Monday, June 16, 2014

Exhibition Visit - 1

Exhibition Visit -1

The first of the exhibitions I visited was at the Vee Gee Bee art shop. The exhibition was visited on the 13th of May 2014, many of the paintings and drawings exhibited were produced by Joseph Paul Cassar.

Father and son

This a rather sketchy drawing and as one can see importance to detail is not given, this lack of detail adds to the drawing's appeal and seems as though the artist is giving more importance to the emotion of the moment between the father and son rather then other external elements ad features. From the looks of the piece, the material used seems to be charcoal.

The drawing captures the father as he is comforting his son or embracing his son as he is sleeping.

Besides the use of charcoal the artist seems to have used some type of liquid, possibly water colors, around the father and son to seemingly highlight the subjects he is depicting.

The Nude

One of a series of nudes by Joseph Paul Cassar, here he captures a nude female figure that is laying down on the floor, in the drawing the woman looks as though she's in a relaxed position. Here the artist used a variety of shading pencils and charcoal to complete this piece. As one can see the piece is a bit sketchy but this effect is used on purpose to create an abstract look the the figure depicted. The nude does not include any features on the face, which effects the piece in a number of ways; it draws the focus to the body and figure of the woman and it leaves one wondering about the true emotion of the woman being depicted, she could be sad or pensive, the lack of a defined facial expression leaves one wondering. The piece also seems like a study of the anatomy of the woman, an insight to her form and figure and a celebration to the female body.

Here is another piece by Joseph Paul Cassar, unfortunately I don't have the title for this painting.

From a personal view, I like this painting because it is done using my favorite medium; watercolors.

Once again the faces are not given much detail and seem to be a bit smudged.

The use of a graduating tone of color and lack of detail makes it stand out as something unusual and different. As mentioned same color is used in all of the painting which is drawn on a white background.

The figures are depicted to be a bit curvy and look as though they're fighting or quarreling each other, it is not clear whether they are totally in the nude or not, but the lack of detail with regards to the subject's garments leaves one guessing about the activity that is depicted in this piece.

Imdina Silhouette

This piece really struck me, It is a silhouette of the Cathedral of Imdina. The medium used here is acrylic. As one can see the painting features a lot of texture and the artist even includes an amount of abstract in this painting. The depicted fields seem to be done with some kind of sponging technique or with heavy brush strokes using large brushes. The light color of the sky contrasts heavily with the silhouette of the city but one can see a reflection in the sky, of the colors seen in depicted and used in the fields. All of the detail is spent on defining the outline of Imdina, which allows for the artist to draw the viewer into mostly looking at the silhouette and the depicted colors around the silhouette.

Spinola

This a still life painting of Spinola Bay in St Julians by a different artist; Beatriz Solera Caballero. Here the artist captures a beautiful scene of traditional luzzus and boat houses in Spinola Bay. The artist depicts a very realistic reflection of the building on the surface of the sea. This adds to the painting's details and realism. The realism of the panting and the details seen make the painting almost seem like a photo of a typical scene in Spinola that one can experience by visiting the bay. The colors used are a bit soft which compliments the scenery.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Exhibition Visit - 2

This exhibition I visited was in St James Valetta

Marie Louise Kold

Marie works with copper, brass and bronze, she uses chemicals to bring out the colours out of the metals.

This portrait is made out mosaic squares that are painted. This is a mosaic of the eyes of her favourite author, Laren Bilxen. It is made out of thousands copper squares. As you look at this piece of art you can almost think that it is a realistic photograph.

“Lines of Flight”

This is the piece of art that gave the whole exhibition the name. This is an almost three dimensional patterning of lines that reflect the light to give dynamic projection of water and sky and the lines that wrap themselves around.

I just love all the colours used and the texture it has. This is one of my favourites from Marie’s’ exhibition which inspired me a lot for my own art.

The Lone Nude.

The lone nude figure is painted on metal with some photographic details with oil paints, the lonely lady looks like she’s in a world of her own, surrounded with a gold background the nude lady stands out in this painting. This piece of art has alot of textures and its in 3D with a lot of metalic tones.

Metallic Book.

This an all metal book made out from copper. This is a pretty simple piece which I like because the simplicity makes it stand out. It looks like a mystery book, that when you open it amazing things will start happening but that’s just my imagination. I like all the textures in it and the colours that come out from the metal.

''Touch''

These two pieces are amazing. They have lovely shades of blues and greens and different elements like copper, brass and a lot of textures. This pieces even has words from one of her poems. As you look at this piece of art it’s like the colours are coming alive. It amazing how all these materials mix together so well.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Agnes Cecile.

Agnes Cecile was born in 1991, Rome. She studied art in high school but has no other training accept for self-taught. A lot of her art shows drips, dribble and splashes. Every painting she has is unique but all of them show some type of resemblance. Agnes may be young but has come a long way and leaves the viewer always wanting to see more.

