Gallery Visit # 2

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit:

1. What is the title of the exhibit?

Italian Artwork Collections

2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

All the artwork in this hallway is the mastery of Italian painters. There are also two sculptures by Italian artists as well.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:

1. What type of lighting is used?

Primarily natural light was used in this exhibit but the sky windows were specially treated and contained multiple layers of panes to protect the artworks from damage from UV rays. You couldn’t see through the sky lights, they had a white ceramic-like glow to them. The windows on the walls were specially treated and a special kind of glass as well but they were transparent so that you could see the Louvre courtyard.  This was actually spectacular in the evening as well as the day because you could stare directly at the brightest sunset through windows without hurting your eyes. When the sun went down (and I assume on less sunny days) the sky lights illuminated behind the ‘ceramic’ looking panes with artificial light so it was hard to tell what time of day it was unless you looked out a window.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

The walls in this exhibition were a combination of red and crème marble accents with primarily dark beige colored walls. Being a neutral color the walls did not detract from any of the artwork or draw the viewer’s eye to any particular place in the painting more than another (that wasn’t already intended by the artist.) It also gave a very prestigious characteristic to the masterpieces being displayed.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?

I felt as if the whole museum was made of marble, especially this exhibit. The wooden floors were bordered with reddish pink marble. The walls and arches were  detailed with the same marble and the walls were a darker creamy beige that complimented the reddish pink marble accents. This exhibit was one long hallway with tall ceilings but there were wide arches every fifty feet or so giving the appearance of separate sections or rooms. The whole area was symmetrical feeling with the circular couches acting as patricians down the center of the hallway. There were small alcoves towards the end of the hall way that displayed series of small and related works in cases.  

4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?

The movement is pretty directed and obvious. You walk to the end of the hall down the right side chronologically, and up the left back towards the entrance. The round seating in the middle gives viewers and sketchers a place to sit and observe from any direction they please. The statue was right before the entrance to the room where the Mona Lisa lives and it demands your attention before you move into the most popular room in the museum.

Step 3: The Artwork

 Questions about the artwork:

1. How are the artworks organized?

The artworks are categorized by date. They start in the fifteen hundreds and move chronologically forward to the end of the hall then back up the other side all the way to the 20^th century. There are supposed to be two sculptures but one was on loan to another museum, the sculptures boarder either sides of the entrance to another exhibit where the Mona Lisa is displayed.  

2. How are the artworks similar?

The artworks are similar in that they are all paintings (except one sculpture) and they are all made by Italian artists. Many of the painting have religious connotations or are literal paintings of religious figures such as Jesus or the Virgin Mary.

3. How are the artworks different?

Many of the artists have different styles and techniques. Some of the artists intentions are made totally clear in their paintings and there is little left for interpretation. Other paintings are like a puzzle of separate subjects that must be pieced together for meanings. Some of these meanings are still a mystery and it is up to the analytical viewer to decide why the artist may have painted certain things in certain places. The artworks also differ in size.  

4. How are the artworks framed?

I was surprised by the variety in framing of the artwork. Some of them were in very regal elaborately decorated and gold painted frames, other were in old wooden frames with the original hand painted plaque nailed on that stated the title, artist, and date. I am assuming that all the artworks that could be displayed in their original frames are, this adds authenticity to the works.

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

All artworks were identified and labeled by small white plaques right next to or below the works with the title, artist, date, and in some cases the material used i.e. ‘oil on canvas.’

6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?

In this exhibition the artworks were fairly evenly spaced. Each painting takes up a fairly equal amount of space down the wall. The only time artwork was gathered together was in small alcove collections where small works from the same artists were displayed together.  

Art Criticism: Describing, Analyzing, and Interpreting Artwork

Artist:     Leonardo Da Vinci

Title of work: Portrait of a Woman

Media: Oil on panel

Date: 1519

Size: 63x45cm

1.   Description – Describe what you see.  (subject matter)?

I see a woman who is slightly turns to the left but her head is turns forward. She appears to be staring just above the right had side of the viewer. She is wearing a single gemmed head piece and a red gown. She is behind a wooden patrician of some kind. Her hair is neatly pulled back and she is wearing necklace coiled several times around her neck. The background she sits in front of is black. Her mouth forms almost a straight line, not a smile or a frown.

