Modernism Art

The term Modernism applies in retrospect to the wide range of experimental and avant-garde in the arts. Modernism was a revolt against the traditional values of realism, so in sense, modernism in the art world is primarily based on imagination, and not on what the artist is actually seeing. Modernism gathered its movement from about the 1850s, which proposes new forms of art on the grounds that these are more appropriate to the present time. It is thus characterised by constant innovation, meaning the act or process of inventing or introducing something new. But modern art has often been driven too by various social and political agendas. Modernism was in general associated with ideal visions of human life and prefect states or places and a belief in progress. The terms modernism and modern art are generally used to describe the succession of art movements that critics and historians have identified since Realism, culminating in abstract art and its developments up to the 1960s. For insists the work of Jackson Pollock, were we see a canvas, attacked by paint from all corners, which in the process of making paintings in this way, he moved away from figurative representation, and challenged the Western tradition of using easel and brush. 

Reading:

http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c19th/modernism.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Pollock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism

Dreams come true

‘Where another world is just a wish away’

Annie Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer, who was hired by the Walt Disney Company in 2007 to create a series of photographs, of celebrities to pose as various Walt Disney characters. The series of photographs is named ‘Disney Dreams’. The photographs in the series recreate many of the old classic films created by the Walt Disney Company, such as Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty and so on, using many well known celebrities to pose as the characters, such as David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, Beyonce, Rachel Weisz, and many others. One of the most absorbing photographs of the series is that of actress Julianne Moore posing as ‘Aerial’ in the portrait of ‘The little Mermaid’ film. The photograph is entitled ‘where another world is just a wish away’, which links in with the film, as ‘Aerial’ wishes to live on land instead of under the sea. This image of Julianne Moore sets an underwater scene of various mythical mermaids situated in coral beds, and swimming freely. The image ‘Where another world is just a wish away’, shows an emotional magical undersea mood. Leibovitz has beyond doubt, produced an incredible image of mythical mermaids, taken from the Disney film ‘The Little Mermaid’. She has brought to life, a childhood fairytale. 

Reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Leibovitz

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/annie-leibovitz/life-through-a-lens/16/

http://thedisneyblog.com/2008/04/25/julianne-moore-michael-phelps-are-latest-annie-leibovitz-dream-photo-subjects/

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-01-25-disney-ad-campaign_x.htm

Pure Fantasy

Ever since I remember, being interested in photography, I have always collected and bought fashion magazine, Vogue. Fashion photography, is a particular favourite genre of mine, with Vogue showing the works of many leading fashion photographers, each issues is pleasant to read a view. I found one of the most striking and radiant pieces that were published in British Vogue was ‘The Snow Queen’. These images were captured by, world renowned fashion photography, Tim Walker. These images capture enchanting, fairytale couture, to the highest standard. We see fashion model, Caroline Trentini, wearing stunning white frocks, and bold stated clothing, in these mythical goddess looking images. Every element in these fantastic photographs is essential to achieve the look of ‘The Snow Queen’, from the elegant white swans, amazing clothing, striking make-up and structured hair. The way Walker has captured these images splendidly, slightly overexposing some of the scenes gives a sense of wonder to the article. Even the slow shutter speeds of Trentini dancing in a ball gowned, have truly created power, power that the ‘Snow Queen’ would have. Walker has truly lived up to his high status in the fashion industry, which is shown in this article provided by Vogue.  

Reading:

http://bohemenoir.blogspot.com/2010/12/editorial-snow-queen-by-tim-walker.html

http://models.com/work/british-vogue-the-snow-queen

http://awake-smile.blogspot.com/2009/02/uk-march-bogue-2009-editorial-snow.html

Photography - Art or Science?

Almost since the moment of its birth, photography began rising debates in areas of art and science. The photographic image reserved the art form of painting, which began artists refusing to accept photography as an art form, and only as a scientific process and method of a visual form. Which launched a group of French artists, in the early 1860’s, protesting that photography was only a mechanical process, never resulting in art pieces that could be compared with works of physical, and imaginable intelligence of  art. Furthermore, the invention of the photography caused considerable concern to many painters, who saw their means of creativeness coming to an end; others even claimed that painting was dead (not true). Thus many artists turned to photography, moving with the times of technology, while others only used photography as an artistic aid to their paintings. Concluding that photography is both an art, and a science that allows us to express our feeling and emotions. However to achieve this; we need to master the scientific part of the medium. Unlike a painter, who is in direct with their subject and canvas, a photographer is separated by the camera and from his "canvas" by computers and printers and by darkroom equipment previously.


