Reaction Paper On The Picture Wind Chime After Dream By Pierre Huyghe - Essay Example

Reaction Paper on the Picture Wind Chime (after “Dream by Pierre Huyghe Outline A. B. Wind Chime (after “Dream”) – by Pierre Huyghe C. Elements of Art in the Picture a. Line and Shape b. Color and Texture c. Proportion and Scale D. Thematic Construct E. Conclusion Abstract Art criticism plays a significant role in facilitating deeper and objective understanding of artistic concepts by learners. Through objective criticism, one can form judgments concerning impression, success or failure and aesthetical value of an artistic work. Criticism does not focus on the negative features of a picture or a film. Rather, an objective critic pursues goals of rational analysis and appraisal of professional concepts of art. Apart from indicating an artist’s failure to meet audiences’ satisfaction, criticism also mentions the manner in which a piece of art achieves aesthetical objects among consumers. This essay is a report of personal observation and reaction on one picture by Pierre Huyghe. The picture titled “Wind Chime” is visible at the Walker Art Center. Criticism will extrapolate on acknowledging the depth and breadth of professional techniques and personal skills employed in developing the picture under analysis. It will also focus on application of theoretical concepts in producing actual artworks within a practical context. Wind Chime (after “Dream”) – by Pierre Huyghe Pierre Huyghe’s picture depicts several wind chimes suspended on medium-height trees on a green lawn. Based on the picture, the chimes are made of silvery tubes with each chime unit comprising of six tubes. Below each chime is a dark colored audio device, probably a speaker system. According to technical specifications of the picture, there are a total of 47 chimes hanged around all trees within the lawn. 1 Wind Chime (after “Dream”) – by Pierre Huyghe This picture was taken from a horizontal close-up position, thus clearly capturing the tree trunks at horizontal positions and the suspended chimes at an elevated angle. From the photographer’s angle, one can see only six of the 47 chimes mounted on the trees. In addition to the mentioned contents, the root section of each tree is covered with dried vegetation as opposed to the rest of the lawn, which is covered with green grass. Tree trunks and branches are dark and grey while the leaves are greenish-yellow in color. Behind the trees are five whitish structures of what appears to be concrete pillars. Having acknowledged the visible contents Pierre Huyghe’s picture, subsequent sections of this report analyze individual elements of art as they appear on the portrait. Keen focus on each element forms the basis of critical analysis in art. It is through appraisal of individual components of the picture that one conclude on the success or failure to meet its aesthetic objectives. Basically, elements of art include line, texture, shape and color among others. Each of these elements plays a significant role in creating unique attributes of a portrait. Variation of lines and texture allows an artist to manipulate contents in order to achieve a desired meaning. Variation of lines and shape enables audience to develop concrete perceptions of space. On the other hand, manipulation of texture and color unearths aspect of time, which enhances creation of intended theme by an artist. These elements must appear in every piece of artwork, whether it is two-dimensional or three-dimensional. In this regard, Pierre Huyghe’s picture incorporates some of these elements in depicting the wind chimed field. Elements of Art in the Picture Line and Shape Pierre Huyghe’s wind chime picture adopts a combination of both horizontal and vertical line techniques. These two techniques cumulatively facilitate creation of a path where viewers can perceive the aspects of space. Horizontal lines in the picture delineate those sections of the lawn and trees which extends into the adjacent space outside the camera’s coverage. In this context, Pierre Huyghe uses horizontal line technique in creating the impression of continuity in terms of the landscape (Nagel 01). On the other hand, vertical lines in the picture communicate a sense of height. Apparently, each chime unit is mounted vertically perpendicular to the ground’s plane. In this case, vertical lines create a unique perception of extendedness in terms of height. Techniques used in enhancing a photograph’s shape are also instrumental in portraying aspect of space. Shapes in art falls into two categories, two-dimensional or three dimensional. It is not possible to create a 1-dimensional portrait because objects would not be visible on such a theoretical dimension. Just like lines, shapes in two-dimensional pictures comprise of height and width while that of three-dimensional portraits comprises of height, width and depth. With respect to Pierre Huyghe’s picture, one