Photographs and Paintings

Hockney on Photography

 

British painter and photographer David Hockney was able to successfully merge the emotions of both the photographer and their subject. He set out to have an intertwining of both, rather than the normal disconnect between the two. He wanted to take away in his words “the window effect” when looking at a photograph thus making the subject more interesting to the audience. Hockney was able to take a series of pictures and rearrange them to make an art piece, utilizing his background as a painter first. Hockney would envision the final product of his creations while he was taking the pictures. Upon creating his first of many photographic collages, he used a grid like system with Polaroid’s. You would see the entire “scene” laid out for you in a series of shots put together to make a whole.

Many of Hockney’s photographic compositions of things such as an older woman, or a guitar and fruit were put together in such a way that it mimicked cubism. The unique thing regarding these pieces is that people, who wouldn’t ever look at an actual cubist painting and connect with it, are able to do so with his photographs. He identified with the fact that cubism was meant to identify perceptions of reality not reality in itself and Hockney set out to do the same thing with his works.

 

He started to progress beyond the Polaroid camera and was able to advance his skill by using the 35 mm camera. This allowed him to advance his subject matter as well as the perception he wanted to communicate with the audience. He took the Grand Canyon, where almost all of the tourists find amazement by looking down into it and, created a whole new perception of looking at it. He created a way for his photographs to portray looking INTO the Grand Canyon, not down it. The use of the 35 mm camera posed the obstacle of Hockney having to remember the pictures that he took. The Polaroid camera gave him almost instant access to his photographs, but the 35 mm camera made him rely heavily on his memory.

 

At the end of the documentary, Hockney reveals that he is losing his hearing and equates the hearing loss silence with visual silence of his photographs. It shows how deeply he connects to his pieces and how much they mean to him. He looks at the pictures and is able to recount the silence of nature of his subjects as he took them and created his masterpieces. Photographs for Hockney speak to the eyes, not the ears.

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Andy Warhol: Images of an Image

I chose this video because I never understood why Warhol images were so coveted and I wanted to learn more about this phenomena. I thought maybe by the end of the video I would maybe be a fan or at least have a better appreciation for who he was and what he contributed to not only the artworld but society as a whole. Without even liking his pieces, it is known that Andy Warhol is KNOWN and his works bring in major money even now. It struck me to learn that some of his subject matter were things such as race riots, the landing on the moon, and the cultural revolution in China and not just soup cans and Marilyn Monroe.

My first impression of Warhol was that he had a child-like essence to him. He seemed to be relatively soft spoken and had a sort of glimmer in his eye when he was talking about his pieces. I have to admit it was a little off putting at first, his child like demeanor was slightly creepy to me. But learning that he was a commercial journalist made me understand more as to why he chose a lot of the subject matter that he did. It was what he was exposed to. Just as a writer often writes of what they know, Warhol did the same thing. He was involved with Vogue magazine so suddenly his paintings of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor didnt seem so far fetched to me anymore. He was just simply creating pictures that was representative of the culture at that time. (Although I still despise the soup can paintings), I do have a better understanding as to why it was done.  It's amazing that his multiple silk screen paintings of Marilyn Monroe is what catipulted him into fame. He had a love for movies and actors and that came across in his artwork. Each of his series was inspired by an event happening in the world around him. The death of John F. Kennedy sparked his series on his wife Jacquelynn Kennedy.

His technique was to crop an image that was already available, and then repeat it many different times, each image having a different color variation. It was during this time he moved into a loft with ALUMINUM covered wall and ceilings!!!, which I find utterly amazing, and he called this his factory. It was his studio and his place to hold parties where many of New York artists would go. It was for lack of a better phrasing, the hip place to be. No matter what he did to his photographs, he left features that were recognizable so that the audience could connect with its subject matter. I still don't connect with a lot of his pieces but I do find him to be a very fascinating man who led a fascinating life and was able to capture pop culture unlike anyone then or anyone now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A picture is worth a thousand words...or $78 million dollars

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:
1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Expressionism

The artwork "Ashes" painted by Edward Munch in 1894 deals with the theme of sexuality and relationships between two lovers. I can't think of a better theme for expressionism. Love embodies a plethora of emotions, happiness, giddiness, sadness, anger, perplexity. The woman' face is distraught, her eyes widened with sadness and almost a hint of horror, her hands grasping at her hair as if to try and find some sort of reasoning. The man lay hunched, his hands over his head. The top of her white dress is unbuttoned revealing a stark red shirt beneath. The man is clothed in nothing but black. According to the narrator these color's were used as symbolism. Which is the basis of expressionism. It plays off the human mind of equating colors with certain emotions. Black. White and Red equals Sorrow, Innocence and Passion.  The Blue Horse, shows that the artist gave a color to the horse intentionally not found in nature so that it would stand out and be unlike any other house seen. The shapes are crude and almost elementary in a way, but the standout of the portrait is the color. Bold and unforgettable. Again it insights emotions due to the colorful nature of the piece. Whether it be anger that the horse is blue or wonderment at seeing such a majestic animal. Either way the onlooker is forced to feel something by just the simple act of color. Max Beckmanns oil on canvas painting called THE ACTORS (1942) shows just that: actors. There is a king who is dressed in a light blue suit with a muddled yellow cape who is for lack of better terms about to commit suicide. Yet there is a distance put between the artists character and the person looking at it. The colors are soft and not screaming out at you. There is no pain on the face of the king. He seems to be doing this matter of factly, staring off into the distance. the rest of the actors are unaware of his doings including the ones painted right next to him. I like how this video is divides each painting into its own section to be discussed. It gives each painting the time it deserves to discover all the different aspects that the artist was trying to convey. I really like the way that this was set up. This relates to the text in the book spot on. The definition in the book of expressionism is "describes a style where the artists subjective feelings take precedence over the object being observed". I think the video did a great job of picking artists and paintings that display expressionism.