Reading:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/Reflections-Introduction.shtml
http://www.iosart.com/photography-art-or-science/
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/Art-Science.shtml
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/photography.html

Karin Bubas is a favourite contemporary photographer, of mine. Bubas has produced a photographic series; entitled ‘Studies in Landscapes and Wardrobe’, which takes its inspiration from the renowned films of Alfred Hitchcock and Michelangelo Antonioni. Her images use the language of Hitchcock's cinematography, and Antonioni's depiction of women, where they are seemingly lost in expansive settings. Bubas uses her friends to pose for her images, directing them she has created a series of images that remind the viewer of film and paintings. Bubas carefully dresses her models in selected costumes and clothing, and then positions them in pre-planned locations in the Vancouver area. The photographic c-prints depict stylish women in various environments with their faces turned away, presented in deep white mounts, and black wooden frames, without glass. The removal of the glass breaks a physical barrier between the work and the viewer, resulting in a sense of voyeurism and intimacy. Some of the pictures have the subjects situated with their backs to the camera; some have a profile view with their heads turned so we cannot see their faces. The way Bubas places the camera creates a crucial tension between the women, their clothing, the spaces they inhabit, and what they are looking at. 

Reading:

http://www.monteclarkgallery.com/exhibitions.php?id=42

http://www.karinbubas.ca/index27f0c.html?pg=bio

http://sweet-station.com/blog/?s=karin+bubas

Close up and Personal!

'Close Up' is a series of stripped-down, hyper close portraits produced by, photographer Martin Schoeller. New York based, Schoeller's style of photography is distinguished by similar treatment of all subjects, whether celebrity or ordinary people, same lighting, backdrop, and tone. The way Schoeller captures his subjects, are produced so clearly, it is almost as if we look at the images with a magnify glass. These images ask us, the viewer, to consider the depths of the human identity, emphasizing this by clear, sharp focus on the facial features. Schoeller achieves this particular way of photography, by using a shallow depth of field, which results in these dramatic and greatly emphasized images. Schoeller uses the same recognizable technique throughout his work, but never result in the same image. Each image has its own characteristics, and its own way of presenting itself to the viewer. Shooting with medium format camera, with a 140mm macro lens and uses Kodak portra VC 400 ASA film.  Using four light sources, he would set his camera on a tripod, five feet back from the sitter, and would normally shot at f/5.6, with an ISO 400. 

Reading:

http://martinschoeller.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Schoeller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZTGXhWjAf4&feature=player_embedded

http://tobyrobertsphotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/martin-schoeller-esque-lightingish.html

Feminist Art

Since the late 1960s, when the feminist art movement came alive, women became particularly interested in what makes them different from males. Consequently, what makes women artists and their art work different from male artists and their art? Men have maintained for many years,  a studio system which has excluded and isolated women from training and becoming artists, also gallery system that  kept women from exhibiting and selling their work, as well as from being collected by the museums. Times have changed, and there are many artwork produced by women that thrive against anti-female views. One of the most influencing feminist works that is out there now, is from the art group ‘Guerrilla Girls’. The ‘Guerrilla Girls’ is an anonymous group of feminist artists established in New York City in 1985. They are best known for their posters, books, billboards, appearances and other creative forms. The group uses facts, humour and outrageous visual imagery to expose discrimination and corruption in the art world. Their work is striking and visually shows to the general public that women can do exactly what men can do. Their work basically puts a middle finger up to patriarchal societies. 

Reading:

http://georgepowell.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/feminism/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_Girls

http://www.guerrillagirls.com/interview/index.shtml

Martin Parr, a British documentary photographer, photojournalist and photo book collector, is best known for his photographic images that show a critical look at aspects of modern life. Parr's approach to documentary photography is intimate, anthropological and humorous. The use of macro lenses, ring flash, high-saturation colour film, and also digital photography, allow Parr to put his subjects "in the spotlight" within their own environment. As a result, this gives them space to expose their lives and values in ways that often involve unintended humour, captured by Parr’s unusual perspective.  At first glance, his work seems exaggerated and sometimes bizarre, which consequently creates original and entertaining photographs. Parr has a way with the camera, pointing at ordinary subjects, but once developed the images show an almost ridiculous and tacky view of the subject. From this, a particular favourite image that Parr has created, is ‘Common Sense (dog with bow and sunglasses)’, the oversaturated colours of then sunglasses and bow, draw the viewer towards the tacky, humorous view of this poor dog dressed in human accessories. The title is truly meant for this image, ‘Common Sense’, what common sense? Who in the right mind would but these things on a dog? 

