Turner Prize winner Anish Kapoor creates striking sculptures which rely heavily upon his use of intense color and organic geometric form. Kapoor explores the sublime, wonder, and awe in his work through the notion of the void. His “voids” appear as dark spaces that lie within several of his sculptures in which there is a lack of depth perception. But how exactly does Kapoor create sculptures that captivate the viewer? What is it about his art that is able to convey such a powerful aesthetic experience? The answer may lie in art critic Clive Bell’s writing that discusses “significant forms.” Art that surpasses the barriers of culture and time, creates a unique aesthetic emotion, and art which is able to stand alone and fulfill its purpose is …show more content…
During a 1979 visit to India, Kapoor has stated that he was intrigued by the mounds of vibrant pigments in the marketplaces there which is apparent in his some of his earliest work. Religion is another influential factor in his early work, with references to Hinduism and Hindu deities appearing in his art. Concerning At the Hub of Things, which was created nine years after his visit to India, it is easy to see how he utilized the pigments which he was so charmed by. The semi-sphere is coated in a deep blue pigment on both the interior of the sculpture as well as the exterior. Regarding the Hindu religion, At the Hub of Things’ form suggests both a burial mound and the depths of the womb, as proposed by the Smithsonian Museum of Art1. Overall, the At the Hub of Things is a subtle, yet powerful, piece which captivates the viewers gaze as a result of its significant …show more content…
At the Hub of Things accomplishes this in two ways. The first being that despite it being younger than many masterpieces by hundreds of years, there is no factor that signifies when the piece was created—it doesn’t fit into a time period. This is due to Kapoor’s choice of using fiberglass and colored pigment, both of which are very simple materials. It also lacks symbols which may signify a time period, a piece of technology from a specific year for instance. The second way it transcends the barrier of time is that there is no signifier of time. In fact, time seems to be something that disappears into the void; it ceases to exist in the sculpture. Owing to the fact of this, it satisfies Bell’s test that determines great art for
Art has always been considered the effervescent universal tool of communication. Art does not require a concrete directive . One sculpture,drawing or written creative piece, can evoke a myriad of emotions and meaning . Artistic pieces can sometimes be considered the regurgitation of the artist's internal sanctum. In Richard Hooks graphic painting,Adoption of the Human Race, the effect of the imagery,symbols ,color and emotional content projects a profound unification of a spiritual edict.
ABSTRACT: British Avant-Garde art, poses a challenge to traditional aesthetic analysis. This paper will argue that such art is best understood in terms of Wittgenstein¡¦s concept of "seeing-as," and will point out that the artists often use this concept in describing their work. This is significant in that if we are to understand art in terms of cultural practice, then we must actually look at the practice. We will discuss initiatives such as the work of Damien Hirst, most famous for his animals in formaldehyde series, and that of Simon Patterson, who warps diagrams, e.g., replacing the names of stops on London Underground maps with those of philosophers. Cornelia Parker¡¦s idea that visual appeal is not the most important thing, but rather that the questions that are set up in an attempt to create an "almost invisible" art are what are central, will also be discussed. Also, if we concur with Danto¡¦s claims that "contemporary art no longer allows itself to be represented by master narratives," that Nothing is ruled out.", then it is indeed fruitful to understand art in terms of seeing-as. For application of this concept to art explains what occurs conceptually when the viewer shifts from identifying a work, as an art object, and then as not an art object, and explains why nothing is ruled out.
Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.
Before analysing selected art works in more detail it will be worth introducing a few different definitions and hypothesis of aesthetics in art based on theories of well-known critical thinkers.
Three dimensional art is defined as media which “occupies space, defined through the dimensions of height, width and depth” (SAYLOR). These art works can be geometric or organic in nature (NORTON). Three dimensional art forms include sculptures, crafts and architecture. Three dimensional art form is fascinating to me because of the amount of realism and beauty it embodies, as well as for its functional and aesthetic value. For this assignment, I chose two beautiful pieces that illustrated the characteristic of three dimensional art and the processes it took to produce them. The first art work I want to analyze is a sculpture done by an Iraqi artist from Kalhu (modern day Nimrud) entitled, “Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions” (Sayre, 420).
The other objects in the paintings are subordinate to the skull. Both paintings use common objects that allude to wealth, beauty, and knowledge, such as jewelry, coins, flowers, and books. The passage of time is portrayed by an hourglass, a clock, and a burning candle. Each object has a unique symbolic meaning that contributes to the overall message the artists wanted to convey. Both of these paintings exhibit asymmetrical balance and not symmetrical balance. The scale and proportion of the objects depicted are
Abstract Expressionism is making its comeback within the art world. Coined as an artist movement in the 1940’s and 1950’s, at the New York School, American Abstract Expressionist began to express many ideas relevant to humanity and the world around human civilization. However, the subject matters, contributing to artists, were not meant to represent the ever-changing world around them. Rather, how the world around them affected the artist themselves. The works swayed by such worldly influences, become an important article within the artists’ pieces. Subjectively, looking inward to express the artist psyche, artists within the Abstract Expressionism movement became a part of their paintings. Making the paintings more of a representation of one’s self.
