Approaches to Visual Arts - Research Paper Example

Approaches to visual arts are based on expressions that artists define as important for a given age or time. When examining various aspects of the visual arts, it can be seen that there are different approaches and ideologies created. In the Melbourne exhibition for modern art, there were displays that were based on the new philosophies and terms that are considered important by artists of the modern era. The exhibition is based on the collections of Heide, combined with other miscellaneous sculptures, which consist of over 30 years of gathering artwork from contemporary artists, starting from the 1960s. The concepts approached by this exhibition were able to define and develop new beliefs and ideologies relating to contemporary issues in society and culture as well as direct relationships to the understanding of these philosophies to the personal associations by artists. The main theme exhibited through these displays was based on the question of modernism, what this meant when coming out of the past trends in art and having an uncertain future in the development of society and art. The display of modern art was then which displayed specific associations and questions about the relationships to modernism as a trend in art and society. The concepts in the modern art exhibit consisted of four main rooms that were based on specific themes and ideologies. This included the concept of “Born to Concrete,” the “Heide Exhibit,” Outside Sculpture displays and sculpture and paintings based on the ideology of relief. Each of the projects displayed are based on contemporary issues noted by modern artists and the expectations that are related to and which are associated with this. This is combined with the current ideologies in contemporary art, specifically with artists in their formative or early stages. This combines a specific form of creativity and approaches to expression by the artists being displayed at the modern art exhibit in Melbourne (Short, 15). While this was the main association with the artists, there were also expansions with the thematic material, all which related to the contemporary cultural and social ideologies, while associating with the modern complexities in society. The first display of “Born to Concrete” shows a combination of poetry with the sculptures, both which work together to create a specific message about the combination of artwork. This avant-garde form is one which works as an intermedium that combines two messages into one. The hybrid form is able to produce an intertwining of new creative forms while establishing a sense of combined forms of work. This particular form is one which was defined and used before the Medeival times. However, when there was a separation with churches, religious values caused many of the intertwined mediums to separate into specialized and fine arts. The 1960s saw a return of the poetry and sculpture combinations into new and avant-garde approaches. The main ideology was to create an environment of something which was happening by combining the collage formats of messages. The visual and poetic elements are designed to work together to create a stronger expression related to changes within contemporary society (Higgins, 49). The formats in this particular display all show the combination of intermedium to show the ideology of born to concrete. The overall concept of being born to concrete is based on the physical process of birth that one turns to, as well as the development which occurs through a lifetime. The poetry and sculpture combined shares this particular message through the different displays. For example, a display of the poetry and sculpture is seen with the “horizon” image. This is seen with three concrete blocks that are formed as lines with a second display that looks like a concrete sitting area. On top of the concrete sitting area are half formed words which say horizon. The concrete blocks hold the same image of words, one which is divided by a small wooden block and the second which has the letters scrambled into different images. This shows the concept of horizon, or new beginning. This is born of the concrete and leads to potential images that have to be unscrambled, displayed differently or which are not completely filled, similar to the sunrise. The concepts of other images hold a similar idea, with an intertwining of images and poetry with something that could be or which is not complete and just beginning from the concrete. The second exhibit from Heide shows a similar format with installation art that combines the poetry and words with the sculpture and installations. The concept is based on looking to the future and approaches of questioning the present. Several of the displays show this through the growth of modernism, such as pictures of a seven eleven and neon signs which say “everything.” The central piece which conveys this message is an mixed media piece that combines the different elements of art. The canvas is displayed on a frame of metallic pieces that connect together. There are three colors that are painted on the canvas, including navy blue, white and gray. In each of these plates are the words “yesterday,” “today and” “tomorrow.” The central platform with today has a red hand pointing up with a light. The tomorrow plate has a mountain that is subtle and into the platform. The message conveyed is one which shows the philosophy of the past being gone, the present holding new potential and the future being open to the horizon. The other displays in this have a similar message, all which associate with the contemporary changes in society that are leading into new potential for the future. The third part of the display is with the outside sculpture that is displayed throughout a large lawn area. This is spread out in different areas while allowing the larger displays to have a place in the modern exhibition. Similar to the other exhibits, there is a focus on the ideologies of modernism and how this is leading to changes within society. An example of this is with the sculpture of a man that is tilted on one leg and seen at a 45 degree angle. The texture of this man is similar to that of the bark of a tree trunk; however, the material consists of a metallic form. The form of the man is not defined, symmetrical or completed. The leg and the ankle merge into the other, similar to the hands, head and arms, which all merge into a central area. The concept of not refining the central form of the man, while creating a texture that is rough in nature shows the incompletion of the modern day while moving into the future. There are other displays which carry these same ideologies of moving forward and out of the present through the unrefined forms and the concept of not creating a sense of completion with the sculpture formats. The relief sculpture that was inside of the modern exhibit hall also held the same theme of the modern expressions and the question of moving into the future. The smaller displays had the same impact as others in the exhibition hall. An example of this was with the sculpture used to create a specific set of intricate shapes. The sculpture was made out of forks which were melted and bent to create a set of different forms. The forks were then connected together and merged to create a shape that led to a set of shapes that could be defined as a sense of chaos. The forks, when looking at a specific angle, can be