can easily perceive the two aspects of width and height. Vertically positioned chimes are perceivable, while the width of extended lawn beyond the white concrete structures enhances the spatial orientation of contents. However, the aspect of depth is not unearthed since there are no shadows beneath each vertically positioned object. Despite being a two-dimensional picture, Pierre Huyghe succeeds in portraying the contents within a positively spaced context. Color and Texture In art, elements of color and texture address the needs of time parameter within either a positive or a negative space. Use of light colors in objects and even the background suggest transparency while dark backgrounds create a sense of uncertainty. In this context, colors can either be warm or cool depending on the color’s position within the visible light spectrum. Yellow, orange and green are tough to be warm and bright colors while blue, grey and dark are cool. With respect to Pierre Huyghe’s picture, the grass covered lawn and leaves are brightly colored while the tree trunks are slightly grey. In this case, Pierre Huyghe used bright colors as a means of communicating certainty and lack of mystery. The dark colored parts were invariable restrictions to the artist’s desire to exclusively use bright colors. On the issue of texture, smooth and silvery tubes used in making the chimes reflect light; hence adding value to the use of bright colors. The grey colored objects signify a rough texture of tree barks while the green-colored lawns imply a silky texture of the background. Proportion and Scale Other design variables in art include both proportion and scale, which collectively influence aspects of space. Proportion refers to the relationship between height, width and depth in creating a sense of magnitude and quantity. On the other hand, scale involves inclusion of conventionally sized objects in developing a means of measurement. Placing a 1-foot ruler next to an object in a photograph constitute to the use of conventional scale in facilitating measurement. In such a case, any viewer can perceive the physical size of an object by relating it with the ruler. On the other hand, proportion is a wholly representation of all objects used in scaling contents within a picture. With respect to Pierre Huyghe’s picture, one can easily gauge the size of branches and tree trunks by using the mounted chimes as a unit of measurement. Conventionally, chimes are approximately 2-feet in length. Therefore, the actual height of trees can be derived from the 2-feet chimes. In this regard, the artist was successful in creating the aspects of magnitude and quantity by appropriately using scale and proportion techniques. Thematic Construct Based on the contents of Pierre Huyghe’s picture, I am of the opinion that the artist wanted to create a delightful theme of social harmony. First, Pierre Huyghe substantially uses bright colors and two-dimensional technique in creating a sense of normalcy. Dark colors would signify uncertainty and mystery while the dominant green-colored lawn and tree leaves articulately blends to demonstrate social benevolence. Another feature that facilitates development of the theme involves use of wind chimes. Traditionally, wind chimes were religious objects meant to ward off evil spirits and create harmony between the society and its environment. Currently, wind chimes are musical instruments meant to produce sounds of desired frequencies. In practice, chimes hanged about 2 times the length of its tubes produce harmonic spectrum of melodies. On the contrary, placing chimes below or above that mentioned height results in loud and inharmonic sounds. Based on the aspects of proportion and scale, it is undeniable that the chimes are strategically positioned to produce smooth melodies. In this regard, Pierre Huyghe’s picture comprises essential attributes in creating a theme of social harmony. Conclusion At this juncture, the report contains objective analysis of Pierre Huyghe’s picture as it appears in the Walker Art Center. Overall critical conclusion is that the artist employed professional concepts of photography in conveying the intended message and theme to viewers. As discussed within the essay, each element of art, including lines, shape and color facilitate creation of intended perceptions on the viewer’s mind. Furthermore, aspects of scale and proportion enhance incorporation of realism and unit of measure into artworks. Therefore, collective utilization of theoretical concepts is essential in creating aesthetically pleasing and meaningful pieces of art. Work Cited Walker Art Center. Collections-wind chime (after “Dream”). Web 24 November, 2013. http://www.walkerart.org/collections/artworks/wind-chime-after-dream Nagel, Venessa. Understanding Formal Analysis: Elements of Art. Getty.edu, 2003. Web 22 November 2013, http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis.html Read More