2.   Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

This piece uses the element of value with the lightness in her skin and the color in her dress contrasting with the stark black background. There is use of space in that the subject takes up most of the painting and is the center of the work. Texture is seen in the detail of her clothing and the wooden patrician. Da Vinci achieved the principle of unity with the painting harmoniously coming together to show one clearly defined subject.

3.   Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?  (iconography)

This work reminds me of the Mona Lisa, also by Da Vinci. This woman has the same vague smile yet she remains unnamed and without a lush landscape painted behind her. The gem she is wearing could symbolize wealth and the fact that she is not staring at the viewer but above them could imply vulnerability.

4.   Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

I personally think that Da Vinci was simply trying to paint a beautiful woman. He may have painted her with no background to make the essence of her beauty stand out, or perhaps he got lazy or wanted to finish his painting faster. I feel that if the subject could say anything now, she would be jealous that the Mona Lisa got a whole wall and so much attention while she shared a hallway with dozens of other paintings  and wasn’t even behind glassJ

Art Criticism: Describing, Analyzing, and Interpreting Artwork

Artist:     Alessio Baldovinetti

Title of work: Madonna and Child

Media: Oil on wood

Date: 1464

Size: 63x45cm

1.   Description – Describe what you see.  (subject matter)?

I see a woman with fair skin and raised eyebrows clasping her hands together flatly. She is looking down at a small infant child who is holding and looking at a white ribbon wrapped around his mid section. She is wearing a blue and red cloak and sitting down; the boy is wearing only a marble hat and sits on a marble ledge in front of her. There is a landscape in the background that includes mountains, rivers, and trees.

2.   Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

The element of color is used to keep the foreground and the subjects in the spotlight while the background is kept distant and uninviting to the eye with dull and vaguely contrasting colors. The principle of proportion is used with Madonna taking most of the panel and the baby Jesus only taking up a small corner of the panel. The work appears finished and harmonious thus achieving the principle of unity.

3.   Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?  (iconography)

This picture reminds me of dozens of other Madonna and baby Jesus pictures that I saw at the Louvre and other museums. This symbolizes the love the Virgin had for her baby. Jesus is positioned in such a way that his body appears to be forming a cross; this is a reference to his much later fate. Her face seems calm and content as if she knows this fate and accepts it.

4.     Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

I think the artist was trying to illustrate the sacrifice made on part of both Jesus and the Virgin Mary. I believe he was trying to illustrate the strength she must have had to have in her face by showing her praying and seemingly knowing the outcome of her babies life. The baby seems calm and playful but has such a solemn expression on his face it makes me think the artist wished to show his all knowing persona and the importance of his purpose, even as an infant.

Art Criticism: Describing, Analyzing, and Interpreting Artwork

Artist:  Antonello Da Messina

Title of work: Portriat of a Man

Media: Oil on wood

Date: 1475

Size: 35x38 cm

1.   Description – Describe what you see.  (subject matter)?

I see a man with a hat on faced to the right but looking straight at the viewer. He has a scar on his upper lip. He has brown hair, a black hat, a black coat, and green eyes. He has fair skin and a slight shadow of facial hair. The background is all black.

2.   Formal analysis – (form)  What principles and elements were used and how are they used?

The element of value was not achieved as much with both the background and the subject’s hat, coat, and hair being dark. The subjects outline becomes blurred with the background. The principle of emphasis is certainly achieved with the viewer’s immediate attention being drawn to the face of the subject. Variety is present in the scar on his lip and his five o clock shadow.

3.   Bracketing - Is there anything in or about this work that reminds you of anything else? Do you see any symbols, metaphors, or allegories?  (iconography)

This picture reminds me of Da Vinci’s Portrait of a Woman with the same all black background and one subject in the center turned slightly in one direction but facing the audience. I don’t think there is much metaphor or symbolism in this portrait but there is possibly meaning or statement in purposely painting a person as they are and not hiding flaws or scars with the brush.

