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44 Cards in this Set
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psychic space |
real or abstract landscape that depicts someones state of heart or mind gives religious, spiritual, moral orientation ex. char bagh garden, taj mahal |
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Dreaming or Dream Time |
Aboriginal belief system that the whole ancestor world is embodied in the land all encompassing immaterial or spiritual world is embedded into the material world different from our concept of dreaming, a distinctive belief system |
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pairidaeza
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ancient persian term for an enclosed park heavenly reflection/ concept of paradise on earth, place of harmony example of a psychic space |
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char bagh garden (example)
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enclosed space, has four quadrants, essential water elements and separated from the rest of the world, plants ex. the garden taj mahal- symmetrical enclosed before long reflecting pole) unknown maker, Isfahan paradise garden carpet, 17th c. |
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miniature painting |
Usually on paper as a book illustration or album Were not publicly displayed, but private art commissioned by sultans or kings of Persia artists felt free to depict human figure and occasionally Muhammad's back 13th century gardens were a favorite subject favorite theme:love and delight * very flat, many colors, attention of detail, simultaneous views of multiple events, opaque water color, rich complex images |
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ex. Shahzia Sikander, The scroll, 1991-92 |
echoes char bagh gardens person in middle represents Greek goddess Venus, Hindu goddess Devi, and herself (represented as Alexander the Great- horns) benday dots represent jewelry (pearls), halftone dots comic, and plane bombs- force, message, music two aspects of identity- Western and Eastern Plane represent Western power 21st C lion attacking deer represented from Eastern power past centuries showing chaos and peace * lion represents the warfare in India and Pakistan |
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Mughal Empire Give location and approximate date, give brief info and significance to art:
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1500’s-1700’s, India, pakistan, central asia, founded by Babur, riled over 150 million people Emperor Akbar supportive of syncretism, promoted the mixture of artistic traditions from different cultures (indian, chinese, and european) perspective and modeling, active and dynamic, anecdotal, stacked scenes, more natural colors |
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Papunya Tula artists’ cooperative
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founded in 1972 by Jeff Bardon introduced the concept of transforming the impermanent quality of aboriginal ritual practices into a permanent art pieces traditionally used occur blood or spit replaced with acrylic, canvas, and other modern art mediums |
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Give the Western definition of landscape and contrast it with Aboriginal thinking about the land and its meanings.
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western definition, visible features of an area of countryside or land, often considered in terms of aesthetic appeal, tries to reproduce scene as human eyes sees it, not concerned with pattern like aboriginal art, view of the land Aboriginal concept of land related to a deep concept of belonging, attached to specific sites: place of birth. No specific ownership, Landscape is a part of them No distinction between land, culture, and human beings, There was no divide between representation of land and of people land created in ancient times by ancestral spirits who then became part of the land, continue to exist in rocks, plants, animals the dreaming, all encompassing immaterial world imbedded into the material world |
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What is the function of art in traditional Aboriginal culture?
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Ritualistic practice, about the moment not the final product Artists are not creators, they borrow from the ancestor spirits by channeling a state of dreaming non permanent sand paintings, left to the elements ancestors continue to create- rocks, plants, animals art is way of communication |
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How does the traditional Aboriginal concept of the artist’s task compare and contrast with that of the Western artist?
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Western artist is the original creator sense of place is representational purpose or message of art is open, can be anything not limited to religion/spirituality Aboriginal no artists not original, recreating and reactivating the creation of the ancestor spirits purpose storytelling, to communicate with the spiritual powers sense of place: abstract religious ceremony, ties individual to a place and its spiritual powers provides a religious, spiritual, moral orientation not a permanent art considered language to communicate do not consider it an art form |
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Many museums around the world display Aboriginal art in hushed white galleries. Originally Aboriginal art was part of rituals that also included music and dance. Moreover, it was part of a cohesive set of laws and practices. In contrast, the “star status” of certain Aboriginal painters has destroyed traditional hierarchies in the community. Is it wrong to take works of art out of their context and display them as isolated objects? If you were a museum director, how would you improve on this situation?
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Lena Nyadbi “Barramundi Scales Dreaming” tale of two women trying to trap fish, scales became diamonds when fish jumped out on land(can represent human beings) diamond represents humans, mining ruined lives but still dreaming 5,700 sqft painting on roof top next to river as response to the story and river |
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What are the characteristics of the ideal paradise garden? What were the meanings of such a garden in ancient Persian culture?
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* persian concept of pairidaeza (enclosed garden) blended with arab concept of paradise (Quran)
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What was the function of the Persian miniature? What were the formal characteristics* of the typical Persian miniature?
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small paintings usually on paper as book illustrations or albums commissioned privately by wealthy individuals (such as kings and sultans) allowed artists to more freely explore the depiction of the human figure features: flat, many colors, pattern, attention to detail, simultaneous view of multiple events, ritch complex images |
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How did Akbar, the Mughal Emperor from 1560 to 1605, influence the development of miniature painting? How does Shahzia Sikander use tradition? How does she subvert tradition?
