Essays
Postmodern artists challenge assumptions about art.
Comment on this statement with reference to selected artists and their works.
Complete the introduction and paragraph 1 due Tuesday Week 2. Refer to your email regarding the ‘assumptions about art’ for paragraph 1.
SUPPORT MATERIAL
Assumptions about art:
- Should be beautiful – aesthetics
- Made using traditional materials
- Should be in the forms of sculpture, painting, drawing, architecture
- Should be VISUAL – to be viewed only
- Artist as maker
- To be viewed in a gallery space – gallery conventions
- Audience as distant observer – no involvement
- Art as ‘precious’ object
- Has monetary value – a consumer product
- Permanent
- Fit within the confines and conventions at the time – “what art should be”
….”Tows the line”
- Linear – content is accessible and understandable (not open-ended)
- Formalist qualities
Use the following vocabulary in your response:
- conceptual
- non-traditional materials
- multi-sensory
- installation
- context
- exhibition
- interactive
- ephemeral
- impermanent
- challenging
- ambiguous
- open-ended
- four-dimensional
Jul 26, 2010 @ 09:58:38
my intro+paragraph 1
Post modern artists challenge assumptions about art because that is the aim and art-making practice of postmodern artists. To challenge what art is and not to worry about the final outcome as in traditional art, but more so the art-making practice and process of the work. Much liker artists Robert Smithson, with works like his non-sites and Andy Goldsworthy with works such as “Iris Blades and Rowan Berries” and “Summer Snowball”.
Robert Smithson challenges many assumptions of art in the way that he creates representations of places and places them in galleries on exhibition. Creating a multi-sensory experience which is not something a general audience is anticipating at a gallery. Often he does not even place them in galleries as their size restricts them, much like his 1970 work “Partially Buried Woodshed” in which 20 truckloads of soil and Earth was placed onto a woodshed. This is unlike much seen before and challenges many assumptions about art as it is ephemeral, will always be changing and is not in a gallery. Two things that are not traditional aspects of art.
Jul 26, 2010 @ 12:34:03
Intro and Para 1
The concept of postmodern art is to challenge the traditions and assumptions of the art world. It is common to assume that art is about the aesthetics, made using traditional materials and forms. It is commonplace associated with being visual, for being viewed only – ideally in a gallery space. However, it is the aim of a postmodern artist to step outside these boundaries with their own art and concepts. Artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Robert Smithson with their ephemeral and non-site works respectively.
Andy Goldsworthy creates ephemeral artworks that challenge many assumptions on art. Being transient works, his pieces cannot have a monetary value. He uses non-traditional materials that are found in nature or created from natural materials. His works are not displayed in a gallery space, but in the outside world. The ambiguous nature of Goldsworthy’s pieces, such as “Iris Blades and Rowan Berries” and “Oak Leaves and Holes”, result in the challenging conceptual works that are a direct reference to the notion of concept versus aesthetic that is prominent in the art world.
Jul 26, 2010 @ 22:14:18
Lucie,
Wow this is a piece of insightful, clear and well-informed writing! Thankyou for your efforts.
I would suggest Para 1 (after your intro) sets the scene re. assumptions…, then the next para addresses Goldsworthy (as you have) – just add in a para between your two.
Jul 26, 2010 @ 22:06:55
Frank,
‘what art is’ -
- not always soley visual in experience – sensory and experience based
- ephemeral
- artist as conciever rather than ‘maker’
Great second sentence, in paragraph 2.
Last part of para 2 is unclear.
Discuss the need for documentation of the ‘event’ so that we as audience may experience this impermanent piece.
Introduce the artists and their works which will be your focus.
AN excellent effort – your best response yet! Fine tune it and continue.
Jul 29, 2010 @ 01:50:17
Post Modern artists are continually challenging the general opinion of traditional art and everyday art the public would usually view. the artists challenge the assumptions made by the public and their generic idea of art are constantly based on the idea of art only being displayed within an art gallery. Andy Goldsworthy is one of these artists that are constantly challenging and changing the opinion of the publics view of art, the publics assumptions of art are challenged due to his works because they are ephemeral and based solely on either experiencing his work first hand or purchasing his books full of the artworks he produces.
Andy Goldsworthy’s Iris Blades challenges assumptions about art through the non-generic way of not being displayed in an art gallery. Andy Goldsworthy pushes the boundaries in terms of performance and the traditional ways of art. Post Modern artists base their art on concept rather than aesthetics, but Goldsworthy bases his art on aesthetics and blending his work into a natural form to blend in with its environment.
Aug 03, 2010 @ 22:34:21
Newman,
‘Assumptions about art’ need to be identified as more than simply ‘exhibiting within the boundaries of the gallery space’. List the other assumptions and address these in relation to Goldsworthy. You need to discuss a second artist.
Also Goldsworthy’s art is based on aesthetics and BUT also concept! Discuss his ‘definition’ of art…… familiarity with nature.
A pleasing response…keep it up.