The Social Status of the Artis - The Renaissance and now

Self Portrait in Fur Coat (1500)

Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer's 'Self-Portrait in Fur Coat' (1500) shows a significant change in the way that the artist views and portrays himself. ;

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

The way that Durer has portrayed himself in the painting shows pride and wealth. He used the posture of how he has being portrayed to symbolize his power, he had made himself look almost Jesus like in the painting with the long hair and beard. For that is how people imagined Jesus to look like. The view of himself that he gives is that he is the best and that he views himself as an individual with skill and intelligence of a high master. Comparison between him and Jesus is made in this painting.

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

Durer's social status increased during the Renaissance period because of the painting of himself which was viewed around. The reason for him being noticed was because of the renaissance period people were religious and the shift of humanism had just begun to sin into the world. People were in shock that Durer would paint himself Jesus like, that is how he became to be well known.

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

Knob (1997) Gavin Turk

Gavin Turk's individuality is based around the theme concept of pop art and old vintage style. He brings out his individualism with the concept of using himself in the art works an making it relate towards him. The egotism shown in his works are of his name and his posture of how he relates himself within his work to show that he can be the work and make it based about him. He became well known for his equating with famous people.

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

Damien Hirst and Maia Norman (1995)

Damien Hirst uses his work to promote not only himself but the media used in his work. He uses his work in a way that the wealth will be attracted to and also finds ways to attract people to his art by remaking something that has been done and making it something of his own but using media that the world has now thought of as priceless and something that will always grab peoples attention. the self promotion that he gives himself is not a serious matter to him but i think while reading more and studying into this matter Damien Hirst is showing his personality more with his art and being out there rather than not been seen and only focusing on the art when you can find out the artist himself and how the art works were to be.

5. Find 2 images of work by any artist or designer that reflect 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.

"Persistence Of Memory - Salvador Dali"
1931
Oil on canvas

This work seeks deep within what time is and what was. The memory of being remembered and to be forgotten. Dali shows individualism from what he has painted from his mind and thought, he shows a personality and skill that can only be comprehended by that fact of having individuality. As personality has shown of interest and style that is different to ordinary painters/artists who seek for persistence in skill and technique and in what really is true than what isn't possible. Salvador Dali was really famous from all his works because it was different and showed a unique style of individuality. Being different was what made him famous in his art.


"Roy Lichtenstein - Drowning Girl"
1963
Oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas


Lichtenstein's individual aspect of art was based around the style of pop art and focused more on the variety of comics and typography and colour. He used the old style of comics to create his own art works of stories that show emotion and also keep that comic style in it. Bases around the women's life and vanity that is skin deep within some women. He seeks the interpretation of how women see themselves. He divides himself in the art with his scenarios and the emotions that are put in the artwork. He became a well known pop art artist and with his creativity of making the comic book strip style more famous than ever and keeping it in style and changing it into a new form of art.

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

I think artists and designers are viewed as individuals in society today, because of the new expression and style that they give and not only the look has changed the personality and meaning of what artists and designers produce. They play a big role in modern society and have got people to focus more on what the art means and have now understood the meaning of artists and designers in our time. They are accepted more now than before and can find more to do with their interest now and are able to produce artworks any how with the acceptance of people today.

Reference:

Notes in ALVC- Renaissance and Humanism (Durer)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer

http://www.authenticsociety.com/about/ThePersistenceOfMemory_Dali 

http://www.artsz.org/lichtenstein-pop-art-drowning-girl/

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

Humanism and contemporary sculpture.

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.

1. Mueck's sculpture is described as 'hyper-real'. Define the meaning of this term and explain how it is evident in his work. 

Exaggerated in comparison to reality, extremely realistic in detail. In form which comparison to reality is made more realistic to than it really is but with a difference that is impossible to be true. 

2. Mueck says he 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.

He expresses the need of wanting to make adjustments beyond the physical image and to maximize the appearance and emotional expression of his sculptures. He finds it more interesting to dramatise the feeling of how an image should be seen and also wanting to allow people to look into the sculptures and realize that there is more to be seen within the skin.

Ron Mueck has never made a life size figure because it never seemed interesting to him. Quote" We meet life sized people every day". Ron mueck makes us realise that imagination can be played with and brought into the lif like things of our normality and how things can be configured.