Reading:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article3751217.ece

http://www.martinparr.com/blog/

http://www.martinparr.com/index1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Parr

Ansel Adams was a landscape photographer, writer, and environmentalist. His richly detailed black-and-white images, which mainly documented the great wilderness of the American West, have become icons of photography history. Adams's photographs inspire an appreciation for natural beauty and conservation that has been communicated down the generations. His ambition was not simply to record the landscape, but to capture his emotional and spiritual response to the wild areas that he loved so deeply. The results are spectacular: an emotional charge and passion shine through the prints with an intensity that is as powerful today as it was sixty years ago. The image 'The Tetons - Snake River' clearly shows Adams love for the scene. The landscape appears balanced because each aspect has equal weight. Its is the aptly named snake river, meandering through the countryside, that gives the photograph its focus. However, without the other aspects - the darkened mountains against the snowy peaks and the dark trees flanking the river - the scene simply would not have its impact, its calmness, and its solitude. Its peacefulness is captured by a slow shutter speed that has brought out the gentle ripples of the river in the foreground.

Reading:
http://www.anseladams.com/
http://www.anseladams.com/anseladams_biography_s/51.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

What is a Semiotic?

Semiotics is the reading of signs and symbols within pieces of work - found in music or the art of cinematography, within the shapes and curves of sculpture or by the grace of dance or more particularly in our case the content of a picture, whether as a painting or a photograph and how these are read.

Taking this into account what are the semiotics of the Man Ray’s image ‘Le Violon d'Ingres’ (Ingres's Violin)? Man Ray was an lover of the paintings of artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, which he then made photographs, of the model Kiki in a turban inspired by Ingres’s work. He painted the f-holes of a stringed instrument onto the photographic print which he then rephotographed. Man Ray altered what was initially a classical nude image. The transformation of Kiki's body into a musical instrument with the addition of brushstrokes made this image humorous, but with an armless form is also disturbing. He entitled the image ‘Le Violon d'Ingres’, a French phrase that means "hobby."The title suggests that, playing the violin was Ingres's hobby; while toying with Kiki was an amusement of his. The picture shows a tension between objectification and admiration of the female form.

Nan Goldin, documentary photographer,  is best known for its realistic subject matter of drug taking, sexual relations, and intimate life of friends and lovers. Goldin’s work is mostly shown in slideshows, which can consist of 800 images that of mostly sexual nature. The main themes of Goldin’s work are love, gender, domesticity, sexuality, and drug addiction. These frames are usually shot with available light, and consist of real life people in genuine situations. Goldin continued to record throughout all of her work, events, situations and developing friendships within the ‘bohemian’ circle which she had become part of.  She deliberately sequences her photographs into themes that direct the observer to think beyond the specifics of her subjects’ lives and about universal experience and realism.

Goldin’s images are viewed like a private journal made public. Some critics have accused her of making heroin-use appear ‘glamorous’. When really she simply just wants the public to view real life, and states this in a 2002 interview with The Observer, Goldin herself called the use of "heroin chic" to sell clothes and perfumes "reprehensible and evil”. This is proven in her intense record of work, of the impact of HIV and AIDS-related illness, drug addiction and rehabilitation on her and her friends. 

Reading:

Nan Goldin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Goldin

Charlotte Cotton (2009) The photograph as contempoary art (new ed) Thames & Hudson; world of art (17 Aug 2009)

John Stezaker’s is a known British artist that re-examines the various relationships of photographic images. His simplistic images play with our fascination with the face, Stezaker’s subtle yet unsettling interventions toy with the subconscious and the surreal. Creating fine collages, Stezaker collects appropriate images found in books, magazines, and postcards combining them in one final image. The effect is pretty striking and shows how genius art can be in its most simple form. The artist’s tool is the scalpel and the process is to splice and compose. Through these elegant juxtapositions, Stezaker adopts the content and contexts of the original images, which convey his own meanings.

Stezaker’s ‘Marriage’ series, he focuses on the concept of portraiture. Using photographic images of classic film stars, Stezaker overlaps famous faces, creating hybrid ‘icons’ that detach the familiar to create sensations of the uncanny. Merging male and female identity into combined characters, such as landscapes etc, Stezaker points to a disjointed harmony, where the settlement of difference complements and detracts from the original image. Using stylistic images from Hollywood’s golden era, Stezaker abstractly engages with his interest in Surrealism. Placed in contemporary context, his portraits retain their aura of glamour, whilst operating as striking ‘artefacts’ of an outdated culture.


Reading:

John Stezaker-Artist Portfolio-Saatchi gallery
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/john_stezaker.htm