Week 9-Modernism and Post-Modernism

Week 9-Modernism and Post-Modernism
Claude Monet's 'Water Lillies' (1920) and Chuck Closes' 'Maggie' (1998)

Maggie, (1996), Oil on canvas, 30 x 24"
(76.2 x 61 cm), Photograph by Ellen Page Wilson, courtesy of PaceWildenstein, New York, © Chuck Close

Self Portrait (1994). Chuck Close. Detail.

Water Lillies (1920) Claude Monet

Water Lillies (1920) Claude Monet.
Both Claude Monet and Chuck Close were exploring paint, colour and human perception. Research the work of both artists in order to;

1. Outline the intentions of each artist.

2. Describe the techniques of each artist

3. Find 2 quotes about each artists work, and reference them correctly.

4. Note 3 similarities of the work of both artists.

5. What are some differences between the artist's work. (at least 3)

6. Describe your response to the work of both artists.

7. Add any other comments you would like.

8. Comment on other students' blogs.

www.whitecube.com/exhibitions/close/paintings-i/
http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=80220
http://www.worcesterart.org/Exhibitions/Past/close.html

Week 8-Industrialisation, Modernism and architecture.

Week 8-Industrialisation, Modernism and architecture.

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (1997) Frank Gehry



Eiffel Tower (1889) Gustave Eiffel

The Eiffel Tower and the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao have both been described as significant
architectural constructions of their time. The Eiffel Tower has been described as;
'a symbol of technological prowess' (www.tour- eiffel.com/)
and the Guggenheim museum has been 'hailed as the most important structure of its time'
( www. guggenheim.org/bilbao )

Research both architectural structures in order to comment on;
-the importance of the design and construction
-significance of the materials
-significance of the designer
-function for which each was built
-function now-has it changed?

Compare the two architectural structures, by noting their similarities and differences.

Comment on other students' blogs

Week 7-Industrialisation and Cao Fei's RMB City

1. What and when was the Industrial Revolution?

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.

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.

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

Week 6-Landscape and the Sublime

1. What and when was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment is the era in Western philosophy, intellectual, scientific and cultural life, centered upon the 18th century, in which reason was advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority. It is also known as the Age of Reason. This era came about during the late 17th Century.

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

Some define the concept of sublime as “excellence in language,” the “expression of a great spirit,” and the power to provoke “ecstasy”. It is a technique which uses thoughts, emotions, and spiritual characterizations in art works.

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

Enlightenment ideas on art and the creative process were deeply influenced by the contemporary veneration for reason, empiricism and the classics. The business of the artist was conceived of as the imitation of nature, and as far as high art was concerned, this process of imitation should be informed by an intelligent grasp of the processes used to produce classical art. The ancients and their art were seen as models in the judicious selection of the most beautiful elements observed in nature, creating forms of ideal or ‘beautiful’ nature that were derived from a distillation of the very best and a filtering out of physical flaws. It was during the Enlighten era that they used sublime to imitate perfection in art works as well as sculpture designs. Their works were based on the effects of light and shade that wouldn't distract the eye from the actual picture that is the main focus.

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.

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

William Hodges

A View of Cape Stephens in Cook's Straits New Zealand with Waterspout (1776)

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.
Colin McCahon

8. Reference your sources (books and websites).

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)

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

In this portrait, the artist is trying to portray himself as gold-like, as an individual who is unique. His whole style looks similar to that of Jesus and how he is different from the church. It could be that he is trying to portray himself as Jesus as a comparison to indicate that he himself is a creator, a creator of art. Not only that, he signed his picture as a claim that this was a original work done by him. This way, no one else can lay claim to his work because he has staged his claim that he produced this art work and that no one can vandalize it.

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.

By trying to make himself stand out from the rest, this indicates that he is above everyone else and that he has an ego, or if you look at it from another angel, it could be that he is someone who is self confident and who is not hesitant to venture into the unknown.

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

It could be that he is trying to promote himself as an original artist because not only did he signed his work, but he also did a self comparative portrait to Jesus. This type of work is bound to create speculation around this time period as religion was a big thing back then.

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?

Most are viewed differently depending on how the media portray them. Like all artists and designers, their work and the acknowledgement of their work all depend on the media and how they portray it. If the media and other professions deem that particular work as positive or spectacular, than the rest of the world, through media will view it just as that. Same goes if the work was viewed as a bad thing. However, all these things depend on the discovery of the work. The artist along with his or her work have to be discovered by someone who is a professional or by someone who is well known for spotting or attaining unique works in order for the artist to gain acknowledgement for his work. This is how I think artists and designers are viewed in Western society nowadays.

Week 3- Ron Mueck's sculpture and Humanism

Mask II (2002) Ron Mueck

A girl (2006) Ron Mueck


1. Mueck's sculpture is described as 'hyper-real'. Define the meaning of this term and apply it to his work.

hyper-real or in other words Hyperreality, is an inability to distinguish between what is real and what is not

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.

Boy, 1999, fiberglass and silicon

This boy is just about the same scale as a golem and from this angle it looks as it is scared and in shock. With his big eyes. It portrays vulnerability with its pose, almost like a child who is afraid of being beaten.

Untitled ( Big Man), 2000

in this photo Mueck’s sculptur leaves the viewers to stand and wonder the feelings of this big man striped down and showing a passive emotion and the texture of the body showing use the full image of our brutal honesty.

Barbara Kruger & Mercantillism

I shop therefore I am (1987) Barbara Kruger

Face It (Green) 2007 Barbara Kruger



1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works

Barbara Kruger's two works above are conceptual and pop art styled work's.
useing photograth collages. and adding bold wordings in simple and strong
meanings. and the use of colores are simple with black and whit and red and monochromatic colors.



2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them? barbara kruger uses
her work is mostly of a feminism view and consumerism view of her work.
she also shows identity in her work like things that relate to the viwers and also with personal issues.



3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer. yes they do in the first image:(I SHOPE THERE FOR I AM.) and how money and has effected us with consumerism. and more of confession of a shopaholic.and how its layed out with simple red red for the tex and also for the border.


the second pic:(FACE .this Luxurious garment wont make you rich or beautiful. IT) is verey green ... its overwhelming with this monochromatic color i feel it repacents more of money and wealthy but also opening our eyes that sometimes the things we buy we also do not need. like video games and tings like clotheing that we dont feel comfortable in and and make-up... these things are just useless we should be focusing on food and the paying for the bills for the homes we live in.


4. Define the concept of Mercantillism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.

The main economic system used during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The main goal was to increase a nation's wealth by imposing government regulation concerning all of the nation's commercial interests. It was believed that national strength could be maximized by limiting imports via tariffs and maximizing exports.


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?

Two LED screen video installation October, 2008, at the City University of New York.
by SEWK73



this is a video i found on youtube. it is one of here resent works i could find and have more of an understanding of her work. in this it try to show tow sides that we all own and care about. but we shouldn't spend our time on the material things but look at our family and friends and war and the history we all spend our time on it reflects who we are as a person the money and diamonds and fast cars are not what makes us who we are. it what we do that defins use with history of our people. and how they got by with out haveing the things we have to day.