Week 8-Industrialisation, Modernism and architecture.

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.

The Guggenheim museum:

 The Guggenheim Museum is designed by Frank O.Gehry the California architect in Bilbao, Spain in 1997. After the official opening to public, it’s  beautiful shape, specific structures and new materials won worldwide attention.

The museum exhibit works of outstanding artists from Spain and around the world.

Traditional art museum Focus on museum's exhibition space stylized, they are designed often in square and rectangle shapes. The Guggenheim Museum is the white round style; the museum is an unusual structure.  It is designed to fit like a fish into a boat, it’s a superb place. The use of scaly titanium plates accentuates the magnificent and elegant museum, giving the viewer a strong visual image.

In the construction of the building materials used were glass, steel and limestone, and the shiniest part is coated with a thin titanium material. This material is easy to shape flowers or fish, and such materials both emerged as a colorful expression in Bilbao cloudy and sunny in the morning or evening images.

The museum has attracted the attention of millions of people, from Bilbao and around the world: "This is a great museum " is often the cry of visitors. The significance of the Guggenheim Museum is far beyond the scope of the museum is more like the city renewed to make a successful transition from old style to industrial city.

The Eiffel Tower:

The Eiffel Tower is known as both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of modern Paris. The Tower is named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel . The Unique design is a masterpiece in architecture history ,  thus becoming an important prominent sign of French architecture.

French architect Gustave Eiffel was also known for his bridge design in his early years. He has designed numerous masterpieces around the world, but the Eiffel Tower has been proclaimed to be his best.

The Eiffel Tower is located on the Seine River in Paris, Mars city square. The tower is of steel construction, divided into three layers. Except of the third level platform, the other part is a hollow structure. The tower has 1711 steps. A lift has been installed. It is very convenient for viewers. Each layer has a bar and restaurant for tourists who can enjoy the unique style of the Paris urban panorama where scenery can be seen within 70 km.

The Eiffel Tower with its hollow steel structure design, is not only representative of modernist architecture in Europe, but also has become a symbol of the industrial revolution.

The Tower was established to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and the Paris World Exposition.

When the tower was built, there were many dissenting voices. They thought the tower destroyed skyline of Paris, too technical, the “chimney” will undermine the art of Paris were a couple of the comments made at the time.

In the first and second world wars, the Eiffel Tower played an important strategic and military role It changed the view of many people, so it also avoided being demolished.

 Now the Tower is used as meteorological stations, air communications sets, and radio and television stations. It is playing an important role for city sightseeing.

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

The Eiffel Tower and the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao have both been described as significant architectural constructions of their time. They do have an unusual structure. They both have played very important roles in their cities. The significance of the buildings is far beyond the scope of the museum and a tower. It is more like the city renewed to make a successful transition from old style to industrial city.

noting their similarities ：

Both structures have been known as the best pieces of their time and till this day still attracts so many people around the world.

Both of them are unusual structure of buildings.

Noting their differences:

The Eiffel Tower is simple a structural tower building. Eiffel Tower is with hollow steel structure.

The Guggenheim Museum is the white round style; the museum is an unusual structure.  It is designed to fit like a fish into a boat, it’s a superb place. The use of scaly titanium plates accentuates the magnificent and elegant museum, giving the viewer a strong visual image.

www.tour- eiffel.com/

www. guggenheim.org/bilbao

Week 7-Industrialisation and Cao Fei's RMB City

Industrialisation in the late 1800s, and today.

The artists of the late 1800's and early 1900's, in Europe, were influenced by the Industrial revolution.

1. What and when was the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the times. It began in the United Kingdom, then subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually the world. （http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.

 

 “City of Rises” is a very famous painting by the Italian painter Umberto Boccioni.  (1882-1916) .he was one of the principal figures of Futurism. As one of the principal figures of Futurism, he helped shape the movement’s revolutionary aesthetic theory. He enthusiastically eulogized the modern machines, technology and fascinated with movement and speed, human work and the modern town. The most part of his painting is occupied by people and horses, put together in a dynamic effort. There is a chimney in the top of part. There are ships under developing. It all represents a new city that is quickly developed. Promotion of modern technology, and they bring new life.

“Dynamism of a dog on a Leash (1912)by ”Giacomo Balla (1871-1958)

Balla's art work is inspired by movement and speed. Puppy in the running. The leash Bolt dog flew. . Give the viewer a strong visual impact. His painting depicts to the future of modern life.

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.

Utopia is a vision of mankind for a better society.