Ron Muecks shows in the 2 sculptures that size can be changed and emotions can be expressed further with size to be bigger and seen or to be smaller and more detailed.

In the "Big Man"                                     In the "2 old woman"

3. Define Renaissance Humanism , and identify which aspects of Humanism can be seen in Mueck's work.

Renaissance Humanism is an outlook of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than supernatural spiritual matters, the pass through from the medival culture forming to humanist. Expression of forming art from within ones self.

The aspects from where Humanism can be seen in Ron Mueck's sculptures are seen from the way he uses different techniques and skill of process and development into the sculpture. The facial and body details are a way of showing expression and naturalism that has been focused on and dramatised to the human eye. Ron Mueck's freedom of art shows that humanism is shown all over his work from size, detail and subject, to have chosen the media and subject to what his interest is in and to express it.

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. 

I find that Ron Muecks "Crouching Boy" is one of the most interesting sculpture of his works i have come across. He uses alot of depth in this and also gives the illusion as the boy cannot fit in the room and i like how he uses the space around him to seem as if he is enormously oversized in height. The facial expression that the boy gives seems like he is afraid or is hiding and also how his body is close to his feet and crouching like he is afraid and in hiding.

The level of skill that Ron Mueck has is inspiring to me and to others, the way he uses the materials and space to make the sculpture become life like but hyper real is a amazing. 

Body detail is one of the most fascinating arts i see of this work. Use of dimension and shadows.

  

"Crouching Boy"

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

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?start=21&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=610&addh=36&tbm=isch&tbnid=LCsRu4bPNtOMjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.panoramio.com/photo/61513809&docid=nlMLH9j84WCt0M&itg=1&imgurl=http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/61513809.jpg&w=500&h=382&ei=_Il_T6-IBOr2mAWqwr2OCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=817&vpy=199&dur=2438&hovh=196&hovw=257&tx=179&ty=143&sig=101228893083411305350&page=2&tbnh=138&tbnw=158&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:21,i:13

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=610&tbm=isch&tbnid=nb4TATAkYXve4M:&imgrefurl=http://artboom.info/sculpting/ron-mueck-hyper-realistic-human-sculptures.html/attachment/ron-mueck-hyper-realistic-human-sculptures-14&docid=TmGuN7TtHkJL-M&imgurl=http://artboom.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Ron-Mueck-Hyper-realistic-Human-Sculptures-14.jpg&w=1200&h=1600&ei=pX1_T47QNYPRmAXixMCHCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=108&vpy=221&dur=521&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=117&ty=286&sig=101228893083411305350&page=3&tbnh=121&tbnw=90&start=48&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:48,i:255

http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag03/jul_aug03/mueck/mueck.shtml

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

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

Damien Hirst's work 'For the Love of God' and Mercantilism

For the Love of God(2007) Damien Hirst

1. Describe the work, giving details of the form and materials. 

Damien Hirst uses Platinum and diamonds that have been encrusted into a skull formed object
There are 8,601 diamonds encrusted into the platinum skull, he used real human skull from the 18th century which he bought from London.
-
2. What does the work mean? What is Damien Hirst communicating in the work?


Damien Hirst's art focuses around the subject of death and he follows up on his artwork by using the same theme and idea. The "For the love of god" was his remake of another piece of work he found interesting which was based around a Mexican art work which focused on the deoration of a skull. He then decided to recreate his own style that was on death because it was a heavy subject.
-
3. How does Hirst's diamond encrusted skull relate to Mercantilism and to conspicuous consumption?


The diamonds encrusted into the skull relate to Mercantilism because of the pricing and antiquity of it on its own. Diamonds are thought of as being a merchandise and are of a high standard with how much it would be worth. The skull itself is a merchandise, the 18th century skull holds the past and other historical aspects which would cost a fortune and for Damien Hirst to put the two of diamonds and skull together to conjoin was an interesting idea which revolves around the antiquity of the piece.
-
4. How much did the work cost, and how much was it sold for, and who bought it?


"For the love of god " was sold for 50million in euro's.His work was sold anonymously and has not given out information on who bought the skull.


-
5. What are some of the differing opinions of the journalists in the newspaper and blog articles?
   What did they think of the work?


