Animals in art

Animals in art

Today, animals may not be as special as many years ago. In many cultures animals are part of their story. Also for the old artists. Many animals were used as a symbol, a way to express or to do research studies in the past. Still, many cultures conserve it. Those important moment in which animals were really important for some ancestor, are now shaped in art.

          It is interesting to see the animals on pieces of arts. Most of the objects bring a significant meaning for every animal on them. In the following pictures we will see how important all the works with animals are for their ancestors.

         On this piece we can see a dolphin. Roman believed that this kind of sculpture came from the snow and that it could avoid illness.

Rock Crystal Statuette of a Dolphin

    Bequest of Ada Small Moore, 1955

    3rd–5th century

    Roman or Byzantine

On this work, the artist used communication through this unicorn. Is kind of saying that it depends on us whether to stay in the circumstances we are or move on. the unicorn has a easy way to escape but he does'nt.

                      The Unicorn in Captivity (from the Unicorn Tapestries)

Gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1937

1495–1505

South Netherlandish

This mommy makes us remember that egyptian used to wrap their body once they died. In this case this is an sacred dog.

Donation mummy with dog bones

Rogers Fund, 1913

ca. 400 B.C.–100 A.D

Late Period–Roman Period

 All the following works have also a message or important meaning on the animals that appear on them:

Tapestry with Dragons and Flowers

Fletcher Fund, 1987

11th–12th century

Eastern Central Asia

Kòmò Helmet Mask (Kòmòkun)

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Morton Lipkin, 1961

19th–mid-20th century

Guinea or Mali or Burkina Faso or Côte d'Ivoire

Komo or Koma Power Association

Marble statue of a lion

Purchase, Rogers Fund, and James Loeb and Anonymous Gifts, 1909

ca. 400–390 B.C.

Classical

Greek

Janus Helmet Mask (Wanyugo)

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1964

19th–mid-20th century

Côte d'Ivoire, Région des Savanes, Ladiokaha

Senufo peoples

The Innocent Eye Test   Mark Tansey (American, born San Jose, California 1949)        

Gift of Jan Cowles and Charles Cowles, in honor of William S. Lieberman, 1988

1981

Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga (1784–1792)

Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux)

The Jules Bache Collection, 1949

Chelsea Galleries Reaction

Art brings tastes for everyone. Sadly, not all the contents from art are delighted to be admired. However, like I always say, it brings you message with it. On our trip to Chelsea Galleries, I found interesting how wealthy people spend thousands of dollars on art. For me, not all the works found in Chelsea Galleries should be on the expensive list.

First, a work art I would expend money would be on Anish Kapoor work located in Gladstone Gallery on 24^th. In that place, there are many concrete sculptures made by this artist. What I found interesting about this artist’s work is the precision taken to create it. Each pieces look like is falling. It would be a great decoration at home; For example, putting one of those pieces on a terrace or a living room. I bet it took a long time to finish each pieces and that’s why I think it looks fantastic. I would definitely make this artist’s work part of my collection.

Second, the work I think it is a little bit less special for me is Richard Avedon’s, Murals & Portraits, located in Gagosian Gallery 21^st. When you go inside the place and see all those bodies naked, you may think it is dedicated to an anatomy class or something. His works are not everyone’s desire, that’s why I would not collect them. I like works that call people’s attention but in always a positive way. His works are composed “against the backdrop of American’s social and political transformation; which is good but as long as the works are on a protestant place or museum ok. It is nice to do things for the society but I think the way he wants to express himself is very extremist.

All comes to your taste. Not all the art works are for everyone taste. I would prefer to invest money on something that would not alarm others around me; in other words to be considerably.  However, my taste is first.

          

 

Anish Kapoor

“untlited”

Richard Avedon

“Murals & Portraits”

1970

Art:21 History Reaction

The work I liked the most from the film, was Mary’s. Mary Reid Kelley has an intellectual way to translate us (the viewers) to the past with her work; moreover, she makes us appreciate historical concepts that have been forgotten. First, she makes films with her family members in white and black. By doing this, she brings back the old screen. When they act, they tell stories of historical places and different personalities. I like her work because while we watch the films, we learn about historical things.

Quiz Make Up

The artist I chose for this writing is Robert Adams and his video “Ecology”. I would like to tell what works I like and dislike from his collection. I would also like to share with you which I think is the message of his work.98

From all the pictures that I saw during the video, the one I liked the most was the picture of the trees and behind it there is a city. It is a very nice picture and it looks like a Photoshop because of the division of the city and the trees. Amazing the “natural” effects!