Dystopia depicts the negative ideal society. Utopia, an explanation is the perfect ideal world, or the perfect final settlement. Utopian ideal and there is a totally different point, the ideal can’t be achieved, and Utopia will certainly not be achieved. Utopia can only ever exist in human consciousness and books. Modernization is the ideal result of many developed countries. But it does not mean that paradise is on earth. The pursuit of perfection, but not perfect...

There are lots of beautiful things representing China in “RMB City” .for example: Tian An Men Square, the panda, Olympic stadium and high speeding train but pollution can also be seen as the result of factory emissions and modern living

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.

Modernist paintings and the contemporary digital work have emerged from
different contexts, there are also some similarities. The art works both describe new city is building. “RMB City” uses 3D and music representing urban is rapidly developing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/281.html

http://www.alternativearchive.com/caofei/

Great Works: Dynamism of A Dog on a Leash (1912) Giacomo Balla” by Tom Lubbock, 4 September2009,Albright-KnoxArtGallery,Buffalo,New York.http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-dynamism-of-a-dog-on-a-leash-1912-giacomo-balla-1781174.html

Week 5- Science and reason- Video art by Pipilotti Rist

Pipilotti Rist's video art- how can we link this to science and reason?

1. Define the 17th century 'Scientific Revolution', and say how it changed European thought and world view. 

The Scientific Revolution was a period when new ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, human anatomy, chemistry, and other sciences led to a rejection of doctrines that had prevailed starting in Ancient Greece and continuing through the Middle Ages, and laid the foundation of modern science.

The beginning of the seventeenth century is known as the “scientific evolution” for the drastic changes evidenced in the European approach to science during that period. The word “revolution” connotes a period of turmoil and social upheaval where ideas about the world change severely and a completely new era of academic thought is ushered in. This term, therefore, describes quite accurately what took place in the scientific community following the sixteenth century. During the scientific revolution, medieval scientific philosophy was abandoned in favor of the new methods proposed by Bacon, Galileo, Escartes, and Newton; the importance of experimentation to the scientific method was reaffirmed; the importance of God to science was for the most part invalidated, and the pursuit of science itself (rather than philosophy) gained validity on its own terms.

The development of scientific research, so that people with ideas and change in attitude :

1/. Scientists spirit of seeking truth from facts affect people's attitude knowledge, seek truth on the matter and not follow blindly.

2/. The increase in knowledge and science and technology development so that people began to have confidence in their own, or even that human beings can transform nature, to become master of the world.

3/. Scientific development is regarded as the basis for prosperity of the country.

2. Give examples of how we can we still see evidence of the 'Scientific Revolution' in the world today.

Science is no doubt with us today -- it surrounds our daily lives to such an extent that we now take it as a given. We expect science to be, to exist. Its effects and products touch the statesman and the soldier, the house husband and the grocer. Science has given us nylon, fluoride, latex paint as well as 747s, ever-faster microchips and PEZ. But science has also given us fluorocarbons, heroin, nuclear waste, dioxin, sarin gas and the atomic bomb.

We still believe that scientific development is the basis for prosperity of the country. Scientific revolution created scientific thought and reasoning. Today it

helps us understand and observe the world and the way it works. The way we think of the world makes the future much better.

Research Pipilotti Rist's video installations to answer the following;

3. From your research, do you think that the contemporary art world values art work

that uses new media/technology over traditional media?

New media art forms are many, but their is only one thing in common - that is, between the user and works directly through ... This just illustrates the new media art, artistic creation and technology relations. The difference is that with the traditional arts, the network works of art can make the audience more directly communication.  But I don’t think that art work that uses new media/technology values over art work that uses traditional media. They just have their own ways to representation.

4. How has Pipilotti Rist used new media/technology to enhance the audience's experience of her work.

Pipilotti Rist: The Tender Room

Pipilotti Rist (b. 1962), a renowned Swiss artist who has pioneered the use of moving images in installation art, makes her solo debut in Columbus with this expansive site-specific project.

The work here, like previous immersive installations, totally envelopes viewers, as Rist uses the transformative power of color to layer and complicate the visual environment. Perhaps she is pointing out the gap between our sensual experience of color and the ways it is captured or conveyed through technical media. As you'll discover, this project transforms a large gallery and penetrates into other unexpected spaces as well.

5. Comment on how the installation, sound and scale of 'Ever is Over All' (1997) could impact on the audience's experience of the work.

Ever is Overall (1997), in which the camera follows a female walking through city streets, smashing car windows with an iron flower as she meanders. She used a very famous song and changed the tone of it to make it sound ridiculous. Through multiple video projections, unconventional viewpoints and close-ups, and large-scale installations that envelop the viewer, Rist’s work dissolves the conventional boundaries between artist and audience

6. Comment on the notion of 'reason' within the content of the video. Is the woman's behaviour reasonable or unreasonable?