Meeting the Patels is a 2014 romantic, comedy documentary directed by Geeta V. Patel. The film depicts the journey of Ravi V. Patel on the search for an adequate Indian wife that meets the criteria of his family, and who he can also feel a personal connection with. In the film the depiction of two countries: United States and India played a role on Ravi’s decision on finding a wife, and how each country portrays the role of marriage and the laws surrounding it.
From the creation of art to its modern understanding, artists have strived to perform and perfect a photo realistic painting with the use of complex lines, blend of colors, and captivating subjects. This is not the case anymore due to the invention of the camera in 1827, since it will always be the ultimate form of realism. Due to this, artists had the opportunities to branch away from the classical formation of realism, and venture into new forms such as what is known today as modern art. In the examination of two well known artists, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, we can see that the artist doesn’t only intend for the painting to be just a painting, but more of a form of telling a scene through challenging thoughts, and expressing of the artists emotion in their creation.
In Confronting Images, Didi-Huberman considers disadvantages he sees in the academic approach of art history, and offers an alternative method for engaging art. His approach concentrates on that which is ‘visual’ long before coming to conclusive knowledge. Drawing support from the field of psycho analytics (Lacan, Freud, and Kant and Panofsky), Didi-Huberman argues that viewers connect with art through what he might describe as an instance of receptivity, as opposed to a linear, step-by-step analytical process. He underscores the perceptive mode of engaging the imagery of a painting or other work of art, which he argues comes before any rational ‘knowing’, thinking, or discerning. In other words, Didi-Huberman believes one’s mind ‘sees’ well before realizing and processing the object being looked at, let alone before understanding it. Well before the observer can gain any useful insights by scrutinizing and decoding what she sees, she is absorbed by the work of art in an irrational and unpredictable way. What Didi-Huberman is s...
He argued that past art demanded thought and understanding, whereas advertising and celebrity culture demanded only immediate attention, very quickly becoming uninteresting and boring(). Art should stimulate more the viewer than just visually. Art that has substance behind it I tend to remember more or think about more. This piece is innovative, it brings about ideas with it that hadn’t been discovered in our society. I can see how the audience at first glance could consider this not to be art. I probably would’ve agreed, but learning about it I know that every time I see the repeated images of the soup cans I now think twice. I consider good art to be art that is able to stimulating the mind visually, by bringing about new
AA theory by Clive Bell suggests the pinpoints the exact characteristic which makes a work true art. According to Bell, an artwork must produce “aesthetic emotion” (365). This aesthetic emotion is drawn from the form and formality of an artwork rather than whether or not it is aesthetically pleasing or how well it imitates what it is trying to depict. The relation of objects to each other, the colors used, and the qualities of the lines are seemingly more important than what emotion or idea the artwork is trying to provoke. Regardless of whether or not the artwork is a true imitation of certain emotions, ideals, or images, it cannot be true art unless it conjures this aesthetic emotion related to formality (367).
Over the years many artists and art historians, such as Giorgio Vasari, Pablo Picasso, Paul Rand and Marcel Duchamp, have explored the definition of art. This essay will look at the opinions of these individuals and explore the concept of art by looking at various art movements, such as Dadaism and Cubism, which have influenced the definition of art, as we know it today. In this essay, I will also discuss the two elements of art; form and content, as well as how they are key to any discussion about what makes “good art” and “bad art”.
When I saw Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring about five years ago at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., I felt something about the painting that I had never felt before when looking at artwork. I felt as if this girl, this young woman in the painting was real, hiding in the museum behind this canvas. She was in the flesh. Her skin was still dewy from three hundred-something years ago, the light across her face still glowing. She was in the round, her eyes followed mine, she was real. She was about to speak, she was in a moment of thought, she was in reflection. This girl was not crimson red or titanium white, she was flesh. Vermeer caught her, a butterfly in his hand. She was not just recorded on canvas, she was created on canvas. She was caught in a moment of stillness. Vermeer creates moments in his paintings. When viewing them, we step into a private, intimate setting, a story. Always, everything is quiet and calm. I realize now it is no wonder I had such a strong reaction to Vermeer the first time I saw him: he is a stillness seeker.
Art is used to make one’s thoughts, ideas, and feelings come to life through the form of expression which in turn can trigger reactions from the eye of the public. From an artist’s standpoint, when one is to express themselves with art, they completely immerse themselves within their work. Ray Mark Rinaldi, the author of an article in the Denver Post, says that Christo Javacheff, a well known environmental artist who is known by his first name only, insists that with the creation of his latest project, “[he] is now part of the art” (par. 22). As Christo pours his entire being into it, the product reflects the same energy, heart, and focus he put into the piece. When art is used to self express, fragments of the artist shines throughout their work as a result. Often the creator will purposely shape their piece to spark specific feelings within the viewer. Rinaldi says that Christo explains how “every plane ride, every meeting with the engineers, every