Class Project #4

Sketching

Wire figure practice

Final piece

Final piece (closer up)

My basic idea for this piece was to show that art is a personalized work. Artists make their work by drawing from their imagination and personal experiences. I wanted to show that many artists think outside the box when creating their work, so I made my concept that of people trying to break free of the limitations and restrictions set around them.  In a way, I also a sort of narrative with the work, giving the viewer the ability to decide what is happening in the scene.

I constructed wire people to represent the artists in their creative world. The differing shapes and sizes distinguished them and supplied the audience with a personality for that figure. The cloth and other materials I used to wrap them in also gives them a sense of individualism. By placing the figures so that they break free of the borders of the frame, I can show the artists pushing the boundaries of the ordinary in order to be inspired. This also makes the figures a bit more interactive with the audience since they enter their space more than if they were enclosed within the frame. 

In the making of this piece, I remembered how difficult it was to shape wire into the forms I wanted. I also struggled with making certain that the hanging figure and the curvy one stayed attached to the frame without resorting to tape. I finally settled on rubber cement but the drying time took much longer than I would have liked. If I were to do this project again, I would make certain that the piece successfully balanced like it was intended to, rather than reclining on a surface. I would also add more of a feeling of a narrative between the figures so that the audience had more of a connection with the piece. With all this in mind, I probably would have gone with a different piece altogether if I had to redo this project, perhaps one that communicated my idea more effectively. All in all, I'm glad my piece was finished even though it did not entirely cooperate with me in the end.

Artist whose work I find the most fun: Erwin Wurm

Erwin Wurm is an Austrian sculpture who uses humor and sarcasm in his work in order to capture the audience's attention. His pieces express an idea in a quick way because of the simplicity of the sculpt and the straight forward design of the pieces. His pieces are normally temporary so photography is used to capture the moment forever. His medium of choice has a wide range since he usually uses whatever he has at hand, although many of his pieces were made of wood, styrofoam, and resin. Wurm's pieces are designed to critique society, which he does by using humor. The unique structure of his work and the sarcasm and fun that he communicates through his sculpture is why I think he is fitting for this week's theme.

One Minute Sculpture

Overall Impression:

My impression of Erwin Wurm's work is that it communicates with the audience in a very quick way, which is important because people in today's society like to gather information quickly and don't tend to ponder long about sculptures. With these pieces, however, there is enough uniqueness and weirdness in the work that it still leaves the viewers wondering exactly what idea is being shared with them. 

Fat Car

Closing Thoughts:

Erwin Wurm's abstract artwork captures viewer's attention with it's wild and often absurd style. While his pieces are designed to make some sort of critique against contemporary culture, the approach with which he does it makes it less abrasive and more effective. It is humor and sarcasm that make the statements he wishes to share, but the pieces are seen as more of funny commentaries than harsh truths. It is this combination and his ability to make the work so appealing that makes Erwin Wurm a good candidate for this week's theme. 

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Wurm
• http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/erwin-wurm-1
• http://www.xavierhufkens.com/artists/erwin-wurm

Observation Assignment final

Themes:

The photos I took all show an example of negative space. This makes them interesting because of the contrast that is created between the positive and negative spaces. It keeps the viewers eye interested and moving around the composition. People are more likely to be attracted to this type of arrangement because of the differences in value and the unique shapes created by this style.

Possible Artistic Ramifications:

• Using the contrast to create interesting graphic designs
• Making abstract prints by utilizing negative space
• Taking photographs with negative space or silhouettes could make a good arrangement
• An artist who used silhouettes and negative space to make nice illustrations is Tang Yau Hoong. His designs use contrast to make two images within one.

Artist I would want to work for: Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Christo and Jeanne-Claude were an artistic married couple who designed large outdoor works of art that utilized fabrics and plastics. Being environmentalist artists, their works were temporary and were only set up for a few weeks. With their work, Christo and Jeanne-Claude make viewers consider nature and its beauty. They also translate the idea of fragility and temporariness in their work by using materials such as fabric and cotton. I would want to work for these two because I find their pieces amazing. The fact that they make such large installations that make an impact on those who see them, and that these pieces are temporary so that they do not disturb the environment but instead accentuate the beauty of it make me wish that I could help in assembling such a work.

Surrounded Islands

Overall Impression:

My impression of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's work is that it extremely impressive because of the magnitude and size of the work. It sticks with the viewer and leaves them in awe of how such a simple act like covering a building with fabric can make such a large change to the surroundings. The uniqueness of their work is what stands out the most and what settles them as impressive artists.

Valley Curtain

The Pont Neuf

Running Fence

Wrapped Monument

Umbrellas (Japan-yellow and California-blue)

Closing Thoughts:

Christo and Jeanne-Claude's unusually large, outdoor structures attract viewers from all over and leave an impression on them while doing the complete opposite to the area around. Because the pieces are temporary, it makes them that much more important due to the fact that the moments in which they are on display are fleeting and temporary. The gentleness with which this couple handles the materials and the environment is admirable and leaves me with the wish to assist them in completing a piece like the many they are renowned for. 

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christo_and_Jeanne-Claude
• www.christojeanneclaude.net
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1480131/Christo-and-Jeanne-Claude

Observational Assignment: Interior Volumes

Themes:
A lot of the photos I took are forms of containers. This makes them interesting because the unique shapes that they come in make them more aesthetically pleasing and people are more likely to buy them. The negative space of these volumes also makes them interesting to potential buyers.

Possible Artistic Ramifications:

• Using some of these shapes to make larger or more intricate pieces of furniture
• By angling the shots, some of these interior volumes can be used to make eye catching photographs
• Utilizing different techniques to make the inside of the containers seem bigger than the outside
• An artist who created an interesting interior volume is Olafur Eliasson. His reconstruction of the inside of his home was done by laser cutting into the pages of a book to make the illusion of a deep interior.

Your House