study of visual arts. what is art? what are the functions / purposes of art?

STUDY OF VISUAL ARTS

What is art?

What are the functions / purposes of art?

FUNCTIONS/PURPOSES OF ART:

Read the following page and summarize the functions/purposes of art in ‘MS Word Document’.

Save the file as ‘SOVA_yourname’

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art#Purpose_of_art

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

- Pablo Picasso

STYLES OF ARTThe characteristic way in which an artist expresses him/herself

Style

Realistic

Representational Expressionistic

Abstract

REALISTIC ART:

Portrayal as seen by the eye or what was really thought to be, without idealization or distortion.

Can you name a few artworks that fall in this category? (Put your answers in the file ‘SOVA_yourname’)

REPRESENTATIONAL ART:A portrayal of things as perceived in the visible world; the subject matter could be altered or distorted but is still recognizable.

Roy LichtensteinDrowning Girl1963

EXPRESSIONISTIC ART:Form and colour are freely distorted by the artist in order to achieve a heightened emotional impact.

Edvard MunchThe Scream1893

ABSTRACT ART:Departs significantly from the actual appearance of things.

May be completely non-objective or non-representational.

Conversion of reality into forms that can be appreciated for their own sake

Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm: No. 30,19501950

Constantin BrancusiBird in Space

1928

What do you think this work is about? (Comment in ‘SOVA_yourname)

LOOKING AT ART:

Describing, Analyzing, Interpreting & Judging

- Physical Properties

- Subject

- Illusionary Properties

- Formal Properties

- Viewer Perspectives

- Artistic Motivations

Physical Properties

- Size

- Medium

- Techniques

- Textures

- Two-dimensional or Three-dimensional

- Function

Salvador DaliThe Persistence of Memory

1931Oil on canvas, 24 cm x 33 cm

Describe the physical properties of this painting (Save your description in ‘SOVA_yourname’)

Subject

What is being portrayed? (Put your answer in ‘SOVA_yourname’)

What representational / abstract elements?

Edvard MunchThe Scream1893

Illusionary Properties

- Shadows

- Overlapping

- Decreasing Size

- Reduced details

- Soft focus

- Perspective

Salvador DaliThe Persistence of Memory

1931Oil on canvas, 24 cm x 33 cm

Formal Properties

What are formal properties?

Study the following links and make your own notes:

http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/elements.html

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/files/elements2.htm

http://www.mikegreen.info/portfolio/websites/visCom/principles.htm

http://www.mikegreen.info/portfolio/websites/visCom/elements.htm

Viewer Perspectives

Where does the artist position us?

How does the artist want us to look at the work?

Look at Manet’s‘The Railroad’.What do you think?(Comment in‘SOVA_yourname’)

Edouard ManetThe Railroad

1872-3

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ARTISTIC MOTIVATIONS

Why do artists do what they do?

What is the artist’s intention?

Study the following works and write your thoughts in ‘SOVA_yourname’. You can google for more information, however please note down your own opinion first before sourcing for info. Please organise your writings neatly.

Vincent van GoghStarry Night

1889

Wassily KandinskyComposition IV

1911

Robert Smithson

Spiral Jetty

1970

Rozel Point, Great Salt Lake, Utah

Nam June Paik

TV Clock

1963 -- 81

Installation of 24 colour TV monitors, each 81 x 17 x 22 inch

Pablo PicassoGuernica

1937

Piet MondrianComposition with Red, Blue, and Yellow,

1930

Jackson PollockAutumn Rhythm: No. 30, 1950

1950

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Submission: 4 Mar 2010

Please complete and email your ‘SOVA_yourname’ to almeo@hc.edu.sg by 4 Mar 2010, Thursday.