.

7. Comment on the blogs of other students.

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

Reference List：

Bailey, 68

Anthony Blunt,(1962), The Social Position of the Artist

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

http://radicalart.info/ego/statements/index.html

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG7733481/Maia-Norman-Damien-Hirsts-Californian-girl.html

Week 3- 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 apply it to his work.

A：Hyper-real means: involving or characterized by particularly realistic graphic representation(The Free Dictionary). Ron Mueck is known for making hyper-real sculptures that makes you feel his works are real. And one of his work named Dead Dad is a hyper-realistic work, because the sculpture is his real father.

2. Mueck 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.

A: Mueck is not interest in making life size scuplture because he think the life-size figures are never seemed to be interesting, and he said, we meet life-size people every day.(SunSeven, Awesome Sculptures of Ron Mueck!) 

Ron Mueck (Australian, b. 1958). In Bed, 2005. Mixed media, 63 3/4 x 255 7/8 x 155 1/2 in. (161.9 x 649.9 x 395 cm). Private Collection

Ron Mueck (Australian, b. 1958). Two Women, 2005. Mixed media, 33 1/2 x 18 7/8 x 15 in. (85.1 x 47.9 x 38.1 cm). Glenn Fuhrman Collection, New York

  

 

3. Define Renaissance Humanism , and analyze the term in order to apply it to an example of Mueck's work. Note that the contemporary definition of Humanism is much broader than the Renaissance definition.

A:Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as humanists(Nicholas Mann, The Origins of Humanism). The projects are all about the human, who may around him.

 

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.

Mother and Child (detail), 2001.
Ron Mueck. Courtesy of Anthony d'Offay, London

A: This is a sculpture about the baby is born, people can see the sweat hear and the wet baby. Its shows clearly the baby is just be born, and the umbilical cord has not been cut yet. To see the mother's face, we can easly find that she is tired after gave a birth to a chlild. I can feel the miracle of the life, and how greatness mothers are!

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

Reference List:

The Free Dictionary,

            http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hyperreal

SunSeven, Awesome Sculptures Of Ron Mueck!

           http://hubpages.com/hub/Awesome_Sculptures_Of_Ron_Mueck

In Bed & Two Women

           http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ron_mueck/http://www.metacafe.com/watch/816457/ron_mueck_australian_hyperrealist_sculptor/

Nicholas Mann, 1996, The Origins of Humanism , Cambridge University Press, UK

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