4.     Interpretation - (content)  What do you think the artist was trying to say?

I believe the artist was trying to illustrate the proud, confident, youthful, and brave characteristics of this young man. I think the face was the most important aspect to Da Messina and that’s why the outline is not definite against the background. I also believe Messina wished to perhaps accentuate the scar more by placing the view of that side of his subject’s face closer. Maybe the subject was proud of this ‘battle wound’ and requested it be obvious in the portrait. His stature is pretty confident and demanding as well which contributes to my theory. 

 Answer this question: What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?


The entire experience of visiting the gallery was incredible. I wasn't aware of the project requirements at the time I visited the Louvre however I took an audio tour that was called the 'curator's tour.' Just by happy accident. It told me to take note of where things were and why. It discussed the reason for the placement of certain masterpieces in certain wings of the museum. It even warned me where there would be lots of people, why there were windows in certain places, why certain colors were chosen for walls etc. This was great because the Louvre being one of the most impressive museums in the world I couldn't imagine the thought that goes into planning the layout and design. It was easy to recall the architecture and physical space because that was almost as important as the works that it displays. We spent all day and it simply wasn't enough. I can't wait to go back!

Video Review: Module 11

Dada and Surrealism

I chose this video because Dada seems like a really inspiring and interesting movement and I wanted to learn more about it. Surrealism is also one of my favorite styles in art I can never get bored with it.

Key Points:

·         Kurt Schwitters assembles the elements in an act of discovery as well as design. No limit to the materials that could be used. Looking at the work in small recognizable pieces and then transforming it into a whole.

·         Dada- meaning ‘yes yes’ and ‘hobby horse.’ This was a state of mind, a storm that broke over the world of art.

·         Hannah Hoch was the only woman in the Berlin dada group. Her art ‘tore into’ society like an angry dog. Chaos is carefully planned. Political messages and support for spontaneity and the dada revolution.

·         George Grosz fled Berlin and his work was destroyed by Nazis, he gained many friends but many enemies as well, especially of the people he attacked with his work. More humor arrived in his 1926 painting ‘Pillars of Society.” His social variance was great. He used directness to show both what he sees and how he feels about it.

·         Jeon Miro was a Spanish surrealist who used still life to create an abstract image and reflects a ‘new world’ image that corresponds with the real world. These pictures have much more additional meaning. Shapes and lines take on a life of their own.

·         Salvador Dali explored the darkets regions of the human subconscious. This resulted in disturbing images in which ‘the windows of the mind were opened fully wide.’ He illustrates every part of his female figure in her sickly and horrifying looking shape. His paintings seem to show decay of civilization and deeper meaning to their ‘spooky wilderness.’  He was fascinated with psychology and Freud’s theories of the mind. Dali had a faddish with crutches. “Chest of drawers” was a natural Freudian pun.

·         Man Ray’s “La Fortune” displays familiar objects in an unfamiliar arrangement. This isn’t something the artist has seen, but a collection of thoughts and pieced together fragments of imagination. 

·         The juxtaposition of unrelated objects with normality in colors intruiged Man Ray as he was inspired by the writer who talked about the beauty in the odd and unnatural. This is where most surrealists derived their idea of beauty from.

·         The work of surrealists cannot be pinned down to a single interpretation. Nothing is completely relevant or obvious.

I was surprised at how political the dada movement really was. I thought it was more about being free spirits and rebelling in the art world alone (sort of like the 60s flower power era) but it actually included political figures and statements in much of the artwork itself. I didn’t know this and it definitely added to the outline in the text.

Expressionism

I chose this video because expressionism really speaks to the viewer. I wanted to see more of the behind the scenes of how artists really make a painting come alive with emotion.

Key Points:

·         Edward Munch was one of Oslo’s most powerful painters. He painted “Ashes” that explores the dramatic and troublesome relationship between man, women, and sexuality. You can see this in her eyes, her expression, the way she tears at her hair, etc. This painting takes on an Adam and Eve resemblance in the “what have we done” kind of sense, this was his original intent for naming this painting. He is painting an emotional experience.

