Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tung Nguyen: Balance Artist (Bill Viola)
These are 2 still shots of "The Crossing" by Bill Viola. On the left, a figure was engulfed by flame. On the right, the same figure was disappearing into pouring water. The concept of balance is presented through opposite concepts that each alone is an extreme that can only be balanced by one of the other extreme. Left - right, fire - water, red - blue, warm - cool, hot - cold, bottom - top, and so on. The viewer can even sense the artist's desire for moderation, for compromise, and the message that the extremes are what harming us (burnt by fire or washed away by water) and we need a common ground to survive.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Balance Artist
I immediately was drawn to this piece by Elizabeth Murray because of the variety of color and use of shape reminded me of the urban art often seen in New York City. Murray plays with perspective by layering different images, with larger, bolder pieces in front and smaller, more subdues pieces in back. Despite the odd shapes and proportions of the individual images, there is a sense of balance towards the center of the piece. The bold blue fences on the top right and bottom left of the piece contribute to this balances, as well as the music notes on the left and right side
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Richard Serra-Tilted Spheres
In this sculpture, Serra creates balance that is very symmetrical. Both sides of the sculpture share an equal weight, and I feel that this balance can evoke feelings of peace and tranquility. What I also find interesting is the consideration of open/negative space in creating such symmetrical balance. I feel that the interplay between open space and the space occupied by the sculpture is very aesthetically attractive. The open space, I feel, evokes a sense of freedom--an unrestricted ability to move through the space. However, there is also an element of imprisonment at the same time. The sculptured pieces are in a tilted position, and this could imply that the walls of the sculpture could fall in to each other, which trap you as you attempted to explore the sculpture. I think Serra achieves an interesting harmony by playing with the ideas of stability and instability.
William Pope L.
This is a very striking piece, despite its simplicity. I find that the minimality of this work is appropriate as the artist seems to desire convey his idea in the most direct and frank manner. The statement "Black People Are Beside The Point" is blunt, and the manner in which this piece has been created further emphasizes this stark statement. Such a simple statement, yet it conveys a variety of meaning. When one strips down the frills and the ornament, I find that the art can become more interesting, more flexible, and its conveyed meaning often becomes multi-dimensional. The lack of cleanness in the execution of this piece reminds me of writing on a bathroom stall. Often I've found that bathroom stalls have been an interesting canvas for honest, unabridged, personal expression. I feel that this piece possesses these same attributes.
Charles Ray
I find this work very hilarious. The figure of the woman, first of all, is exaggerated to an enormous scale, dwarfing the man that stands next to it. The proportion between the man and the figure of the woman, I feel, implies a reversal of the stereotypes that are often associated with gender. The woman is now the dominant force. The figure of the woman is tall and proportionately larger and grander than the man that stands next to it. The figure, with arms akimbo, is an imposing force--a powerful force. The man that stands next to this figure is now portrayed as weak and vulnerable. GIRL POWER!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Elizabeth Murray "The Lowdown"
This work by Elizabeth Murray plays with issues of balance. The vivid, contrasting colors and the jumble of organic and rectilinear shapes of various sizes create a sense of precarious balance. The lopsided rectangular shape of the overall composition also suggests that the pieces in this work may be on the brink of shifting or falling. At the same time, these bits of wood and painted canvas are not haphazard, but are unified by a certain sense of harmony. The linear pieces at the edges seem to hold the work together, and the repetition of colors and forms (such as the circles) brings the work into a kind of unexpected unity and balance. I like this work's playfulness and brightness.
Elizabeth Murray "Pigeon, 1991"
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