Dance at the Moulin de la Galette

I picked this video because it reminded me of a painting that I have been obsessed with since I was a young girl at my grandmothers house. All of the artwork in her home is representative of her Sicilian roots. Heavy, ornate and just downright gaudy gold mirrors, giant, beyond huge paintings that take up the entire length of a wall and light up when you turn a switch on the side. Fountains and Sicilian weapons are found throughout. Massive pieces that fill every room. However there is one painting tucked away in the corner of one hallway that I have stared at since as long as I can remember. It is of a ballroom, with beautiful woman dressed to the nines, their hair and make up done, the man dresses as fancy as can be, everyone laughing and dancing or fanning themselves as they watch the others. I longed to be one of those woman, pursued by a well dressed gentlemen with my hair done up and my dress down to the floor. It is literally written in my grandmothers will that I will become the owner of that painting. So needless to say I was very interested in learning about Renoir's Dance at the Moulin de la Gallete. It was sold in 1990 for an astounding price of 78 million dollars! It is considered the quintessential impressionist painting of all time.  it was even painted by Renoir himself twice, the only difference being the size of each painting. This shows how much dedication and admiration that Renoir himself had for his own work. The smaller of the two paintings has been kept in a secret location and is rarely seen in public. The dancehall was representative of something extremely close to Renoir's heart and it is thought that he never missed a sunday there. The dancehall became an important aspect of his life as it is where he found refuge after the tragedy of losing his childhood home.  I think this is why he felt such an infinity for the painting and why it is so highly regarded and controversial. The dancehall back then was equated to the Revolutionists.  He chose to only display only he niceties of the dancehall and omitted the prostitution and unkempt working conditions.  He sued several of the woman that in real life appealed to him, and they have also been painted in some other pieces of work.  This gives the painting a more personal meaning and it captures the true beauty of the woman at that particular time period. The woman are all rosey cheeked and in pretty dresses. The man are all in suits. He even included his closest friend. He wanted the dancehall to depict the joy that he got out of it, and how the men and women of different classes came together for fun and a night of innocent dancing, although it is known that much more sinister things had gone on at that time. The constant gazes of all of the people painted give the piece its life. Whether they are looking out at the audience at their partner or each other, the gazes can be found all over the place and focused on different objects. Eventually in 1990 the painting was bought by a Japanese millionaire. He bought it through Sotheby auction house and he kept it stored for 7 years in a climate controlled warehouse. This angered many people in the art community because it was felt this painting was meant for public display to be enjoyed not holed away somewhere. It was then soled again in 1997 after the death of the owner in a private sale. No one knows who bought it or where it remains. This adds to its valuableness  and the fact that it is so sought after. The people who enjoy this painting comment on the fact that it just makes them "so happy" when they look at it. The smiles on their faces shows just how much they identify with this piece of work. I guess I identify with it as well since my favorite painting is that of a ballroom dance. There is just something about the beauty and delicacy of woman dressed up trying to attract men and the men donning suits and hats ready to find the women they want to spend the night dancing with. It really is a beautiful painting.   

Masked

 

 

This mask is from Afghanistan  and is a Hizara wedding hat that covers the brides eyes.  The bride is clothed in all white except for her wedding head dress/mask. It is the equivalanet to the wedding veil used a lot in American weddings. The colors used are saturated and full of life. Geometric shapes and patterns are woven with the same thread they make from carpets and blankets. It’s a beautiful contrast to the white cloth worn by the bride. I was drawn to this mask because of its intimate purpose. It hides the eyes of the bride so that only her husband can see them. While  I know some may view this is sexist, I do find the beauty in that.

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This is an Egyptian funerary mask, also known as a death mask. In Egyptian culture the death mask is believed to strengthen the spirit and soul of the dead in the afterlife. It is carved from wood and used d-shape for the eyes. The delicate features and smoothness of the nose and mouth indicate that this was a woman’s death mask.  In honor of the dead, there is no “abstractness” to the masks but yet is one cohesive carving. I chose this mask because I could still see the beauty of this woman hundreds and hundreds of years later. To me it is eerily life like and you can see inside her eyes. I like its simplicity yet elgance. I feel it is v ery respectful of the woman who died.