·         This painting caused outrage. It showed emotional despair and sexuality.

·         He continued to paint this same female picture in “Ashes” often changing her emotions and expression to convey different meaning.

·         Suffering and death haunted munch.

·         The scream was painted after an experience he had while walking home and observing the “scream” in nature.

·         He depicts pure emotion and extreme states of mind in facial expression, or loneliness in blurred ambiguous faces.

·         Most of his works can be loosely related to each other with an overall theme of pessimism towards life.

·         Franz Marc painted animals. He found men ugly and animals clean and refined.  ‘The Tiger’ shows great supremacy for animals and protest against traditional German art which glorified man.

·         Kirchner painted mysterious and tale-telling street scenes, often to portray a point of view about a certain group of people or a situation happening in time.  He explains that there really is no use in trying to paint objectively when painting a modern metropolis at night.

·         Kirchner’s anxiety eventually led to a nervous breakdown.

·         Max Beckmann created actors while in exile. The picture was personal and its entire meaning is unknown. The characters resemble puppets.

·         George Baselitz inverts and undermines tradition by allowing imitations of brutality and anxiety into his pictures. The setting of his characters explains many things about them but also confuses the viewer, such as in The Great Friends.

·         In the Hunter Baselitz upsets the natural view and focus and forces us to put back together a familiar scene in our imagination.  

·         Anselm Keifer’s work reflects the dark aspects of world war two which was ending when he was born. He uses dark colors, shadows, empty places, and coarse appearing texture.  The texture and feel of the details and architecture in his paintings was very important.  He often alluded to the cold irony of Germany’s ‘spiritual heroes.’

·         Keifer drew inspiration from actual existing buildings and imagining them in a certain context. He was influenced by Leonardo Da Vinci.

This illustrated some of the ‘darker times’ in art history. I was intrigued by the depth and mood that simple color changes could give a painting. I liked this video and I do love the portrayal of anxiety and emotion in paintings such as the scream (one of my favorites) but I don’t like over analyzing so much about such heavy emotions, sometimes I think that things could be painted for a million reasons and we don’t have to know all of them. It’s part of the mystery. This related to the text because we talked about expressionism and how it was a movement that essentially grew off of and into other art movement in time but was very monumental in and of itself.

Dance at the Moulin de la Galette

I chose this film because I got to see this painting in person and so many were so interested by it I wanted to know more about it and why it had acquired such fame.

Key points:

·         Dance at the Moulin de la Galette by Renoir is one of art history’s most celebrated paintings, it transports the Paris to the viewer and the viewer to Paris.

·         The Moulin de la Galette was characterized by and associated with revolution. These were NOT happy times like the painting suggested because the city was still stained with the blood of young men and soldiers from the war.

·         The painting is rarely seen in public and kept at a secret location.

·         The painting is bright sunny happy and pleasing, so pleasing that Renoir painted it twice changing only the size

·         The large version hangs in the Museum D’Orsay in Paris (I saw this!!); the other is half as big and is kept in private. We do not know which one was painted first.

·         Renoir apparently never missed the Sunday dance that he lovingly painted, it’s a very personal ‘lifestyle’ based painting.

·         He wants us to see the Dance at the Moulin de la Galette as a place where women and men came to classily enjoy each other’s company, even though in real life there was much prostitution and women especially worked in terrible conditions so it was often a necessity. These were dark and dirty times, the polar opposite of what Renoir shows us in the socializations of Dance at the Moulin de la Galette. It’s his fantasy of women’s lives at the time, not how they actually lived; an escapists world.

·         The painting becomes as interesting for what it doesn’t show as what it does.

·         The Moulin de la Galette was actually occupied by the commune during the war. That’s actually how the Sacre Coeur came about to atone for the crimes during the siege and political oppression that was taking place while this painting was being created.

·         20,000+ died in the week of blood and during this time navy guns were actually stored in The Moulin de la Galette.

·         Transforming a politically sensitive site into one full of people enjoying themselves was an act of defiance on Renoir’s part.

·         Many other artists painted the Moulin de la Galette very differently and not in the same light as Renoir, literally.

