Peer Response 2
· Review your classmates’ posts. Provide a substantive response by commenting on how their interpretations of art have changed. How are these changes similar or different from what you have experienced?
PEERS POST:
Ascension of Polkadots on the Trees
Yayoi Kusama
2006
Singapore Biennale, Singapore
Brief analysis of the work of art using the art history specific vocabulary and methods for approaching art you have learned over the past five weeks.
Ascension of Polkadots on the Trees is a piece that is fun and whimsical. The polkadots have no specific direction and the vibrant red color adds a focal point to the street view. Neither element fits in with the environment and the surrounding areas. The piece causes immediate attention and causes viewers to question its placement. Since “contemporary art does not have specific characteristics” (LeClair, J., 2019) the freedom of Kusama for this piece is wide ranged. The focus is more so on being spontaneous. This means the piece may not have been intended to be visually appealing, possibly only intended to capture the attention of those passing by. Some pieces are created to entertain, not educate or persuade, and this is one of those pieces of artwork. The materials used for this piece are different colors (red and white) fabrics. It is also a reflection of the disregard to light and texture, focusing solely on a random pattern.
How do the political, philosophical, religious, and social contexts impact the art of today?
As mentioned in text, “some contemporary art is expected to make some groups in society uncomfortable” (Sachant, P. J., Blood, P., LeMieux, J., & Tekippe, R., 2016). Therefore, society has grown accustomed to expecting the unexpected and challenging views of others. Some contemporary art pieces “challenge traditional notion of ethics and aesthetics, in fact, have led some to believe that contemporary art practices are based more on the idea than the object of art” (Sachant, P. J., Blood, P., LeMieux, J., & Tekippe, R., 2016). This has allowed artist such as Yayoi Kusama to push boundaries and cause society to question their moral beliefs and values. Lastly, "contemporary artist respond to global dynamics from a multicultural perspective and engage in a wide range of social, economic, and political issues" (LeClair, J., 2019).
How does Contemporary Art differ from other movements which you studied earlier in this course?
Contemporary Art differs in the sense that “it has become more diverse and cannot be easily defined through a list of visual characteristics, artistic themes or cultural concerns” (Spivey, V.). Other movements follow specific themes or focuses, contemporary art is more liberal and less restricted to methods, ideas, and resources. Contemporary Art also differs in the fact that it is not necessarily region specific. Its influences can often be unknown, and no direct answers are offered at viewing the pieces without content.
Reflect upon how your interpretation of art has changed since you examined the A Fall with the Rebel Angels in the Post Your Introduction discussion in Week 1, and address the following:
What differences are there between the ways you interpreted that work of art in Week 1 to your interpretation now? How will these changes impact the way you view art moving forward?
When I originally began my interpretation in Week 1, I simply skimmed the image looking for figures and elements that resembled something I was familiar or comfortable with. I disregarded elements that were confusing or did not pose an ease to my view. Now, I notice each element as a part of a bigger story. I see now that every single detail tells a different part of the scene and each element combined gives meaning to the next. Going forward I intended to continue taking every piece of detail and portion into consideration versus leaving them out due to my inability to immediately understand or recognize them. The use of contrast gives the shadows and light in this image a bolder meaning. It creates distance and highlights the good and evil within the artwork. The direction that the angels and other figures are drawn, including the direction of the brush strokes, creates movement within the piece and you can visualize the descending of angels and the movements of how each figure interacts with one another. They are not free-standing figures. One of the most impactful changes in my interpretation is the examination of some of the fine details with a close eye. The hair on the figures shows the use of fine tools and the use of balance and scale.
-Janelle Washington
References
Beauloye, J. (n.d.). ‘The fall of the rebel angels:’ A closer look at the masterpiece (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Interactive slide show]. Retrieved from https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/lQLy-oPTgMeLKgLinks to an external site.
LeClair, J. (2019). Art Identifying Movements (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Interactivity]. Retrieved from http://wpc.04ba.edgecastcdn.net/0004BA/constellation/Articulate/ART101/ART101_Movements_Final/story_html5.htmlLinks to an external site.
Sachant, P. J., Blood, P., LeMieux, J., & Tekippe, R. (2016). Introduction to art: design, context, and meaning (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/374Links to an external site.
Spivey, V. (n.d.). Contemporary art, an introduction (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/beginners-guide-20-21/a/contemporary-art-an-introductionLinks to an external site.