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This is an Asaase yaa mask, from Ghana. It represents  "Mother Earth,"  and it is believed by Ghanans that she is the ruler of earth.  Asaase yaa is always worshipped during important feasts and rituals.  The mask itself is carved from wood and painted using the symbol for infinity around the eyes. It is meant to represent forever and always.  The mask lacks colorfulness as it is believed that she has given all her color to Earth. I like the black and white, and the figure eight around the eyes. I also enjoy is simple yet bold pattern. The lines are thick and curvy.

module 10 blog review

African Art

          The very first line of the film is "Art is a part of daily life." I feel that art is able to stay more alive in the African culture because a lot of what they use are made by hand and not machines. It brings a personal touch to the things they use everyday. Also its a huge part of their religious structure and art brings vitality to the rituals. The most successful of all the african artifacts to last over the years were found in the drier areas of the country. Ancient bush paintings depict animals and humans and are thought to represent good luck. As African Art infilitrated the Western world, it was lost upon them what the art actually meant. Its much more than just decorative masks to hang on a wall. It has deep roots in African culture. I like how this film defined the difference between conceptual art and perceptual art and thats where the disconnect lies in European culture understanding African Art. Western art had a tendency to be more perceptual, capturing the things around them. Cinceotual art comes from within the artist. It is more about symbolism than actuality.



The Great Wave

       Hokusai’s The Great Wave is considered to be the best known image of all of  Japanese art and its prints were sold for the equivalent of a double bowl of noodles!! It's likelihood is printed on mugs and folders and clothes and tattoos. This allows for an over 170 year old image to remain relevant in Japanese culture today. It is only 15 inches by 10 inches and yet its presence is one hundred times that much. It was when Hokusai was under great physical, mental and financial distress that THE GREAT WAVE came about. His grandson had left him destitute in his old age and he had to find away out of his newly found poverty. Its amazing to know that out of the most dire of circumstances the most amazing things can come about.  I think this is the most important aspect. I feel that Hokusai's wave was in direct reflection of his life. He was faced with this huge monument of negative things happening, like a wave coming at him, and he had to find a way to survive. I think the wave represents life.

          

 



Hands...???????

This is the hideous self portrait of my hands.

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing?

I normally really like my hands, especially my nails. They are always pretty and polished. But, in my sketches they are not so purdy.

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why?

I used pencil because it is easier to erase...and I always have to do a lot of erasing.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

There was A LOT of ereasing drawing with my non dominant hand. It felt very childish and awkward. My thumb came out the same size as my pinky!!!!!

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies?

These are only successful in the fact that I completed the task. They are not successful in that it is a true representation of my hands.

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

I would like to utilize my non dominant hand more. It would be interesting experiment to see if I could strengthen my use with it.

Master Class

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

 Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master


I selected this video because its title intrigued me: Image of a Master. I find it fascinating to learn about someone who is considered the top of their area. Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) is credited for dragging Germany's world of art out of the Gothic era and into the Renaissance. He was extremely honest in his portraits which made it seem as though he was painting his subjects in a harsh light. But he was true to what he saw and there is a beauty in that. And when he painted himself it was with that same exacting tone on the canvas. The sketches of his wife Agnes were also lacking in the modern day beauty we are so used to now a days. The narrator commented on her older portrait as still having a sparkle in her eye but I disagree. She seemed sad. After Durer's travels to Italy, the landscape embedded itself in his mind and he carried it over in his portraits. He is considered the first "true landscape" artist in Europe. Just as he was able to capture the essence of his human subjects, he excelled in portraying the mood of his landscape pieces as well. He had a knack for being able to translate truth and emotion into his paintings/ sketches. He was able to reach a larger scale audience when he started print making.
This video related to the textbook readings pretty much exactly. He lived during the Renaissance which is what we were reading about. Not only did he live during that time but he graciously crossed it over into his work and put it at the for front of German art. I enjoyed this film very much and found him to be a very interesting man. Although I feel bad for his wife, who looked as though she lived a very hard life, considering she was the wife of a respective artist.



Velazquez
I was going to watch this video but decided against it as for some reason the voice of the narrator got under my skin.

The Drawings of Michelangelo
Michelangelo is a name that almost everyone knows, even if you have nothing to do with art at all. I chose this video because while I have heard his name and know a few of his art in the Sistine Chapel, I really do not know a lot about him. One of the women in the video commented that she was embarrassed regarding the sketches because they were so "sexy". And it is true. He creates a man's body with a feminine quality about them yet it still screams masculinity. His lines are smooth and thickly shaded, and yet each muscle, each jaw line is extremely defined. And as the age old adage goes "we are our own worst critics", he destroyed most of his sketches on his own, leaving few for survival today. His influences were his adoration of the male figure as well as his love for Christianity, which is apparent in his pieces. He was described in the video as "Searching out power and form...its unbelievable". All of the people speaking in the video did so with such a passionate admiration as to the type of artist he was. He still to this day evokes an almost lustful craving of his pieces. This relates to our class readings because he is from the same time period and it correlates with he rise of Christianity in the book. He is also mentioned in chapter 16. I very much enjoyed this video mainly because of the reactions to the people being interviewed regarding him. They have such love and admiration for a man and his pieces that are hundreds of years old. I find it fascinating that his relevance has not faded. And he really was an amazing artist.