As loathed as I am, group instructed me to set up a twitter for our exhibition: so here it is.
http://twitter.com/HalfaConvo
We're having an exhibition for studio dissertation, and we're looking for as many opinions/comments as possible! They will be exhibited :) You know you want to!!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
FAD newsletter and early morning ramblings.
So I subscribe to the FAD newsletter, which sends me a daily update of random things going on in the art world. This morning there was a video interview with D*Face about street art, and a link about Antony Gormely (who I've mentioned before) whose Domain Fields is at The Garage Space for Contemporary Culture in Moscow.
It is reportedly "a huge installation of 287 sculptures made from the body moulds of 200 volunteers." Gormley loves his multiples! I really like the ephemeral quality of this work. The space in and around the figures, but how long did this take to make? and how many assistants!?
The mind boggles.
But perhaps more importantly, the FAD post about Gormley linked back to Art Observed, which has news about contemporary and modern art exhibitions, mostly based in New York... it seems pretty similar to Daily Serving well, at least in format, and both can be found in my links bar as well.
I also found on my meanderings (on a Russian Art News site) reference to a recently discovered Venus figure in Germany.
This "Venus" - Venus of Hohle Fel-is reportedly 35000 years old. As with most of the other ancient 'Venus' figurines that have been found, the most emphasised areas are the breasts and genitalia, and the ring carved above its shoulders suggests it was worn as a pendant.
I've been researching the Venus figurines for quite a while now, and have found many conflicting view points as to what they were for. One Dr has even suggested they were carved in the shape of psychedelic mushrooms. Others have suggested they were self portraits, although I'm not sure how much clout this argument has, because even if you're looking down at your own body, you know what other women look like!
The most realistic options in my opinion, are either the 'earth mother/goddess' theories - where the land was looked on as a plentiful 'mother' and worshiped as such, or as a fertility symbol, why else would you emphasise the breasts/stomach/genitalia? It's hard to discount or agree with any theory though, because the best we have are guesses, and we can't but help project our modern day perspective onto things from the past.
Having said that, from what research/archeology has shown us, the climate at the time of the creation of these figurines was pretty harsh, and human technology was still evolving,
people of that time would have been living on the edge - so if they had women as large as that, it meant that they'd had plentiful food for quite some time.
Although, a friend recently pointed out, it may have just been a depiction of a particular woman by someone who was fond of her, I'm not sure they would have found so many with similar features if that was the case.
This paper, has interesting analysis of the Willendorf Venus, and ponders whether it was carved by a male or female. (The Willendorf Venus is perhaps the most universally recognised of all the Venus figurines, and it's the one I'm using in a piece currently.)
Whatever the Venus figurines were used for then, in a modern context, they come to mean something else entirely. Obesity of the developed world, greed, capitalism, the time of waste...
dying from hunger,
and dying from hunger....
makes mapping my research seem pretty insignificant! Some how justifying my existence by getting an education and making artwork that speaks to the current global instability, most days I feel like it's a worthwhile thing to do. Not every day though. And what can I possibly know, what perspective can I bring from my middle-class upbringing, that can change the perspective of those around me?
when the media sensationalises things, and you feel like you're helpless to do anything, I think the only thing you can do is change yourself, and those in your immediate circle if you can. We've been encouraging recycling and turning things off at wall at my house, it's not much, but it's a start. I've been trying to get one 'vegetarian' night a week, but separating the men from their meat is quite tricky!
We were told recently to make art that speaks to other things, not just self referential art. I'm not sure where my Venus will sit in that, it speaks to lots of things, but it requires knowledge of the Venus figurines... so is it self referential?
I remember my Mother knew about the Willendorf Venus, and she's my Joe-Public meter: if she gets it, then most people will be able to relate to it on some level, if she goes "huh?" I'm pitching too high, and it's too much of an 'in-joke' for the art institution. So hopefully, it'll sit right.
The longer I wait to do this waiora thing the less confident I am in the art piece. I mean, the concept is ok. I just feel like.. it could have been more, maybe.
Ah well. Moving on to better things. (end ramble)
It is reportedly "a huge installation of 287 sculptures made from the body moulds of 200 volunteers." Gormley loves his multiples! I really like the ephemeral quality of this work. The space in and around the figures, but how long did this take to make? and how many assistants!?The mind boggles.
But perhaps more importantly, the FAD post about Gormley linked back to Art Observed, which has news about contemporary and modern art exhibitions, mostly based in New York... it seems pretty similar to Daily Serving well, at least in format, and both can be found in my links bar as well.
I also found on my meanderings (on a Russian Art News site) reference to a recently discovered Venus figure in Germany.