·         Light was key for Renoir (and changing light in nature and dappling across forms etc)

·         This impressionist style was criticized and risky in the 19^th century; it made no attempt to conceal the presence of the bus and looked ‘unfinished’ or ‘untamed.’

·         He always went to the dancehall to paint this picture according to one account. The account was written so much later after he actually painted them it that the chronology of the paintings is debated.

·         The little one could have been created first as a prototype, it was sketchy and more portable it was. Then again could have been a small replica; there is not strong enough evidence to prove which one came first.

·         It really is a page out of a history book.

·         The painting sold for a disgusting 78.1 million dollars!

·         The painting should have remained in public for the people to enjoy, not in a warehouse where no one can enjoy it. ‘It’s a cynical way to look at art.’

·         We don’t know who owns the painting now, or where it is.

·         The painting spreads prettiness and happiness on a commercial level.

·         Rod Stewart used it as one of the most sophisticated examples of the rock and roll lifestyle.  

I really enjoyed learning more about this painting. Even after seeing this I had NO IDEA the controversy it held or the irony and contrasts with fantasy and reality that it held. The text didn’t give such a fascinating explanation of the paintings and their mystery so this really added to my understanding behind the fame of these works.

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

I chose this film because I became curious with this painting in the past (primarily because of the monkey) and I thought maybe the video would give me some insight about the monkey.

Key points:

·         This is a sweet summer scene with odd peculiarities such as the regal women with the monkey on the leash.

·         Seurat was discrete and reserved; he didn’t communicate much with his family.

·         He secluded himself.

·         Studies of art were interrupted by military service and he never returned to them but continued his very personal and unique drawings.

·         Subjects of his early paintings were landscapes.

·         Classes mixed and environments mixed at this social relaxing place La Grande Jatte, prostitution was also prominent here.  This is reason for the theory that the woman fishing might be a prostitute or many of the unaccompanied women.

·         The Grande Jatte could be innocent or dodgy.

·         Monkeys clearly fascinated Seurat. The monkey in this painting was added after the painting was completed.

·         The woman the monkey is with is believed to be not a prostitute but a woman with a few lovers. (A caucaut?)

·         You can see the differences in the classes of the people in the two different paintings.

·         This painting was created with pointillism. The intricate strokes and dots are an amazing product of an immense amount of work.

·         He developed a new style much more focused on the light in color.

·         He used tiny brush strokes to cover the entire surface of what he had already painted once. Such a daunting task! It’s almost obsessive how the little strokes are so pure in color and precise. This hints at his meticulous character.

·         There are two different experiences looking at it up close and from far away as a whole.

·         This could be a formula, or a series of risks.

·         There is a pureness in the little girl in the middle. Her presence may also relate to color theory. This is also very relative to fashion’s influence on art and vies versa.

·         There were classical sculpture influences for Seurat who strived to combine the ancient and the modern.

·         The painting met much criticism originally, finding something perhaps offensive, or not in keeping with impressionist practice. It was quarantined and shown alone, it was also largely ignored, except by young male intellectuals.

·         Serauts entire career lasted just ten years when he died from dyptheria.

·         Eventually it was proudly displayed in America, just when the French realized they had lost such a precious prize. They tried to buy it back but Bartlet was right in predicting this and now it is the only truly great French masterpiece that is not in France.

·         It was transported with great fame to New York where it survived a fire and never left Chicago again after that.

·         Seeing the original becomes an act of pilgrimage.

·         It was made into a musical that depicted Seurat as a manipulative artist who used the characters in his paintings for his own device.

·         Ohio has a garden dedicated to the painting! One acre of land depicts the scene of man and nature living cohesively together.

·         Pop culture has altered it adding characters, and advertising loves to use it as a quotation practically! The source is always obvious.

Seeing the original work certainly does become an act of pilgrimage. I haven’t seen this painting yet but after watching this it gives me one more reason to want to visit the windy city! I can’t imagine the experience of putting all those dots and strokes together slowly as your backing away from the image. We talked about Seurat in the text but I think this video really added to understanding his meticulousness and possibly his social behavior. It’s easy to see now the obsession and the risk both involved in this masterpiece.

