Thursday, March 31, 2011

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

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. 

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

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?

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

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.

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

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







Thursday, March 17, 2011

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.
2. Explain how the artist's social status increased during the Renaissance period. Briefly explain why this happened.
3. Comment on Gavin Turk's work in relation to individualism, status of the artist and egotism.
4. Comment on Damien Hirst's use of his work and the media for self promotion.
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?
7. Comment on the blogs of other students.
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://radicalart.info/ego/statements/index.html
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG7733481/Maia-Norman-Damien-Hirsts-Californian-girl.html


Thursday, March 10, 2011

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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





Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Week 2- Barbara Kruger & Mercantillism

Barbara Kruger's Art and Design
I shop therefore I am (1987) Barbara Kruger
Face It (Green) 2007 Barbara Kruger


Barbara Kruger has been described as a feminist, conceptual and a pop artist.
Her work reflects her interest in graphic design, photography, poetry and writing.

Research Kruger's work in order to answer the following questions;

1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.
2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?
3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.
4. Define the concept of Mercantillism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.
5. Upload a more recent example of Kruger's work where she has used a new medium, that is not graphic design. Title your image of the chosen work and comment on your response to the work. How do you think the audience would experience this work?

Reference all books and websites at the end of your posting.
Refer to pages 226-228 in the ALVC handbook for the correct formatting.

Group A is blogging, Group B is commenting this week.