On the other hand, I did not like the photo section that he had in Colorado. Like he said, it does not have success. The pictures look common to me.

The artist, somehow, shows us that we have beautiful things around us. I think this is his message though his works; the appreciation of what we have around us.

All his works remind me of a trip I had in my middle school. We went to the countryside where we received magnifiers to see the little creatures that were there. The reason why this reminds me this trip is because of the little details found in the pictures. Those little details are there every day and most of the time we don’t see them until we may lose them. This also reminds me my uncle who is a photographer and is learning how to use the effects on the pictures he takes.

Sculpture Center Reaction

          An artist has to make many decisions when it comes to the installation of his/her work. Some of the things that the artist checks is the space. For this writing I will provide my point of view about whether or not an art needs to be in a specific place to give an expected impression. This time I am sharing three works from The Sculpture Center in Queens.  

          First, I found the “Graphite Piece” by Paul Mogensen, which I consider is in a good place. The colors and texture look good in the place where it is. When I went in to the place where it was, I found exactly what I was expecting; a wall with something on it. If this work is moved from where it is, like in a bigger space, it would lose the intensity that the color transmits. I saw paintings near the place, and I think that they should not be there or there should be more of them, in order to get a place full of works or in order to catch the attention of only the “Graphite Piece”.

          Second, it is a movie (film) from Museum of Modern Art-New York. I like the place where it is. It looks like a mini theater. I think that a little bit of light would not be so bad. I was scared of getting in there because I did not know what was in there. It is too dark but the space it is good enough for the screen that shows the film. The work was not what I expected; in other words, I did not expect that a movie would be there. It would be better if the work is moved to a space where the entrance is bigger. It is sad to see that there is not any other work close to it.

          Last, an untitled work by Kunstmuseum-st. Gallen. This work was the one that I found it was in the appropriate space needed to give the impression that the artist is looking for. It is in a place surrounded by other works related to it and the space where it is is perfect. It looks like a construction side. It would not be a good idea to move it from where it is.

          It is important to know what the work would look like in certain places. It is a difficult decision but once made it, it will worth.


Paul Mogensen-New York
"Graphite Piece"
1969 (2012)

Museum of Modern Art-New York
"Movie"
1970

Kunsmuseum-st. Gallen
"Untitled"
1970 (2002)

“Design in Our Lives”

       There are many things around us that are high functional and also things that are low functional in our lives. In our visit to The Museum of Modern Art, I observed many interesting works; from old fashioned furniture, to future “possible useful” things. As my assignment requires, I will provide two examples of “High functionality” objects and “Low functionality” objects.

First, I will start by talking about two objects which I think do not have high functionality. Hannah Hoch German, 1889-1978. Indian Dancer: from an ethnographic museum 1930. It is a painting. I think this design would not be useful. This painting is only useful to decorate a wall. It does not do anything that could really change a thing. Because of that I qualify this painting as “Low functionality”. Another design that I qualify as “Low functionality” is a body 3 portable storage system 1969 by Joe Colombo (Italian, 1930-1971). It is an uncomfortable portable item. It may carry light items while shopping but not the heavy one. Because of the short use that this portable item does, for me, is a “Low functionality.

On the other hand, there were many useful items. The “XXXX sofa” by Yuya Ushida (Japanese b. 1976 Polyamide), is design that I find “High functionality”. This is an item that can be use by one or more people and occupies less space when is closed. Becomes from a chair to a sofa and it has also a great supports. It can be used in many places, such as: park, living room, beach (because if it gets wet it does not matter), party, etc. Another great design! Which I think it does not have the attention deserved, is “Water cone water collection device” by Stephan Augustine (German, b. 1967). This device is an important and I would call it “The wonder” because of its great functionality, which is to produce water with the radiation of the sunlight. I f a group of people have a trip to the countryside or somewhere far away, it is great to have one of this thing in case that the group finish all the liquid they were carrying. With this cone water would be always there (as soon as the sun is out).

  In conclusion, I liked a lot the exhibition. It was interesting seeing things that I did not reach to use; however, there were things that I did not find interesting nor useful.

Hannah Hoch
"Indian Dancer: From an ethmographic museum"
1889-1978

Yuya Ushida
"xxxx Sofa"
b. 1970

Stephan Agustin
"Water cone water colection device"
b. 1967

“Narrative Digital Collage"

"Art:21 Power Reaction"

Cai-Guo Qiang does a powerful work. His work is risky but with a posibility to obtain it as he expect it. The power on his work is composed by explosives, paper, and stones. It is the first time I see anything like that, and I think that is why I see his work with power. Somehow he transmit a message and his inspiration through his works. It may look easy but I am sure that it's not.