This "Venus" - Venus of Hohle Fel-is reportedly 35000 years old. As with most of the other ancient 'Venus' figurines that have been found, the most emphasised areas are the breasts and genitalia, and the ring carved above its shoulders suggests it was worn as a pendant.
I've been researching the Venus figurines for quite a while now, and have found many conflicting view points as to what they were for. One Dr has even suggested they were carved in the shape of psychedelic mushrooms. Others have suggested they were self portraits, although I'm not sure how much clout this argument has, because even if you're looking down at your own body, you know what other women look like!
The most realistic options in my opinion, are either the 'earth mother/goddess' theories - where the land was looked on as a plentiful 'mother' and worshiped as such, or as a fertility symbol, why else would you emphasise the breasts/stomach/genitalia? It's hard to discount or agree with any theory though, because the best we have are guesses, and we can't but help project our modern day perspective onto things from the past.
Having said that, from what research/archeology has shown us, the climate at the time of the creation of these figurines was pretty harsh, and human technology was still evolving,
people of that time would have been living on the edge - so if they had women as large as that, it meant that they'd had plentiful food for quite some time.
Although, a friend recently pointed out, it may have just been a depiction of a particular woman by someone who was fond of her, I'm not sure they would have found so many with similar features if that was the case.
This paper, has interesting analysis of the Willendorf Venus, and ponders whether it was carved by a male or female. (The Willendorf Venus is perhaps the most universally recognised of all the Venus figurines, and it's the one I'm using in a piece currently.)
Whatever the Venus figurines were used for then, in a modern context, they come to mean something else entirely. Obesity of the developed world, greed, capitalism, the time of waste...
dying from hunger,and dying from hunger....
makes mapping my research seem pretty insignificant! Some how justifying my existence by getting an education and making artwork that speaks to the current global instability, most days I feel like it's a worthwhile thing to do. Not every day though. And what can I possibly know, what perspective can I bring from my middle-class upbringing, that can change the perspective of those around me?
when the media sensationalises things, and you feel like you're helpless to do anything, I think the only thing you can do is change yourself, and those in your immediate circle if you can. We've been encouraging recycling and turning things off at wall at my house, it's not much, but it's a start. I've been trying to get one 'vegetarian' night a week, but separating the men from their meat is quite tricky!
We were told recently to make art that speaks to other things, not just self referential art. I'm not sure where my Venus will sit in that, it speaks to lots of things, but it requires knowledge of the Venus figurines... so is it self referential?
I remember my Mother knew about the Willendorf Venus, and she's my Joe-Public meter: if she gets it, then most people will be able to relate to it on some level, if she goes "huh?" I'm pitching too high, and it's too much of an 'in-joke' for the art institution. So hopefully, it'll sit right.
The longer I wait to do this waiora thing the less confident I am in the art piece. I mean, the concept is ok. I just feel like.. it could have been more, maybe.
Ah well. Moving on to better things. (end ramble)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Bill Culbert Opening @ the Sarjeant Gallery
In the speeches they spoke about this piece. Which I really like. I think it's a beautiful photograph, and there's a subtlety about it which appeals to me.
A web search for Bill Culbert + light sculptures produces MANY hits, and lots of them are like this one, simple, yet very effective.
So it was exciting to be going to a Bill Culbert exhibition opening.
From outside the dome, looking in, from each perspective, the Wanganui 180Degrees installation is like this, the seemingly simple structure of lights, composed perfectly to change your perception of the space. Inside the dome, it was another story. I felt like I was being patronised as a viewer in a local gallery. Here's photos of your place, it's specific to you, you can relate to it. I related to it without the photos! and I'm sure most people would. It just felt like over kill. I didn't really respond to any of them, particularly the vista of Wanganui. I know they were in pairs, and hung on their sides, but it just didn't do it for me. I wanted to like it, to be wowed. I know that I wasn't the only one there who felt the same way; spoke to a few people that also made similar comments.
It was an interesting experience though, there were not many students, mostly the Art-elite of Wanganui and surrounding regions, which made for a more formal environment than I'm used to at openings. All in all, only slightly anticlimatical.
Monday, August 10, 2009
This site is genius. Public Art in the UK and internationally, with lots of resources, links and pictures!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Bahaha
"Ron English’s iconic Ronald McDonald inspired character gets the X-Ray treatment with the help of Japan’s Secret Base. The translucent orange exterior figure houses a glow in the dark inner skeleton and comes packaged in a Popaganda-labeled french fry box. I guess maybe he’s just big-boned?"
Monday, August 3, 2009
Class notes: Curatorial Process
Guest Speaker: Peter Ireland
Two Parts: Theoretical/Philosophical and Practical.
Past two decades has seen artists increasingly more involved in the curatorial process, fulltime artists have to curate, as well as practise, these days.
Art practise feeds curatorial practise which feeds the art practise.
Starting point/Hub:
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE SHOW?