 The reasonable content is behind woman's unreasonable behavior in the video. Over all symbolically provides a new female order where male laws: legal, sexual and representational, have effectively been negated. Moreover, the brand of feminism that they depict not only exhibits a dissatisfaction with increasing women’s stature in the current culture, but also breaks violently with it in the search for new ways of being.

7. Comment on your 'reading' (understanding) of the work by discussion the aesthetic (look), experience and the ideologies (ideas, theories) of the work.

“Through her use of video, Rist combines the worlds of art history and mass culture to create her own visual language,” said exhibition curator Paola Morsiani.  “She uses this convergence to intelligently explore the power of our mind and its connection to the body as well as the pervasiveness of our sexual experience and its link to our mortality; and she expresses her profound empathy and hope for the times in which we live.” I think the art work is a kind of media which artists can show their ideas freedom, Even though the work seems quite ridiculous.

References: 

http://cnx.org/content/m13245/latest/

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM

http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture10c.html

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4559201253275818259#

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Pipilotti_Rist.html

Week 2- Barbara Kruger & Mercantillism

Barbara Kruger has been described as a feminist, conceptual and a pop artist.

Her work reflects her interest in graphic design, photography, poetry and writing.

Research Kruger's work in order to answer the following questions;

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

2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?

3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.

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

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?

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

 She perfected a signature agitprop style, using cropped, large-scale, black-and-white photographic images juxtaposed with raucous, pithy, and often ironic aphorisms, printed in Futura Bold typeface against black, white, or deep red text bars.

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html

2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?

Kruger’s signature work for which she is internationally renowned, involves layers of photographs (from existing sources) with concise and in-your-face text that often questions the viewers about consumerism, power, feminism and individual autonomy and desire. Her design trademark is the usage of black letters against a bright red background.  One of Kruger’s most recognizable slogans read “I shop therefore I am.”

（http://thinkmonline.com/ThinkM/Blog/Entries/2010/8/14_Babara_Kruger.html

Her works transfer to people some messages that the products are worth to buy.

3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.

 involves layers of photographs (from existing sources) with concise and in-your-face text that often questions the viewers about consumerism, power, feminism and individual autonomy and desire.

（http://thinkmonline.com/ThinkM/Blog/Entries/2010/8/14_Babara_Kruger.html）

Yes her works communicate with viewers effectively .these images is very simple and very easy to remember for people.

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

Mercantilism is an economic theory which holds that the prosperity of a state is dependent upon its supply of capital; that the global volume of international trade is "unchangeable;" and that one party may benefit only at the expense of another. "Unchangeable" in this sense may be taken to mean that the European and global economies are seen as zero-sum games, though that economic concept did not yet exist in the mercantilist period. During it, economic assets (or capital) were represented by bullion (gold, silver, and trade value), which was best increased through a positive and healthy balance of trade with other states (exports minus imports). The theory assumes that wealth and monetary assets are identical. Mercantilism suggests that the ruling government should advance these goals by playing a protectionist role in the economy by encouraging exports and discouraging imports, notably through the use of subsidies and tariffs respectively. The theory dominated Western European economic policies from the 16th to the late-18th century.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism)

The concept of Mercantilism is connected to Kruger's works which is very with icon of consumer culture. She just put the word into her works more like a advertise than a art work. “I shop therefore I am.” and “face it”.

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?

Word:self-titled exhibition

In this installation works Barbara Kruger transferred words and images directly to the surfaces of the gallery. Each installation featured a text written on the floor in white type on a red ground. Text reads: "All that seemed beneath you is speaking to you now. All that seemed deaf hears you. All that seemed dumb knows what's on your mind. All that seemed blind sees through you. All that seemed silent is putting the words right into your mouth." With a directness that is characteristic of Kruger's work, the text addresses the viewer's sense of certainty with the world. In Kruger's installations the floor now has a voice, the walls can hear you, and the architecture is manipulating the way you speak.

Kruger's self-titled exhibition at Mary Boone Gallery, this omnipresent, all-knowing and all-seeing surveillance was heightened by the way in which text appeared not only the floor but also on the walls and ceiling - enveloping the viewer. To walk into the room was to be addressed from all sides, left and right. While one read a text, other messages would be transmitted subliminally as one caught hold of a phrase or word in the corner of one's eye. Disrupting the seeming naturalness of the white gallery space, Kruger's treatment of the walls, floor, and ceiling underscored the way in which architecture and social spaces have their own way of speaking and representing the world.

(http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html)

Barbara Kruger/ August 14, 2010

http://thinkmonline.com/ThinkM/Blog/Entries/2010/8/14_Babara_Kruger.html

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/feminist/Barbara-Kruger.html