AP ART HISTORY

Review for Data

  • This document is a review for a data-focused art history course.

A.P. Art History

Unit 10 - Global Contemporary Art

Warm-Up Activity

  • Define kitsch (pronounced kitch) in your own words:
      - Kitsch often refers to art, objects, or design that is considered to be in poor taste due to its overly sentimental or gaudy nature.

  • Common places to see kitsch:
      - Gift shops, tourist attractions, themed restaurants, and decorations that display overly sentimental, clichéd, or banal imagery.

  • Emotional reaction to kitsch:
      - Typically a mixture of amusement, dismissal, and nostalgia.

  • Examples of kitsch discussed:
      - Decorative figurines, novelty items, or mass-produced art prints.

  • Groups were instructed to draw or write examples on the whiteboard in designated colors. Time allotted: 10 minutes.

Global Contemporary Art and Culture (1980 - Present)

Global Issues and Media Influence

  • Since the 1960s, global issues have been highlighted through the media including television and the internet.

  • Artists respond quickly to social and political issues, creating art that reflects these challenges.

Technological Advancements in Art

  • Growth in technology and materials science has led to the creation of unique multimedia art pieces.

  • Architectural practices have benefited notably from technology, with software like AutoCAD improving planning and error-checking.

  • New materials in contemporary art include:
      - Plastics, computer graphics, video projections, sound installations, fiberglass, and acrylics.

Diversity and Background of Artists

  • The contemporary art landscape features artists from diverse backgrounds:
      - Majority are no longer heterosexual white men, leading to a broader representation in the art world.

  • Artists from various cultures contribute prominently to recognized artworks globally.

  • Increased venues and public spaces for artwork display:
      - Public installations reflect and challenge their environments.

Artistic Techniques and Historical Influence

  • Many contemporary artworks reference and emulate historical elements, adding new meanings to old materials.

Featured Artists and Works

Christo and Jean-Claude (1979-2005)

Artwork: The Gates

  • Type: Mixed media installation with hanging cloths and metal frames.

  • Location: New York City.

  • Details:
      - Installation comprised about 7,500 gates made of orange fabric, spanning 23 miles of Central Park footpaths.
      - The project took 35 years to realize and lasted 16 days in February 2005.
      - Cost of the project: $20 million.
      - Post-installation, materials were recycled. Artists rejected an offer to sell parts of the installation, emphasizing its public nature and the idea that ownership would contradict its purpose.

Maya Lin (1982)

Artwork: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

  • Material: Black granite.

  • Location: Washington, D.C.

  • Features:
      - V-shaped design with one arm pointing to the Washington Monument and another to the Lincoln Memorial.
      - Names of 60,000 casualties of the Vietnam War inscribed in chronological order.
      - The reflective quality of black granite allows visitors to see themselves in the names.

  • Notable aspects:
      - Controversial reception due to its minimalistic design, inspired by the Minimalist Movement; distance ensures respect towards surrounding monuments.

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1983)

Artwork: Horn Players

  • Material: Acrylic and oil on canvas panels.

  • Features:
      - Combines traditional triptych formats with graffiti, highlighting jazz musicians.
      - Use of contrasting backgrounds to emphasize figures and words associated with jazz.
      - Graffiti words include references to musicians and elements of study relating to birds.

Song Su-nam (1983)

Artwork: Summer Trees

  • Medium: Ink on paper.

  • Significance:
      - Represents a genre of ink wash painting known as Sumukhwa.
      - Appeals to Korean identity by utilizing traditional methods.
      - Use of vertical lines symbolizing trees suggests dynamics of friendship and character.

Historical vs. Contemporary Interpretation

  • Comparison of Judith’s portrayal by three artists:
      - Artemisia Gentileschi and Caravaggio’s works emphasize the historical male perspective.
      - Cindy Sherman’s piece challenges these interpretations through a contemporary lens.

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1985)

Artwork: Androgyn III

  • Medium: Burlap, wood, resin, nails, and string.

  • Significance:
      - Introduced headless and limbless figures representing dehumanization.
      - Commentary on individuality under totalitarianism, capturing themes of war and medical trauma.

Xu Bing (1987-1991)

Artwork: A Book from the Sky

  • Installation: Incorporates boxed sets and hanging scrolls with invented text.

  • Historical context: Reflection on the Tiananmen Square protests and issues related to authoritarianism.

  • Critique of language and propaganda in society.

Jeff Koons (1988)

Artwork: Pink Panther

  • Medium: Glazed porcelain.

  • Themes: Postmodern aesthetics referencing kitch, celebrity culture, and critiques of mass production.

Cindy Sherman (1990)

Artwork: Untitled #228

  • Format: Large-scale portraiture.

  • Themes:
      - Feminist critique with historical allusion, addressing objectification.
      - Judith narrative retold through a feminine gaze.

Faith Ringgold (1991)

Artwork: Dancing at the Louvre

  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas with fabric.

  • Narrative: Combines history with fictional storytelling about art and race.

Doris Salcedo (2007-2008)

Installation: Shibboleth

  • Elements: Physical crack in the gallery floor representing exclusion and segregation.

  • Engagement with the viewer and a permanent reminder of immigrant struggles.

Ai Weiwei (2010-2011)

Artwork: Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds)

  • Medium: Handcrafted porcelain seeds.

  • Themes:
      - Explores unique Chinese craftsmanship in contrast to the label 'Made in China.'
      - Commentary on individuality within mass production.

Contemporary Architecture

Frank Gehry (1997)
Building: Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

  • Constructed to revitalize local economy, characterized by deconstructivist architecture.

  • Promotes engagement with the city's architecture and historical context.

Zaha Hadid (2009)
Building: MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts

  • Characterized by fluid forms, innovative spatial organization, and use of natural light.

Conclusion

  • The evolution of contemporary art reflects changes in technology, social issues, and diversity.

  • Artists utilize various media and techniques to create profound, layered commentaries on culture and society.

  • Each artwork discussed reveals complex narratives shaped by history, personal experience, and collective memory.