Non Western Art- Ming Dynasty

Shaded Dwellings Among Streams and Mountains,1555-1636, Dong Qichang

This work was headed of it’s time. In the west artist where still primarily focused on religion, myths, and emphaised the human subject, but what I find in Dong Qichang is a trancendence in art work that didn’t come about in the western world until the 20th cenutry. Dong incorprated abstract, cubism, and expressionism in his work, and instead of over complicating the technique,  he emphasizes  structure and he choose to try to capture a simpler less decedent style that westerners didn’t strive for until after the classical era. Most of the art from this time is devoted to depictions of nature, ways of life, and the glorifcantion of chinese art restoration. And although there were contempories of Dong that made intricate works, dong choose self espression over catering to the mases. I love the simpicty of Dongs works and from what I can see he didn’t do exact landscapes , he interpeted them into his own perceptive which was very progessive. The lack of color only makes the work more real for me. Dong calligraphic  technique gvies the work a light but serious feel. It’s soothing to look at and uncomplicated. It conveys tranqulity and peace.

Non Western Art Work- Comtemporay African Art

Beau Temps , 1996, Hama Goro                      La Solitude, 1996, Hama Goro

These paintings depict the loneliness Hama Goro felt when he visited Europe.  The Artist commented modernization has consumed Western culture, and I felt his paintings where a symbolic of what the west has done to itself and other countries as well. In Beau Temps Goro depicts a human form sitting isolated from the big city in the distance. I can only imagine what the artist experienced emotionally while traveling to Europe and if the figures in his paintings are representations of him or if that represent western society as a whole. I can relate to the isolation that Goro describes. We have become very much removed from community and family as a whole, and it’s nice to know that other cultures still value what we have forfeited with our insatiable hunger for glory and improvement. The other thing I really appreciate about Goro paintings is his use of mostly nature ingredients known as Bogolan technique. It involves using  substances such as tree bark, leaves, and clay, which account for the natural coloring in his works and is a tradition from of his people in Mali who also used the dye to color  clothing. All of Goro’s painting have natural colors as a result and convey a link to nature.  That link is so spiritual and real. Goro involve himself into his works and one can tell that his culture highly influences his creations. I feel soul and spirit in his works. Many Western works in comparison seem stiff and isolated compared to Goro. Below is a link in which in can further explore Goro’s other works.

http://www.africaserver.nl/virtual/exhibitions/hama/eng/hamthumb.htm

Post Modern-Multimedia Mavericks-Women in Charge!

Eleanor Antin

Eleanor Antin was born in NYC,NY in 1935. She has is renowned for her depictions of historical events with modern twist, and her mastery of using multimedia to display her vast artistic sensibility.  She is most famous for her fictional persona of  Eleanor Antinova which pokes fun of the ideals of ballet .  Eleanor Antin is definitely a modern marvel, and the fact that she is a woman makes it all the better considering that women in any field are typically overlooked esp in the arts. She has made  her mark on the world and is a shining example for girls and women around the world to aspire to. Her unique depictions of historical events as well as her incorporation of stage performance, photography, and films make her a multimedia maverick.

Pocahontas from Recollections of My Life with Diaghilev 1919-1929,1977-79, Eleanor Antin

This photo represents the rejection of the typical female ballerina’s body type  and the ideals about femininity that it portrayed. Antin’s curvaceous body in the pose of a ballerina challenges the stereotypical thin petite  bodies favored for ballet. I love this photo simply for the fact that she brought attention to the female plight in a very clever, funny way.

The Adventures of a Nurse, 1976 ,Eleanor Antin

The Adventures of a Nurse is a live performance that Antin performed in 1976. She tackles female mind, and accounts the romantic endeavors of Nurse Eleanor represented by paper dolls. Antin created characters that represented the search and definition of the  self.  By using paper dolls Antin connects the female childhood fantasy with that of the adult mingling the two perpectives to portary the plight of the romantic woman.

The Tourist from ” Helen’s's Odsessy”, 2007, Eleanor Antin

Helen’s Odyssey is a parody of the original Greek myths of hte Torjan war. In this combination of film and photograpghy Antin captures the essence of modern society. Just as Helen was depicted as uncaring and selfish, Antin shows the women in the Photo as modern day helen’s unfazed about the carange before them. This can be referenced as the western societies  attuitude toward misfortune of others. Antin’s vision is fresh and original. It si so inspiring to have women create all these diverse pieces of art.

Mariko Mori

Mariko Mori, born in 1967,  is a Japanese American Artist who has made her mark in the the U.S and now in Japan as a successful multimedia Maverick. Her works are pure inspiration, and as Mori put it herself in an interview with Kay Itoi in 2004 ,

” An artist has a special, objective point of view , which is different from what people see in their conventional field of vision. An artist sees the world, or looks at the present time, with this special view point. My mission is to express what I see in my field of vision”.

Mori is a woman who is definitely a Multimedia maverick. Her use of Installation art, video, and photographs, and eastern influence are in a category of it’s own and sets her apart as one of the few true artist of this era.