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he promoted syncretism between the many different artistic traditions from the different cultures within the empire perspective and modeling, active and dynamic, anecdotal, stacked scenes, more natural colors Shahzia Sikander: uses the traditional elements and features of miniature paintings uses traditional mediums and techniques breaks tradition by customizing her depictions to represent her own life and experiences uses western and eastern influences and working with subjects that are typically considered opposites and not depicted together |
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According to Vishakha N. Desai, Shahzia Sikander is one of a numbers of 20th c. artists on the Indian subcontinent whose work actively engages with the earlier visual traditions of India and Pakistan.
Why did these artists feel the need to do so?
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Ideas of modern art were European. Wanted to make it uniquely Indian without resorting to the romanticized version of the past. Combined relationship between traditional, modern, and national. Created identity with miniatures because of link to Islam War between India and Pakistan Copied miniature painting and pushed to the limits and made it into personal expression |
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nganga |
ritual specialist, priest, or magician who lead rituals in Congo culture
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animism (example) |
belief in the existence of souls and conviction that nonhuman things are endowed with soul ex. Renee Stout, Fetish No.2 turned herself into nkisi self protection and healing- showing control over life and person with inner power flower(spiritual), baby picture (growth possibility), postage stamp from Africa (heritage) |
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iconoclasm (example) |
destruction of image or object, destroying something known and loved, such as a cherished belief system * ex. Ai Weiwei, Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn |
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conceptual art (example)
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art of thinking and selecting something not traditionally viewed as art. Artist defines and promote it to that position. It’s more about the thought process and ideas than the craftsmanship. ex. Wolfgang Laib, Pollen from Hazelnut |
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ready made (example)
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* ex. Duchamp, The fountain
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rectified readymade (example)
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ready made that has been altered by the artist ex. Ai Weiwei, Coco Cola Vase |
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installation (example)
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work of art that uses a variety of materials to create an experience for viewers in their own space ex: Jose Bedia, the things that drag me along. |
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site-specific installation (example)
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installation that derives an important part of its meaning from the particular space for which it was made ex. Ai Weiwei, @ Large (on alcatraz) |
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Han Dynasty
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206BCE-220CE golden era, increased learning, art and culture, ceramics an important art form, tombs filled with afterlife objects Give China a cultural identity What it means to be Chinese period of expansion and colonization all rule over China |
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Cultural Revolution |
1966-1976 strict communist movement under chairman Mao destruction of old traditions including art and culture |
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Mao Zedong |
Mao Zedong, uses realistic art to preserve true communist ideology (poster of him smiling with people,..) poster for China’s Cultural Revolution including a portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong, 1966-1976 |
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Emperor Wu, 141-87 BCE |
Yan Liben, Portraits of the Emperors, 7th c. (Emperor Wu, 141-87 BCE); ruler aligned with animals, robe hemmed with dragons, represent fertility, strength, symbol of emperor power symbolically transferred to emperor |
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Mesquakie chief leader? |
Mesquakie bear claw necklace (Tama, Iowa) 1860, wore necklaces of bear claws as a symbol of power by chiefs etc. during ceremonial events, acquired at immense personal risk to individuals in hunting party, symbolically transferring strength, tenacity, and courage of bear to wearer |
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What is an nkisi nkondi, and how does it function?
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carved wooden power figure used by ritual specialist of the Kongo people to solve village problems nkisi(sacred medicine), and nkodi (hunter) vigilant force looking over the community, enforcer of legal agreements and witness, and looking in the the spirit world beyond resolve disputes - lick nail, wrap hair from another person and pound it into the figure binding it into spiritual forces hunting down solution to community problems some nikisi are animals (ex. double headed dogs) |
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The contemporary artists Renée Stout and Tanya Bruguera have used different aspects of the nkisi nkondi in their work. Explain how each has made use of this type of object. -
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Renée Stout, Fetish No. 2, Mixed media 1988 Fetish: object that is venerated for its imagined powers Figure representation of own body Cowry shells as eyes, Chest and back covered in bundles Cavity covered with a baby photograph of self (symbol of growth and possibility) postage stamp from Nigeer (shows origins’) Means of self protection and self healing, figure addresses personal inner power Tanya Bruguera, Displacement, Embodying an Nkisi Nkondi Icon, performance using Cuban earth, glue, wood, nails, and textiles, Havana, Cuba, 1988-89 Birthday of Fidel Castro, brought to power with lots of hope for democracy, but many problems with repression of self expression, promises left undone, many people fled Cuba Stood still for a number of hours in a museum as if part of their collection, then slowly started walking through the streets Addressing the promises broken, walking the streets as if searching for those who broke their promises Very appropriate for Cuba, because many Afro Cubans |
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Give an example of one work of art that challenges institutional power and explain how the artist reaches his or her audience. Has the work made an impact on people’s opinions and actions? How so? |
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What do you believe to be the content (or meaning) of Ai Weiwei’s work Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn? Support your answer by putting this work in the context of Chinese history.
