Assignment #10

Works Cited: 

1. "Jeff Koons." - The Colbert Report. 31 July 2012. Web. <http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/p9ejfs/jeff-koons>.

2. "Jeff Koons." PBS. PBS. Web. <http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/jeff-koons>.

3. "Jeff Koons Art - 118 Artworks, Biography & Articles on Artsy." Jeff Koons Art - 118 Artworks, Biography & Articles on Artsy. Web. <https://artsy.net/artist/jeff-koons?gallery=galerie-fluegel-roncak>.

Slide 1:

-Introduction to Jeff Koons

Slides 2:

-Balloon Dog

Slide 3:

- Bear and Police Man

Slide 4:

-Split Rocker

Slide 5:

-Lobster

Slide 6:

-Play-Doh 

Assignment #9: Museum of Modern Art

Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism came about during the 1940's and 1950’s. Artist of the time painted expressively, stylistically innovative and personal styles. Inspiration was gained from the motives and methods of Surrealism. A major artist in this movement was Jackson Pollock. He had a very unique style of painting; he created canvases with by laying them flat on the floor and just dripping paint on to them. By using this technique he was able to enter the space of the painting physically and psychologically. “On the floor I am more at ease, I feel nearer, more a part of the painting since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting.” – Jackson Pollock  

His painting above: “One: Number 31” from 1950 incorporates his drip painting unique style/method. The colors in this painting seem to contrast with one another. He uses a tan canvas and drips paint in the shades white, black, and a darker tone of tan. The canvas measures 8’10” x 17’5 5/8”.

Pop Art

Pop Art was inspired by Neo Dada. Pop Art was a movement that wanted to challenge cultural assumptions. Pop artists created cool, mechanical images with techniques such as photographic screen printing and airbrush to achieve characteristics of mass produced imagery like advertising, food labels, and comic books. An example of this kind of art is Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Can” of 1962. The picture displays thirty two canvases of Campbell Soup Cans sold by the Campbell Soup Company. The cans are aligned in 4 rows consisting of 8 cans in each, the can are place horizontally creating a pattern in placement. The way each canvas is aligned makes it seem like if the cans are actually being displayed on shelves at the grocery store or supermarket giving the customer numerous varieties of soups to choose from. The picture has a strong use of the color white and red. Each individual canvas measures 20 x 16”.

Robert Gober

Robert Gober’s Exhitbition at MOMA "The Heart is Not a Metaphor" includes more than fifty sinks that he created between 1983 and 1986. The sinks referred to part of the everyday world. The earliest sink sculptures were based on real sinks. One of the sinks was inspired by one in the artist’s childhood home. The sinks were built from wood, plaster, and wire lath. The sinks final touch was applying multiple coats of paint to mimic the appearance of the enamel. All sinks were plain white and lacked faucets and plumbing.

 

Assignment #8: Postmodern & Global Art

David Altmejd

                    “Sometimes I feel like there’s brains in my hands.” –David Altmejd

David Altmejd is a Canadian sculptor born in 1974. He mentions that he is Jewish and gay and his talent gave him confidence. When Altmejd creates sculptures he believes that there is no point in creating sketches because he does not see any difference between drawing his ideas on paper and just gluing pieces together. He states that 95% of his relationship with his work is work in progress. He likes the idea of trusting the work, trusting the material, and trusting that every little step will determine the next one.

Altmejd is not interested in language instead he is interested in venting language. He believes he can do this through art because art encourages the invention of language. As a kid Altmejd was fascinated by art because he could make exist whatever he wanted in the art world.

When making a sculpture he first deals with the material then he injects his sensibility in it to give it a certain “flavor” which determines what color he will chose to paint it. He is very attracted to pastel colors like lavender, pink and mint green and to cause a balance in color he uses dirt colors. Altmejd doesn’t want his sculptures to be just illustrations, he wants to try to build an object that is complex enough and that has enough layers, references and energy to make it feel like it is alive. But by making it feel alive he is not interested in representing life instead he is interested in making objects function like living things so that they will fell like they are alive. He wants the sculpture to develop the capacity of developing its own meaning.

The Vessel

Altmejd feels that in his piece The Vessel there is a religious feel to it. The Vessel has a symmetrical shape to it and it makes a strong reference to the body.

The Swarm

This piece Altmejd considers being more like a landscape and less of a body because it is not symmetrical. The shape floating in space makes it very soft. The softness is balanced out with its aggressive potential. 

The Watchers

This sculpture is an angel figure, but not necessarily with the features of a cliché angel that has wings. Instead Altmejd incorporates ears with winged like features. Altmejd is very interested in Orifices. A body filled with orifices has the purpose of hearing sound. The idea of senses is incorporated by adding ears and hands. The use of ears suggests that the body is ultra sensitive with sound and the use of ears suggests the sense of touch or feeling.