Art Making: Masks

This mask uses the element of shape and color. It has an abstract shape that draws emphasis on it's eyes and nostrils. I was inspired by this for its shape but primarily its headpiece. I wanted some obscure shape on my mask but not quite this much so I went with a head piece that took form of its own like this one. 

This mask also used the element of color but also unity and rhythm. The patterns and repetition in the lines all make the face more united. The serpent on the nose is good use of variety and it stands out both in shape and color. I really admire the color and particularly the emphasis on eyes. I think eyes are the most important part of a mask even when just deciding if they will be cut our or drawn/painted/carved on. 

This third mask also uses rhythm with its geometrical shapes and patterns. Most noticably however is the symmetry with the mask being intended to look identical on both sides, drawing the viewers attention to the very center of the piece. This has an incredible unique shape. I like that it's not a full face mask and would just change the appearance of the human face if worn but not totally cover it. I tried some stuff like this in my preliminary sketches but went in a different direction.

I used symmetry with my mask because I really appreciated that in the masks I saw and I thought it added to the balance that I wanted to achieve. I used the element of color to bring out the eyes and fire on the head. This added to the three dimensional look and also the purpose of the candle on top. I used rythym on the face with the patterns under the eyes and the pattern that makes up the nose. I wanted to do this because it gave a tribal look to the mask and if it were ‘real’ those dots would be gems or jewels. I chose to leave the mouth black and give it variety because having the mouth appear ‘censored’ added to the overall meaning of my mask.

I enjoyed making the mask, I would have liked to do more but my time crunch has left me somewhat handicapped. I really was aiming for showing some kind of burning passion in the face and the face alone. I wanted to leave the mouth out because I feel like the mouth says too much already. The idea behind my mask was that this person would have to be connecting with their ‘spirit’ so to speak in order to display their rage and burning passion and internal fire. They can’t spit flames because I’ve censored their mouth so it’s left entirely up to their expression of internal feeling to show how they feel. I think I used the elements and principles I mentioned well to get my point across. 

Video Review: Module 10

Hinduism

Ganges River is a symbol of Hindus and God’s love for earth and people. It is also Hindu’s symbolism of life, death, and rebirth. It also symbolizes the female and the giver of life.

Hindu shrines can be tiny but Hindu’s invest so much time in elaborately decorating the sculptures of gods and goddesses.

When one reaches Moksha in Hinduism they escape the cycle of reincarnation and go straight to heaven. Hindus practice cremation and doing this at the sacred Ganges river is assurance of the direct passage to heaven.

The caves at the end of the Ganges River are lavishly decorated, carved directly into the stone walls are fantastic depictions of Hindu gods, goddesses, holy scenes, and ordinary scenes in daily life.

They began their artistic culture underground but moved to above ground tenples using wood, until finally in the 7^th century they turned to stone.   Using a single boulder they recreated the styles and techniques of wooden architecture to build these shrines.

The first sculptures and architects drew inspiration for the humble village shrine and expanded on that idea with slender pillars holding up massive stone ceilings.

‘Half and half’ statues of Shiva and Vishnu shows the respect of other religions essentially coming from and leading to Brahma.

The Chandella marks the golden age of Hindu art and architecture showing it’s eroticism with lavishly carved panels. Eroticism was prevalent in art and architecture because sex was relevant to Brahma who gave life to everyone. An immense spire gives the impression of a mountain range on the Kandariya Mahadev Temple.

When fire and water come together the world is in harmony, these symbols are found in Hindu temples.

The source of all life for the Hindu is Brahma or the great breath. Gods depicted in images from art and architecture are symbolic of the ways in which Hindus are to reach Brahma.

Buddhism

The key to enlightenment is letting go of any desires and all things that feed the ego. This is called finding ‘The Middle Way.’ Buddha also preached a central message of love.

The Tirana is the gateway to the temple and is carved with the teachings of Buddha. 

The image of Buddha is gentile and serene, even while carved in giant stone. He was symbolic of several paradoxes.

