Art Appreciation
1.0 Definition of Art
According to Britannica Online, art is defined as “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments or experiences that can be shared with others.” It encompasses diverse media and exists within a continuum that ranges from purely aesthetic purposes on the one hand and to utilitarian purposes on the other.
The Free Online Dictionary has a very deliberate definition of art as “the human effort to imitate, supplement, alter or counteract the work of nature.” Art is the conscious production of arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements and other elements which affects the sense of beauty in a way.
2.0 Examples of Art
2.1 Painting – La moulade by Henri Matisse (1905)
La moulade (marine) is an oil painting on canvas. This could be considered as an art primarily because of the medium, and that it combines various colors and movements that depict a natural scenario. Matisse had artistic, conceptual and functional purposes for the piece through imitating the work of nature. The aesthetic intents of the painter are evident as he utilised the pointillism style.
2.2 Sculpture – Rocking Chair by Henry Moore (1950s)
This mother-and-daughter sculpture was enthused by the birth of the sculptor’s only child. Rocking chair is another work of imitation of real-life situation where it captures the natural beauty of a mother nursing/cuddling a daughter. With bronze as its medium, Moore conveys a specific movement as the figures are reclining, which is also known as anatomical distortion. Through this process, Moore is being able to invoke emotion through displaying the affection between mothers and children.
2.3 Architecture – Tristan Tzara House at Paris by Adolf Loos (1926 to 1927)
Located in Paris, France, Tristan Tzara House was conceived for a Romanian and avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist. Mischievously, Loos contradict the architectural norm during those times, making his works including this one as controversial as ever. The architect minimally compensates the space since it purports as an art studio at the onset. The architectural forms and styles including the design of the house that are otherwise not yet exploited in those days were successfully integrated in the work, serving a practical rationale in a way.
2.4 Photography – The “Deal” by Alfred Stieglitz
The picture was taken in Deal, New Jersey wherein the photographer was trying to discover how to draw away from ‘pictorial photography’. Stieglitz used his skills in disclosing the everyday life of the residents for the purpose of providing his audience an escape from romantic images. True enough, the photographer captures reality in his lens with the irony of showing movements in still photographs. Its sepia tone and strikes of blacks and whites highlight the beauty of reality in this art.
2.5 Printmaking – Basswood Tree by Robert Viana
Basswood Tree was a formed through a wood cutting technique. This is a wood block print in a graphic heavy weight paper. Traditionally, wood cutting served as the mean of printing patterns on clothes. What makes this piece an artwork is the use of colors and the interplay between it and the medium in order to create an aesthetic object. Its pure visual purpose is an alteration of a work of nature that embarks on the use of cleverness and creativeness of the printmaker.
2.6 Conceptual Art – Putto 8 2.2.2.2 by Michael Rees (2003)
This masterpiece of Rees defies the conventional pieces, an element unique to this form of art. Rees combined skills and imagination and then came up with the aesthetic beauty of reconciling mind and sprit. The work demonstrates surrealism and movements as well as distorted forms, making the piece a complete alteration of the nature. In addition, the combination of the sculpture and animation elements contributed to the beauty of Rees’ work.
2.7 Installation Art – Stone River by Andy Goldworthy (2001)
The Stone River was completed in late August 2001 from sandstones. This 320-foot sculpture was made inside the Stanford University, and is now the largest outdoor art inside the University. This wall-like serpentine sculptures are an obvious supplement to the work of nature, giving a close-to-nature theme. The expertise of Goldworthy, together with the other eight men who worked on the project, is apparent based on the creativeness of the work. This experience was also shared to others since it is in the vicinity of a public, common place.
2.8 Performance Art – Passion Play
Passion play is common during holy week, depicting the life and sacrifices of Christ in mostly Christian (and Catholic) countries. Passion play is an example of an art being shared with others, entrenched on the combined elements of sounds, colors, movements and scenarios. Though passion play has aesthetic purpose, it is more inclined on its serviceable objective for Catholics and non-Catholics.
Reference
Art. (2008). In Britannica Online. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/630806/art#.
Art. (2008). In The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/art.
Basswood Tree by Robert Viana. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.handpulledprints.net/woodcuts/woodcuts.html.
La moulade by Henri Matisse – 1905. Retrieved 29 August 2008 from http://www.abcgallery.com/M/matisse/matisse23.html.
Passion Play. Retrieved 29 August 2008 from http://www.passionplay.ca/.
Putto 8 2.2.2.2 by Michael Rees – 2003. retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://atc.berkeley.edu/bio/Michael_Rees/.
Rocking Chair by Henry Moore – 1950s. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.sindelarandobrien.com/henry/henry.htm.
Stone River by Andy Goldworthy – 2001. retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://museum.stanford.edu/news_room/archived_acquisitions_goldsworthy.html.
The “Deal” by Alfred Stieglitz. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.artsmia.org/get-the-picture/stieglitz/frame09.html.
Tristan Tzara House at Paris by Adolf Loos – 1926 to 1927. Retrieved 29 August 2008, from http://www.zenarch.vn/home/detail.php?iCat=90&iNew=124&module=news.
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