Artists and Artisan - New

ARTISTS AND ARTISAN

Prof. ACL

Learning Outcomes

  • Outline the history of the emergence of artists and artisans.
  • Recognize and discuss the function of state sponsorship in the field of arts and culture through the National Artists Award and Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan.

Topic Outline

  • The Artisan and the Guilds
  • The Artist and His Studio
  • Players in the World of Art
  • Production Process Engagement with Art Awards and Citations

The Art and Its Significance

Art serves as a fundamental method through which humans engage with and interpret the unfolding of the present. Robert Henri noted in The Art Spirit (1923) that "Art when really understood is the province of every human being. It is simply a question of doing things, anything, well. It is not an outside, extra thing. When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature. He becomes interesting to other people. He disturbs, upsets, enlightens, and he opens ways for a better understanding. Where those who are not artists are willing to close the book, he opens it, shows there are more pages possible."

Historical Context of Art

  • Throughout history, human civilization has exhibited a persistent impulse to create, mirroring the impulse to communicate through language.
  • Artists have played a pivotal role in cultural development, concurrently influenced by the varied cultures in which they exist.
  • Examples include constructs like Stonehenge, which have been interpreted as burial monuments, meeting places between chiefdoms, or astronomical calendars.

The Artisan and the Guilds

Artifacts and Cultural Significance

  • Museums globally contain artifacts that are critical for understanding history, showcasing craftsmanship that has lasted for centuries.
  • Structures, not only appreciated for historical significance, also serve as tourist attractions.
  • The emergence of technology and knowledge regarding the management and conservation of these objects allows for the retention of the integrity and aesthetic intent of the artworks.

Craftsmen's Roles

  • Historically, craftsmen and builders lacked the sophisticated terminologies of modern architects and engineers.
  • Past artisans fulfilled overlapping roles as draftsmen, architects, engineers, and builders, relying on their intuition regarding materials, environmental impacts, and other basic principles of construction.
  • Gothic cathedrals, alongside others, have withstood the test of time not only due to their durability but also because of the rich processes that artists followed in their creation.
  • Example: The Cologne Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, stands at 515 feet (157 meters), designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Guild Formation

  • Craft education became formalized with regulations for apprentices wishing to join specific craft guilds, which fostered communal effort rather than individual success.
  • Guilds were structured social associations with rules, customs, rights, and responsibilities that nurtured artistry and technology collaboratively under one roof.
  • In cathedral construction contexts, master masons oversaw various artisans including smiths, carpenters, glaziers, etc.

Influential Structures

  • Key Gothic cathedrals include:
    • Milano Cathedral (Piazza del Duomo, Milan)
    • Florence Cathedral, completed in 1436 by Filippo Brunelleschi.

The Artist and His Studio

Evolution of Artistic Identity

  • The transition from craftsmen to independent artists began in the Middle Ages and culminated during the Renaissance, marking a pivotal shift toward individuality and expression in artistry.
  • Artists began signing their works, asserting personal identities.

Studio Dynamics

  • Artist studios became focal points of public interest, serving as crucial areas for the negotiation of artist-patron relationships.
  • Terms such as "Studiolo" and "Bottega" illustrate professional spaces where apprentices learned under masters, assisting with preparation tasks while gradually acquiring skills.
  • By the 17th century, roles began to merge, particularly as artists ventured into oil painting techniques, which emphasized mixing, layering, and drying cycles throughout the late 1800s.
  • In France, art academies and salons emerged as critical venues for the production and discourse of art, where exhibitions became honorific markers of artistic prestige.

Industrial Revolution Impact

  • The Industrial Revolution liberated artists from traditional constraints on creativity through the availability of portable materials and diminishing reliance on wealthy patrons.
  • This period enabled a diverse development of artistic styles with a greater focus on individual expression, proliferating alternative avenues of creative exploration.

Quest for Artistic Freedom

  • By the late 1800s, many artists challenged the conventions of rigorously structured artistic training, leading to a broader articulation of distinctive aesthetic expressions by the 1900s.

Other Players in the World of Art

Art Ecosystem and Roles

  • The art landscape is a complex, global network comprising individuals, groups, and institutions, including schools, museums, galleries, auction houses, and private collectors.
  • Understanding this dynamic implicates art not only as an aesthetic pursuit but as a professional, stratified, and monetized field.
  • International art fairs, such as Art Basel in Hong Kong, exemplify spaces where various stakeholders in the art world engage with and influence the production and perception of art.

Non-Traditional Contributors

  • In the contemporary art world, contributions are not restricted to formally trained artists; administrative and managerial roles also play crucial parts, particularly in museums and galleries.
  • The curator's role involves interpreting and providing significance to the artwork and collections, requiring skills in research, design, and exhibit layout.
  • Buyers, collectors, and art dealers are integral; they play roles in the acquisition, distribution, and promotion of artworks, having to possess deep knowledge of art forms, styles, and market trends.

Museums versus Galleries

  • Museums take on a distinct ethical stance against engaging in the art market, focusing primarily on education and public appreciation of art as part of broader cultural narratives.

The Production Process

Non-Linear Creation

  • The process of creating art is characterized by its anarchic nature, allowing for diverse conceptualizations and executions of ideas.
  • Different art styles, movements, and periods reflect the creative flexibility afforded to artists in realizing their visions.

Tripartite Process

  • The production process can be divided into three stages:
    • Preproduction
    • Production
    • Postproduction

Medium and Technique

  • The medium serves as the mode of expression wherein concepts or messages are communicated, varying from tangible forms like paintings or sculptures to ephemeral works such as performances or recordings.
  • Each artistic medium affects the viewer’s engagement, highlighting that the same materials will yield different results depending on the artist’s unique approach.

Engagement with Art

Importance of Exhibitions

  • According to Anna Cline in The Evolving Role of the Exhibition and Its Impact on Art and Culture (2012), exhibitions not only showcase art but also reflect societal interests and challenges, making them vital in the art historical narrative.

Platforms for Engagement

  • Various opportunities for engaging with art arise through exhibitions in museums and galleries, instruction in classrooms, studio visits, lectures, and workshops.
  • Art fairs, biennials, triennials, and publications serve as additional platforms for promoting art appreciation, critique, and analysis.

Awards and Cit