Art as an Expression of Ideas, Outlook and Self - Essay Example

Unveiling the Glory             Art is an expression of one’s ideas, outlook and self. It has many purposes such as aesthetics, expression of political views and religious beliefs, representational or functional. Art is everywhere however, perhaps the ones mostly considered as are those intentionally created. In the school alone, there are a lot of artworks that may have been positioned to beautify the place, used or for display. For instance, at the CSU building is exhibited artwork of Barnieh Opoku Manu.

At first glance, one may not appreciate it for its appearance because it seems like the work of a child. It is simple and unattractive that one might wonder what could have been the qualities of the artwork that made it worthy to be displayed for the viewing public. Studying the features of the work more closely, an onlooker will understand the purpose of the artwork and appreciate it.             The artwork is basically made from papers, cardboards and wood.

At the center is a strip of brown paper arranged horizontally. On it are different colors of strips of paper with different lengths, alternately stuck in a vertical position. Above and below the brown strip of paper are wider brown papers with a lighter tone. They are designed with circular shapes painted with the use of black ink. The circles present three layers wherein the innermost and middle cores are more of two semi-circles about to form circles. The middle core is the thickest of the three.

The circular figures are arranged alternately with a squared figure formed by different shapes drawn with black ink as well. Most of the figures in the square resemble the image of a paper windmill and they seem to form a cross. On the upper left and lower right sides of the square are cross-like figures while the ones on the upper right and lower left sides resemble a Chinese character. At first sight, the figure actually seemed like a maze. The focal point of the artwork is the woods placed on top of the center of the papers.

The strips of wood are nailed together or perhaps the more appropriate term is stapled together, in such a manner that they form the resemblance of a rectangle but with the other shorter side missing. Inside the rectangle, there is a three-dimensional figure which is stapled to the short side of the figure. On the lower side is another piece of wood stapled together to resemble a man which is placed diagonally rather than vertically near the inner left side of the wooden figure. This arrangement crosses from the upper light brown paper to the middle strip of brown paper and finally the lower piece of light brown paper.

            Reading the caption about the artwork, one comes to the conclusion that it is representational. The brown strip of paper perhaps represents the path that a person should take which is filled with different colors and shades of experiences as depicted by the colored strips of paper. Rhythm is created in the artwork through the colored strips of paper. They show order and a visually satisfying effect because of the use of light hues.

To create balance and harmony, the wooden figures were placed near the center of the artwork however it also served as a representation of the hindrances in one’s journey in life. Such disturbances can cause someone to get lost and be weighed down by the troubles of the world similar to the likeness of the man which seems to be falling down. The circular and square figures printed on the other papers also represent trials in life. the circles may speak of experiences wherein one feels to be locked up in a closed figure where, when he thinks he has found a way out of the inner circles, the outer circle will keep him in.

The maze-like figures also represent troubles that could make a person feel so lost in his life just like how the artist felt before making the work. Obviously, the artist used repetition to emphasize the presence of troubles and trials in life. The presentation of alternating the illustrations of trials and troubles seems to say that they can be there one at a time or both could just overwhelm an individual on one occasion. The space that was used is quite wide when compared to the space occupied by the focal point.

This could also be the embodiment of the idea that the world is wide and so are the possibilities of chances and experiences. However, no matter how wide and varied the troubles in the world may be, what is important is that one should always find his way to the path that was set for hi.             The theme of the artwork is looking inward as well as outward. From the caption on the artwork, the understanding of life that resulted in the presentation described above; has been realized by the artist when she took time to isolate herself from the world in order to meditate on the things that weighed her down.

When she was able to look deep inside of her, she began to understand the world. the artwork indeed speaks so much truth and such understanding makes a viewer appreciate the value of an art that seems to be a child’s work.