Nirvana 1996-97, Mariko Mori

This is an example of Mori’s photo art.  The pink and yellow background echo the flower on which the goddess sits. I get the impression that this is Mori’s representation of eastern lore. Itis feminine and delicate, and the viewer is lulled into a serne state just llking at it. I love the fantasy world and perpective that mori creates for the viewer.

Dream Temple, 1999, Mariko Mori

The Dream Temple looks exactly as the title descibes it. It has if once you walk into the enclouse you will be transported to a  dream world. Intalltion art is one of the many ways Mori expresses her excintic stlye.

Oneness, 1999-2003, Mariko Mori, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99PsH7MikYw

This Video represents Mori’s other worldliness in her art. It is spectral, alien,  futurist, and tradition collected as one. Her eastrn influence gives her hart a certain distict styles, and her  use of colors is magical. This is a great representation of Mori’s Maverick style.

Early Modern-Recreation of the Mind

The Scream, 1893, Edvard Munch

Of all the techniques of the early modern era  expressionism captures me like no other painting style of that era. For me it is about after this time period that art  starts to lose its soul, and spirituality. For me expressionism along with the many forms of abstract art marks one of last eras of the truly enlightened artist.  I love expressionism for its vivid colors and loose forms, that seems to echo the state of the human mind and embody the attitude of the world at this time. The technique is  unrestricted and inventive, and although most of the painting are without stories or messages of morality there is a certain wild emotional element that transcends order and dives into mayhem. I do appreciate Edvard’s representation of Expressionism because of the emotion I feel from the paintings which are the epitome of Expressionism.

Death in the Sickroom, 1895, Edvard Munch

I relate expressionist abstract techniques directly to a radically changing world that is in the mist of confusion and chaos.  Prior to WWI and world was a different place.  WWI changed the nature of war itself. Before war was honorable and personal. Limited weaponry caused the fighter to be face to face. War was quick and relatively desiveive, with obvious winners and losers. WWI changed all that.  As referred to in the lesson plan technological advancements created and atmosphere of tension and “anxiety”. Now war was impersonal, and prolonged. Because of the long ranged weaponry trench warfare was created, and battle was stalemated. New inventions such as mustard gas ensured slow painful deaths, and long ranged weapons ensured that one might never see an opponent, only the blasted remains after an attack. The war was now total war, it involved the  entire population. Millions died were  a century before it might only have been thousands.  In short WWI changed the human psyche and created situations never experienced before and raised questions never asked. How did a country deal with the deaths of so only of its young people? Where the nations they fought really human or some savage race that needed to be demolished ( as displayed in the propoganda that was created against the germans).  Given that art is a reflection of it’s time, expressionism is a result of world change. In the past art was structured and outlined, because life for the most part was such. Of course there was turmoil in the past, but people accepted life as it was. There were  explanations and expectations. WWI destroyed the explanations and expectations of the world. For example the term beaverments and post-tramatic stress didn’t even exist until after WWI ,not that it’s didn’t exist as a state, but the war was so massive it required the creation of new terminology to describe the effects of the war. Expressionism’s continued evolution is a reflection of that.

Impressionism and Baroque

Impressionism: Singer with a Glove 1878, Edgar Degas

One of the main features of  Impressionism is it’s focus on light and natural subjects matters that have absolutely nothing to do with deep hidden meaning, religious matters, or concerns for morality. The Painting above shows a woman singing, nothing more nothing less, and it is the technique with it’s unformed edges, and blurred technique that is meant to be noticed.  I highly appreciate this form of visual art because it allows a viewer to get caught up in a moment of pure thoughtless awe and beauty. It’s similar to looking at a landscape painting and imagining laying in the fields or sailing the waters that exist in the recesses of our imagination, all in all impressionism to me seems like an escape into an alternate reality that focuses on  fun and transitional of the moment. As stated in the lesson plan the goal of the impressionist artist was not to intrigue the mind with philosophical representations, challenge the intellect, or spur a revolution, is  was simply art for arts sake and the focus on the process of the painting rather the the content allows a viewer mind to be freed of any heavy analysis or interpretation

Baroque: Judith Slaying Holofernes 1612- 1613,  Artemisia Gentileschi, Museo di Capolodimonte, Naples

On the other hand Baroque Art which happens to be my favorite visual art form contrast sharply with Impressionism, and unlike Impressionism, Baroque art is infused with deep meaning and symbolism. The painting above shows a story from the bible. It depicts the beheading of a cruel man which is thought to be the artist rendering her longing for revenge against her rapist. The painting is also an allegory showing Judaisms triumph over Paganism (http://www.artemisia-gentileschi.com/judith1.html) .   Baroque is almost synonymous  with the romantic style with it’s expressive style, it’s sometimes deep spiritual subject matter, and it’s emphasis on the merit of the artist whether then the divine. Also it is very different from Impressionism in the technique, and form. Where Impressionism is focused on light, and loose form, Baroque is still very disciplined , and focused on the contrast between shadow and light, with more emphasis on highlighting in the shadows then infusing light within the painting.