Within 100 yrs of Buddha’s death Buddhism split in two groups, the Hinayana and the Mahanyana.

Sanchi became a center of Buddhist art and architecture. Monumental architecture and narrative art take place in the ornate carvings of Stupas because every stone has a story to tell. In the Great Stupa, Buddha is represented and symbolized only by a Bodhi Tree.

The walkway around the Great Stupa shows how artists recreated the work done in wood, in stone. This walkway designed so the pilgrim may walk clockwise around it as he lets go of material things so he may attain virtue instead.

The largest Buddhist shrine in the world, Borobour, is covered in 1,400 carvings depicting the teachings of Buddha and Japanese life as it was lived 1,000 years before.

Even in Carmel New York, the Chuang Yen Monastery was built in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. This contains the largest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere.

Buddhism flourishes in every Asian country except India, the land of its birth.

Buddhism and Hinduism chare commonalities in that monuments, art, and architecture create the true meaning of heaven on earth.

I chose these first two films because I studied Hinduism and Buddhism  in my world religions class recently and these were interesting topics for me.

These film related to the text because we have been talking in the text about art and architecture and how it relates to individual religions and their origins such as Hinduism and Buddhism.

African Art

Art finds expression in dress, hairstyles, etc.

Art is especially important in traditional African rituals.

Masks, clothing, etc made of wood and straw- these deteriorated through time.

Dramatic recreations of sound color and movement were created.

More durable materials provide us with historic depth .

Ancient bushman paintings represent animals

Humans were represented as well

7000 BC farming and herding overtook hunting and gathering- this would form civilizations such as the Egyptian civilization that influenced many others in Africa.

Bronze statues in Nigeria in the 9^th century

Great Zimbabwe- sophisticated and political much can be told about their social structure from their architecture. Quite different from those developed in Europe.

Early 20^th century Europeans regarded African art as primitive or even childish even though artists such as Pablo Picasso drew inspiration from it.

Perceptual art is based on the artists observations of individual reality

Conceptual art flows from the artists imagination- interior set of ideas rather than visual reality.

Much diversity but all African art played a role in daily life or ceremonies that were and were all rich with symbolic meaning

The role of the artist in African society is creating art in the traditional way with more skill. Respected community members, could be famous for recreating traditional art forms with more precision is more respected than creating unique new forms of art.

Religion was rooted in a keen awareness of invisible reality-force or power with dynamic energy. All things are animated by unseen spirit. This is shown in their art.

Art was actually believed to intervene in conjuring of the spirits. It was used for worship and appeasement of spirits, gods, and ancestors.

Masks can be created for multiple purposes and ornamented with just about anything, they are used in ceremonies.

I chose this because I was hoping for more exploration into masks so I could get inspiration for my drawing. It related to the text because we discussed how masks were used ceremonially.

African Art: Legacy of Oppression

This art was packed with emotion and purpose for spiritual connection.

Generalizing forms and emotions made this impact more immediate

Modernists could get away from realistic visuals, and give form to psychological feelings (The Scream).

The women were depicted in abstract form, not primitive, not naturalistic, but rather in their literal meaning. Womanhood was displayed with distorted womanly figures, etc.

The most common magical art depicted was in masks. They always had a deeper meaning or purpose such as frightening people into respecting one another in order to avoid the consequences.

Masks like the Boa masks stopped being created because it became apparent that the ‘magic didn’t work’ against forces like machine gun bullets.

Belgians brought African art to Belgium along with their curiosity of primitive people.

Chilling images of severed right hands became propaganda. People proved they hadn’t wasted bullets by retrieving the right hands of the ‘savages’ that they shot and killed.

Their art, as well as the people themselves were simply curiosities to the west, until their art outlived and transcended the horrors that they lived, then it became influential and ageless.

I was shocked by some of the things in this movie, especially the treatment of the African people’s by European’s and Westerners. I didn’t expect this to be so historical when I picked it, but I picked it because I wanted to see more about masks since that’s what we’re drawing this week. This related to the text because we discussed African art, its struggles, its influences, and its various purposes and meanings.