seen as a display that forms a tree, specifically because a larger amount of mass is seen at the bottom of the display, then moves upward. However, the eye may look at the display in a different form. When looking at this sculpture, the eye moves with the bent parts of the fork, which leads to moving up and out of the sculpture, instead of looking at the details of the fork. Similar to the other displays, the message is one which combines the natural shape of the tree with the modern display from the use of forks. The concept of the future is displayed with the movement of the forks bending in a chaotic way, which forces the eye to look up and out of the sculpture, which can create a question of what the future holds. The concepts of each of the exhibits are expressions of modernism that question the movement out of the past and into modernist forms. This is combined with the understanding of the uncertainty of modernism and where it is moving into for the future. The artistic philosophies and ideas of the exhibit as a whole question the relevance of modernism as well as the gaps of expression that were formed. The subtle expressions in the display all have something that is cut off or looking toward a future which is uncertain, showing that the modern art is questionable in the expression, as opposed to the past art which carried specific forms and definitions of social philosophies. The concept of modernism in this display then exhibits what modernism repressed from the past as well as what this repression would mean in building toward a future of art that broke down the models of art from the past (Michael, 12). The concept of modernity that was a part of the overall exhibit is one which continued with ideas that were based on what a visual image should represent. All displays worked together to display the concept of modernism as art, as well as how this was associated with uncertainties in society. Each was based on the concept of moving into modernism which rejected the past to create new forms and to break the expected rules that were displayed in the past. This was not only pertinent to displays with the visual art and the combined and mixed media. This also relates to the larger philosophies and questions of modern art, which create an image that erases boundaries then questions this through the displays. The question that each of the displays and the overall exhibition leaves one with was pertinent to modern art, specifically by creating aesthetics that are examples of modern society. The modern society, while breaking the past, is one which is unable to create a future or examine where the next steps should be in both art and in society (Mitchell, 165). The success of the exhibition is one which was based specifically on the thematic materials and experimentation that was provided. Each of the sculptures and mixed mediums worked in displaying the contemporary questions of modernism as well as displaying the overall understanding of the exhibit. The individual pieces, combined with the overall theme, was then able to build a sense of understanding about modernism and the uncertainties associated with this. The theories where easily understood because the individual pieces all created the same awareness and questions about moving forward into the future as well as what the aspects of modernism had caused. The strong impact of the theme and philosophies of artists made the displays strong both individually as well as a whole. While the exhibit was successful in reviewing modernism as a trend and the main philosophies of artists, there were also weaknesses with the overall display. The exhibit worked not only as a main theme but also as a way to research specific ideas about visual arts relating to the main philosophies. The concept was to create a sense of visual knowing that allowed all of the pieces to work together for the overall display (Sullivan, 5). While the main philosophy with modernism was displayed, there were also missing elements with the visual approach. The exhibit didn’t extend into the deeper meanings behind modernism as well as the controversies which many artists raise in contemporary time frames. This is one not only based on the conflicts of modernism. There other representations and expressions that is also a part of this time. For example, popular art, movements against politics, expressions that note the destruction of society through the lack of innovation and other philosophies are often associated with modernism. However, these philosophies and ideas were not expressed with the modern presentation. One unfamiliar with other perspectives of modernism would not be able to relate to the other themes and messages of artists, limiting the displays to a basic concept of modernism (Herbert, 2). The review of this particular exhibit was approached because of the changes which happened with modernism. Philosophies which occurred with modern art were known to lead several artists into new philosophies and ideologies that have led to developments with contemporary art. These differ from the past and are leading into new themes, techniques and elements with the displays. The importance of modernism is one which set the foundation for the current artists and the defined expressions and elements of art. The works of art were then able to create significant aspects through visual elements, symbolism and the movement into mixed mediums. These different experiments and ideas have continued to drive art works forward in a different manner (Danto, 5). Questioning the significance of modernism as well as defining some of the pieces which led to major influences during this movement was the main interest in this exhibit. This was important not only because of the philosophy taken, but also because most artists were taken during their formative years. The exhibit was then able to create a different understanding of modernist approaches and influences that were associated with the growth of art during this era. The concept of modern art is one which is known to carry several perspectives and philosophies. Experimentation and looking at different formats were some of the elements that were incorporated into this. The concept of modernism was combined with philosophies based on representing different ideologies and philosophies of individual artists and within the culture. In this display, there was a focus on the modern perception of a past which had been broken and a future which was uncertain. The modernist approach was then laying a ground work that identified the common theme of questioning the future. The strength of individual pieces and the overall display was able to create this specific response while developing an understanding of the ideologies relating to the modernist movement. Works Cited Danto, Arthur. The Transfiguration of the Commonplace: A Philosophy of Art. Harvard University Press: New York, 1994. Herbert, Robert. Modern Artists on Art. Dover Publications: New York, 2000. Higgins, Dick, Hannah Higgins. “Intermedia: Synthesis and Intersenses.” Leonardo 34 (1), 2001, 49-54. Michael, Linda. “Callum Morton: In Memorium.” National Gallery of Victoria 2003. Mitchell, WJT. “Showing Seeing: A Critique of Visual Culture.” Journal of Visual Culture 1 (2), 165-181. Short, Linda. “Talking to Strangers.” Gertrude Contemporary Art Exhibit. 2007. Sullivan, Graeme. Art Practice as Research: Inquiry in Visual Arts. Sage: New York, 2009. Read More