Liberty Leading the People, July 28th 1830, Eugene Delacroix, Musee du Louvre, Paris

Although I prefer Baroque visual art to Impressionism I highly value both with the same respect simply because they are  indicative of the changing attitudes and social conditions of the time in which there where created. Impressionism and Baroque both epitomizes the western worlds rejection of the religious and traditional, in favor or secularism, and  individualism. I see both of these as extensions of  humanism and the westerns world grasp on what it really means to live onthis earth and be human.

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08

Symphony No. 5

Beethoven was a great composers but it isn’t until after he loses his hearing that his music stands out to me. Before his infliction he followed the works of  Haydn and Mozart but after coming to terms with his deafness he started experimenting with more dramatic themes. I have always been intrigued by the ideal of Beethoven as a wild man driven mad by his deafness, and in his madness he created his best. The  5th symphony is an exmaple of how his apporaqching deafness gave rise to his inventice creativity. It should be noted that Beethoven represented a time when music concerts was changing from being a primary Aristocratic endeavor to one that could be enjoyed by mass audiences that ranged to the middle class. The creation of the symphony was an example of the simple style that concert music was taking after. The 4 parts incorporated recognizable structure that a listener could easily figure out and the 3rd movement which displayed a piece of popular dance music that would be known by the entire audience. I’m sure that the change in music was also driven by the composers thenselves who saw a need to get away from strictly aristocratic patronage in light of the American and French Revoultion.

Judith Leyster’s A Boy and a Girl with a Cat and an Eel 1630 Dutch Republic

In the paintings from the Baroque Era there are depictions of  beautiful landscapes, dramatic, emotional scenes and soft still life that capture the allure of everyday items. Many wonderful  portraits were done, but it is a rare thing to see the portrayal of children esp, in such a joyous state as is depicted in Judith Leyster’s A boy a Girl and an Eel. I found no other artist, in my opinion, that could match her paintings when capturing the joy in children. Just looking at this painting makes me smile. It’s as if her canvas was the camera and her paintbrush a lens snapping a quick shot of youth at it’s very best.  The pride in the face of the little boy is one I have seen on so many little faces after they have done something they are proud of. And the little girl points teasingly at the painter as if to say I see you and I wonder what your doing. One can see the little kitten grasping onto the little boys coat in as it is hugged almost to tightly which is typical of children. The minute details are marvelous from the expression on the childrens face to the folds of  their attire. The colors though limited are rich and give a feeling of warmth and familiarity. This painting captures the essence of domestic genre painting and is a prime example of  what a middle class dutch merchant or farmer’s wife might want to hanging on their wall.

No longer were the common people in the background when it came to artistic apperciation.  As a result of  The Thirty Year War The Netherlands became it’s own sovergin nation, and with it’s newly found  indepenecne it was able to carve a comfortable place in the world of politics and the booming world trade. A new merhcant class arised and with it the desire to own paintings that showed the things that were important to them, hence the patronage of painters like Judith Leyster and painting such as the A Boy and a Girl with a Cat and an Eel. It is also interesting to note that up until this point in history childhood was very narrowly defined. Children were seen as little adults who needed to work and take part in the support of their family. This paniting could be seen as a testament to the development of childhood, which started  a completely differnt social status for some  children who’s families now had the means to provide them with leisure time and childhood.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus 1485-86; painted for the villa of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici at Castello

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus 1485-86; painted for the villa of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici at Castello

The Birth of Venus is one of my favorite paintings from the Renaissance Era. The colors are bright and warm, the face of Venus  is serene and innocent,  the  overall effect is somber and calming. The Elongation of the body of Venus has traits that are more commonly found in Mannerism which is one of my favorite painting techniques. And although the painting is beautiful it’s the history that is  most captivating.  Not only does the painting showcase the remarkable skill and progress of the High Renaissance, it’s symbolic messages and technique unravel a rich history of change, tragedy, and reinvention.

The Medici were a very power and influential ruling family in 1500 century Italy. Said to be  commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici for his adolescent sons, Botticelli created The Birth of Venus which is woven with many symbolic references to Humanism and revival of Ancient Rome.  The subject of the painting displays the influence of the revival of Ancient western mythology.  This Painting  held meaning for the Medici. Known for their education and patronage of the arts the Medici embraced the teachings of humanism. The painting of Venus symbolizes the  importance of finding god through beauty, the ideals of Neo-platonism, and that beauty is a creation of man, thus the painting of Venus who is the perfect woman. The painting seems to be a celebration of the female body which historical was condemned as immoral and shameful. The painting for me is the epitome of humanism.

In the same year The Birth of Venus was created Botticelli became a follower of Girolamo Savonarola, fanatic religious reformer who denounced the wealth  and indulgences of  Lorenzo Medici. Because of Savonarola, Botticelli went back to religions paintings, and 15 years later stopped painting all together when  Savonarola was executed for heresy. One can only imagine the turmoil of Botticelli, to create such beautiful painting, yet have them condemn for their very beauty.  I find it ironic that after Botticelli retired the Medici supported Botticelli until his death. It must be a testament for how much Botticelli and his art affected the Medici, and how much they appreciated his talents.

Summer Nights

Evening Sky In Valdez