"Illustrate a story"

When there is true love, no even the years will make those two people to forget that big feeling.

MoMA PS1: The Good, the Bad, and the Misunderstood

“Everyone to their own taste” that is how I see art. Art is full of variety and because of that is very difficult to not fall in love with an artist’s work.  On a short visit to the museum Moma PS1, I found one curious art work and the rest nothing to say.

          The art work I liked the most at this museum was (Golden Ghost “The Belongs to Ghost”) by Surasi Kusolwong. This is a great job to point at our economical situation, beside that is fun. I like his authenticity, I mean “To take jewelry and put them in a place where (while searching for them) you have fun” According to the information posted, there are 4.5 tools of thread waste pure gold necklaces with golden ghost motif mirror wooden. I guess that the main idea for this work from Kusolwong is to be happy face even though if you are going through a hard time. This work reminds me of my childhood when I used to play in the playground with the balls in there.

          On the other hand, I found three art works that I did not understand pretty much and those arts are: “Serve up” 2009 (Collection Hudgins Family, New York), Untitled 1999 (Courtesy the Artist), and “Fist and Fury” 2007 (Collection Jonathan and Cathy Miller). Those 3 art works are confusing to me because they all belong to different artists and show a dish with spaghetti. What I don’t understand is why they concentrated their art in food. To add more, because I don’t understand those works I considered that I don’t like them, even though, I like to investigate something deeper, but this is not the case. They did not take my attention in a “Wow”. I think that the spaghettis are interesting but at the same time it’s what really killed my appreciation about them.

          All in all, for a work to be a good art, does not necessarily should have its message clear but it must have something that make you think “Hey! This is great!” For me a art work that does not call my attention, it’s discarded.

Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art

Art is the only thing that can make you blind if you don’t understand what a work from an artist is about. It takes time and attention to figure out what the message is from the artist. As we know, there are many ways to do art. I would like to share with you two form of arts and what their messages are.

          Sometimes an art transmits the message you are looking for and sometimes we never get it. In my case, I had a hard time finding the meaning of the sculpture “Lady Rosa of Luxembourg” by the artist Sanja Ivekovic. This sculpture has captured so much attention and not precisely because is a copy of Gelle Fra with some arrangements, but also because it’s historical message. “Lady Rosa of Luxembourg” was dedicated to a Marxist philosopher, economist and also activist, Rosa Luxemburg. She was killed because of her radical political ideas by 1919. She was a revolutionary. The idea of the artist was to bring up women rights or power, and somehow she did.

          Do you remember day saying “I am as calm as a picture”? Well, pictures can transport you through the time. It is exactly what Cindy Sherman did with her exhibition at momma’s museum. Through many pictures, Sherman describes different women personalities and situations. She created different sections to show her works, such as: sex, fashion, historical faces, and others. No matter what, there are always at least! One of her picture that will catch your attention or probably, with which you will feel identified. I couldn’t choose my favorite section, but I would say that is the fashion section. Why? Because I liked the way that she pointed out that make up and clothes make of you a different woman in the physical aspect but not the internal. Sherman’s works in this exposition are amazing.

          All in all, art is a communicative medium. The simplest art can bring you a big lesson. In this occasion a sculpture let us know more about historical information and pictures can be more powerful than a mirror. Art is unpredictable in its own.

Sanja Ivekovic "Lady Rosa of luxembourg" 2001

Cindy Sherman "Cindy Sherman" 2010

"Good Art Bad Art"

Good Art is difficult to obtain. Good art is what makes one thing special or unique. what a person creates, does not have to be perfect to be good art; but to show good art, the creation must project a message and show somehow, that the artist was inspirated and fully dedicated to his/her work. one way to feel de sense of good art is by falling in love with art you are seeing.

The painting on the left side is called "The Song Of Love" by Giorgio de Chirico. This art, made with oil painting, shows us "Good Art". As we can see, there is a glove, an sculpture of a head (woman like); moreover, the message interpretation could be (according to the objects seen and also the name): "Playing with a Lady's Heart". It is great the combination made by Chirico in this painting. 

 Bad Art is obviously the opposite of Good Art. It does not transmit anything and is usual; in other words, bad art does not get out from the basic things we see in our daily lives. Bad Art is simple and because of that, it does not call a lot of attentions. In bad art there is not creativity at all. However, bad art may have a message but probably a common message.

 Painting by Andrea Schmidt, mona lisa

This is called bad art because of the lack of originality. The artist, somehow, broke Leonardo Da Vinci work.