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Ai Weiwei purchased antique Han dynasty vases- 206 BCE-220 BCE Han dynasty from the period of expansion- colonization- art played important roles Importance of learning, paper was created, trade, thriving economy ceramics important art form- for afterlife Han dynasty- had all rule over china- cultural identity Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola by Ai Wei 1995 writes coca cola on Han dynasty urn 20th C- Coca Cola sold in China - iconic drink of the West (American) Mao kicks out coca cola company- allowed again after death 1995- coca cola is very established in China |
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One important theme in the art of Ai Weiwei is the power of the individual citizen. Give an example of one work by Ai that conveys this idea and explain how it does so.
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Ai Weiwei, Fairytale-1001 Chinese Visitors organized the visit of 1001 chinese citizens, majority of whom have never left China, for the Documenta 12 exhibition in Kanssel, Germany, 2007 Kanssel home to the brother grimm decided to create own modern fairytale extra emphasis on the individual experience, the one making a difference @ Large: “Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz” site-specific installations, 2014. People around the world who has been in prison speak their opinion. Liberty of art making as an act of conscious. |
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Religion |
institutionalized formal practices- has history, traditions, doctrines, and rituals |
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Spirituality |
has to do with common yearning to belonging to something greater than ourselves with desire to probe source of life, death, working of intangible forces |
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Sacred space (example)
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* 4 sacred plants- white corn, blue beans, yellow squash, black tobacco
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Pilgrimage |
a journey to a sacred land for spiritual reasons |
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Syncretism (example)
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fusion of two or more religion, cultures, or thought system ex: Jose Bedia, The Bird Who Seeks Another Land, 1998 (Palo Monte Cuba and Native American Religions) |
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Identify and explain three ways in which art serves the purposes of religion and/or spirituality, giving an example of each. |
Devotional Objects ex. Unknown, Ex-voto of Maria de la Luz Casillas and Childeren, Central Mexico, oil on metal 1961 offering made for a devine being of saint displayed in a church of chapel, made out of gratitude, roman catholic tradition Maria had a risky operation done on her, after surviving commissioned an ex-voto painter to create the work, publicly displayed her gratitude untrained artists in Latin America/Mexico Joseph the Frenchman, Menorah of Zechariah’s vision Hebrew-Jewish bible saw vision of golden bowls flowing continuous streams of oil- important in serving god. Imagery of gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings and tells their stories John Goba, Mami Wata headdress, Serra Leone, 1980 Mami wata is an image that appears in several cultures (stemed from congo ppl?) she is a symbol ot female power, and protected travelers at sea Addresses the mysteries of life death and the cosmos Mandala (map of cosmos) of Samvara radially balanced depiction of cosmos deities/ symbols of entities- buddhist belief void before creation meditate in center of image then gradually out when enlightened to know more about the human body |
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Discuss the theme of the journey in the work of José Bedia. Name two works by Bedia that take the journey as their theme and explain how the artist uses that theme in each case. |
The Things That Drag Me Along and The Bird Who Seeks Another Land. addresses the theme of the journey specifically pilgramage Bird leaving the clock into the night sky depiction of a boat and car on the bird wings and modes of excape Los Ingredients, La Prenda Sacred Vessel: In order to be initiated into Palo Monte- must obtain things dedicated to personal sacred helper (spiritual god) need link to nature or dead Knives address his tendency towards violence other ingredients (skell, horse shoe, nails, goats head, dogs head, hammer, etc.) turtle represents slow process, took 6 months to complete coil snake represents artistic potential |
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What are the origins of Palo Monte? What are its main ideas and practices?
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complex set of religious ideas and practices, brought over in the 16th c. by enslaved Africans, many slaves from Congo region, lots of congo spirituality influence popular religion practiced in Cuba The main idea is to communicate with the dead, believes that objects have tremendous power and spirituality, venerate ancestors Also, to receive help by collecting objects with spiritual power. mixed with catholic practices (cross symbol, prayer) To convert to religion: It is practice by collecting objects believe to have spiritual powers and placed inside a vessel or similar to nkisi to gain spiritual help. |
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The art historian Judith Bettelheim writes that The Things That Drag Me Along “is a graphic evocation of the artist’s spiritual journeys.” Explain this statement.
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Throughout Jose’s journey between two countries he has experienced the past in Cuba and brought with him the spiritual ideas of cuba mixed together with other spiritual objects and animals of different cultures into one piece to show what kept him going in his journey. Two headed figure- two sides of individual working to improve self connected by a bridge white arrow pointing to belly button connected to chains Cheyenne- native indian group pulling several buffalo skulls to prove his manhood boats cross to spiritual world going to the cosmos fox(trickster), buffalo skull, herbs, snake skins, antelope horn, sacred vessels |
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What issues and ideas does José Bedia evoke in his painting The Bird Who Seeks Another Land? |
The painting expresses that he was forced to leave his own country to find a new country to be his home. He incorporated ideas of different transportations he had to take to leave cuba, like a car and a boat. As the focal point of the painting, the red bird is flying to the mountain: seeking freedom, knowledge, and a new land. People are inside the bird’s wings. The bird is taking people to the new land. Cuba has a lot of mountain, as they travel, the bird guides them along Some details look like camera, gun, noise from the crowd, compass, constellation. Attracted by bird that guides them along world/cosmos Seeking for experience as an immigrant to Cuba/ U.S.- spiritual journey |