"Richard Dorment, art critic of The Daily Telegraph,  "If anyone but Hirst had made this curious object, we would be struck by its vulgarity. It looks like the kind of thing Asprey or Harrods might sell to credulous visitors from the oil states with unlimited amounts of money to spend, little taste, and no knowledge of art. I can imagine it gracing the drawing room of some African dictator or Colombian drug baron. But not just anyone made it - Hirst did. Knowing this, we look at it in a different way and realise that in the most brutal, direct way possible, For the Love of God questions something about the morality of art and money."






-
6. Based on your research, what is your opinion of the work, as an object or a work of art.


Damien Hirst has a very unique way of thinking how to contribute how criticism is like now days and found a way the media would be intrigued in the making of his art work and idea. not only did he involve media but grabbed the attention of the people in high riches who are familiar with this type of work and focused the artwork more around the merchant of the piece and also created and an object from an historical artefact and made it worth more than it already is including an expensive supply of diamonds which attracts the gazes of eye upon his work with how the world sees art and objects of how expensive it looks. I see his work as art and also an object of jewels.

References:



www.telegraph.co.uk › Culture › Culture News
www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/.../01/hirstsskullmakesdazzlingde
boingboing.net/2007/06/02/damien-hirsts-diamon.html 
www.gagosian.com/artists/damien-hirst/ 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Love_of_God#Media_reporting_and_reviews
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Love_of_God#cite_note-Yahoo_Music-6
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/magazine/03Style-skull-t.html

Mercantilism Blog

'Tender' (2003-05) Fiona Hall

1. First define mercantilism, using material from your ALVC handbook, and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance.

Mercantilism is an economic system that is used widely amongst trading nations. This was founded in the 16th,17th and 18th century. The development of this system was used so that merchandise such as antiques and forms of art and materials from overseas were imported and exported and of high quality and exchanged for money. This also provided revenue for the government and also gained privileges for trading such goods. Mercantilism then developed into Capitalism. Now days goods are exchange for high prices of money and also low quality of goods. Merchandise is sold to riches and is a worldwide economic power source with national wealth increasing.Today the world provides wide variety of goods, antiques 16th century art, Historical antiques and other historical artifacts.

2. Identify the ideas or concepts in Hall's work that relate to Mercantilism?

Ideas that Fiona Hall presents are the different shapes and the type of material used to make pieces of work.

The material used relates to the mercantilism because of how historic works of art were produced and how sculptures and objects were made and shaped. The work that Hall shows has the inspiration of ancient history and presents how works were made in the 16th century and now used as a way of forming a piece of art work with materials that have been around for centuries.

3. For each work describe the shape, form and materials used, and also explain the ideas behind each example.

Hall's has produced a variety of shapes in how to see the material and how it can be out into different forms. This spreads the ideas of how a small thing can be changed into a big thing by using the same material and to show different ways of weaving the material into creating a new design or shape. Each object has its own style of been made and also different shapes. Each can have a different meaning , for example first on the left is a loose weaving object with a scruffy look and bigger hole. She probably made it for a nest but there is always a meaning behind a piece of artwork. Second object is oval and a bit narrow at its ends not only does it have a strong thickness to its image but the objects could also be an instrument.

4. In your opinion do the materials communicate the ideas of the work? Please explain your answer.

Materials can be used in many ways and can communicate through the way it has been used to bring out the object more than what the shape of the object is. There are many ways that the materials can communicate, it can be done by how it has been colored or if it has been tampered with.She shows in the objects that the weaving of the materials have all been used in another way.

5. Fiona Hall's recent project The Kermadecs focuses on issues around the Pacific ocean. Research this project to summarize the importance of the area and upload an image to your blog for discussion.


The Kermadecs is an important subject to the Polynesian settlers who arrived on the kermadecs island around the 14th century. The kermadecs is made up of 15 island and has ownership of different polynesian and early 19th century settlers. This was all brought together and was formed as the kermadecs.

http://www.thekermadecs.org/fiona-hall

 ' Leaf Litter' (1999-2003) Fiona Hall

These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on Youtube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.

www.abc.net.au/rn/legacy/programs/sunmorn/stories/s1451093.htm

australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/fiona-hall

www.qag.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/.../Fiona_Hall_EdKit.pdf 

www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/fionahall/ 


Reference:
http://www.thekermadecs.org/fiona-hall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermadec_Islands