WHO IS THIS SHOW FOR?
The IDEA is very important.
Who is the show for? For you?
For your mates?
For arts professionals?
For the wider public?
Joe Public - someone from a small town with no art background needs to be considered as well as those from within the art world.
To be a successful exhibition it must be engaging.
If you show outside/above just "for you" it will show a level of unknow, where you will learn new things.Art is about what you don't know.
Arts Professionals - exhibitions aimed purely at this group often flop because they have no relations to Joe Public. Try not to exclude any viewers.
Modernism was about authenticity and originality, postmodernism is questioning those concepts.
Art - Art is either about a lot of things, or just about other art. 80% of contemporary art is only about other art. The 20% of contemporary art that is about a lot of things is the art that will most probably survive its own period.
Overly self referential art is generally not as successful.
Curator - Responsible for the idea - which should provoke thought in Art Professionals, whilst engaging Joe Public.
Don't get trapped in the institution.
Think rigorously, stay mentally alert, think outside the square!
There are different levels of engagement, theory is a galaxy of ideas, try to focus on one idea.
Theory- intellectualism - connotations.
Don't have to impress everyone/anyone. The artist's job is making good art.
- Practising Artist since 1968
- self taught
- 1981-now 46 solo shows, 85 group shows approx.
- work in lots of collections
- has been freelance curating since 1974
- photography writer/curator
- published in various journals and magazines
- currently in Te Papa Catalogue
- writing book 'Loaded shots'
- chooses to keep a low profile, however can be found on the web here, and here, and here.
Two Parts: Theoretical/Philosophical and Practical.
Past two decades has seen artists increasingly more involved in the curatorial process, fulltime artists have to curate, as well as practise, these days.
Art practise feeds curatorial practise which feeds the art practise.
Starting point/Hub:
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE SHOW?
WHO IS THIS SHOW FOR?
The IDEA is very important.
Who is the show for? For you?
For your mates?
For arts professionals?
For the wider public?
Joe Public - someone from a small town with no art background needs to be considered as well as those from within the art world.
To be a successful exhibition it must be engaging.
If you show outside/above just "for you" it will show a level of unknow, where you will learn new things.Art is about what you don't know.
Arts Professionals - exhibitions aimed purely at this group often flop because they have no relations to Joe Public. Try not to exclude any viewers.
Modernism was about authenticity and originality, postmodernism is questioning those concepts.
Art - Art is either about a lot of things, or just about other art. 80% of contemporary art is only about other art. The 20% of contemporary art that is about a lot of things is the art that will most probably survive its own period.
Overly self referential art is generally not as successful.
Curator - Responsible for the idea - which should provoke thought in Art Professionals, whilst engaging Joe Public.
Don't get trapped in the institution.
Think rigorously, stay mentally alert, think outside the square!
There are different levels of engagement, theory is a galaxy of ideas, try to focus on one idea.
Theory- intellectualism - connotations.
Don't have to impress everyone/anyone. The artist's job is making good art.
Always.....
Fiona Hall | Australia b.1953 | Medicine bundle for the non-born child (detail) 1993–94 | Aluminium, rubber, plastic Layette comprising matinee jacket: 27.5 x 47.5 x 10cm, bootees: 7 x 5 x 8.5cm and bonnet: 13 x 13 x 6cm; rattle: 32 x 8.5 x 6cm; six-pack of baby bottles: 17 x 20 x 13cm | Purchased 2000. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation Grant | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery
Ai Weiwei: Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola Logo, 1995; clay and paint; 12 x 12 x 12 in.; Sigg Collection.
Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-2008). Coca Cola Plan, 1958. Combine painting. 68 x 64 x 14 cm. (26 3/4 x 25 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.). The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, The Panza Collection.
Welcome to the World Famous Brand, the Luo Brothers, 2007Also see Sharmila Shamant's work here.
And it's not always being satirised, sometimes it's about recycling.
Although, that particular piece and the four related landmark sculptures, which, even I have to admit are pretty cool, were commissioned by coca-cola.. *twitch*
Coca-cola is a pet hate for me at the moment, though it is fairly hypocritical, because occasionally I still drink the stuff. What irrates me about it, however, is that it is cheaper than milk and bottled water! (not that we should be selling bottled water, but that's another issue/blog entirely...**) And with the developed world getting increasingly fatter... well.. you can see where I'm going with this.
It's not just the product, it's the way the corporation works, and its lack of ethics, particularly in developing countries. But it is also, in a sad way, symbolic of our times...
**Water is something we have a fundamental right to, and we shouldnt be charged almost 1000 times more for a bottle of the stuff than for tap water, but we shouldnt be exporting it at all. Production of the bottles costs more water than they hold, about 4 litres, and fucks the planet.
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