Agnes uses watercolours, ink, acrylic, charcoal and industrial varnish, for her amazing paintings. Each of her panting is unique and different in some particular way. Normally the heads and human figures exploding into dramatic colours and every face has a mesmerising stare. Some of her paintings include butterflies and birds blended with them that represent flight, freedom and femininity. She uses bold brushstrokes combined with splashes and splatters of colours that create a beautiful piece of art that will let you wonder.

Agnes Cecile is mainly inspired from the people around her and her everyday life and her art is just a mirror of her feelings. Some artist that inspire her are Francis Bacon, Schiele, Lucian Freud and Francesca Woodman. Agnes says that her ideas take a bit time to develop and don’t just pop in her head. Her art is simple in a way that when the viewer looks at it, he/she understand what they’re looking at and that makes it easier for the viewer to appreciate it. Her work has some abstract in it but the type of abstract that is mixed with a strong realism, so people who aren’t a huge fan of abstract are still interested in some way or another.

Agnes likes to use watercolours and varnish because she can use them in a random way and gives the material freedom and she only guides it in a specific way that will create an elaborate form and a beautiful painting.

DeviantArt was an important part in Agnes’s artistic life. (DeviantArt, LLC is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork.) It made her career year after year, it even helped her to grow in similar ways of other deviantart artist. She says it’s a great thing to see yourself grown and develop yourself. On deviantart she found a lot of lovely young artists like herself who were still developing their style. She could even confront herself better that she would do in her art class.

When she comes to starting a painting she normally doesn’t like to have any relations with her models. Agnes like to use aseptic faces and then add specific features. She uses models to make realistic portraits, but then uses photos to draw the shadows and lights. When she can’t find the perfect pose or facial expression she just uses herself as her own model.

Artist she’s inspired from are:

Schiele

Francesca Woodman

Lucian Freud

Francis Bacon

Some other artists from deviantart that inspire her are:

Fahad Alkadi

Carne Griffiths

Laura Makabresku

Some words that Agnes says are ‘’ everything you do don't overdo it, be balanced with yourself’’.

Agnes Cecile’s art:

Bibliography

References

Designalmic. (2012, November 20). Portrait Watercolor Paintings / Agnes-Cecile (Silvia Pelissero). Retrieved from Designalmic: http://designalmic.com/portrait-watercolor-paintings-agnes-cecile-silvia-pelissero/

Ioannidou, L. (2013, December 6). Agnes Cecile. Retrieved from Prezi: http://prezi.com/4u-duwyx3g2v/agnes-cecile/

Reid, E. (2013, April). Agnes Cecile: Artist of the Week. Retrieved from Blossom: http://blossomelise.com/agnes-cecile/

Cultural context.

Japanese Carnival.

The Asakusa Samba Carnival is held every year, on the last Saturday of August in Asakusa Tokyo. This carnival attracts about 500 000 visitors every year, who fall in love with the rhythm of the samba.

This festival was first held by Asakusa people in 1981. In this carnival there are over 30 groups of dancers. Every group bring a different concept and a unique dance, music and costumes. As you can see this Japanese Carnival was inspired from The Rio Carnival in Brazil. In fact dancers from the Rio carnival sometimes are invite to take part in it.

Dragon Dance.

Dragon dance is a traditional dance and performance in the Chinese culture. It is m mostly seen in festive celebrations. This performance is always performed by a team of dancers who control a long flexible figure of a dragon using poles.

The dragon dance is normally performed during the Chinese New year.

Chinese dragons are a symbol of china and are known to bring good luck. The longer the dragon the more luck it brings to the community. The earliest representation of the dragon goes way back as far as 1600BC.

This is a saying:

So They Say

"The dragon's horns resemble those of a stag, his head that of a camel, his eyes those of a demon, his neck that of a snake, his belly that of a clam, his scales those of a carp, his claws those of an eagle, his soles those of a tiger, his ears those of a cow."

--Chinese scholar Wang Fu (Han dynasty, 206 BC to AD 220)

The Carnival of Venice

The carnival is held in Venice every year. At this carnival you’ll find circus clowns monsters and people wearing outstanding masks and costumes.

Carnival masks have always been a main feature of the Venice carnival. Normally people were allowed to wear them between the feat of St Stephens’s day and the start of the carnival season

The masks can be made out of leather, porcelain or with a glass technique. The original masks were simpler and sometime had a symbol and practical function. Nowadays they are made with fold leaf and gypsum and are all hand panted using feathers and different gems to be decorated.

Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_festivals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival

http://www.atlas-japantour.com/Festival/matsuri.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_dance

http://gundkwok.org/what-is-dragon-dance/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/venice/10618698/Venice-Carnival-2014-details-and-guide.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_of_Venice

Cultural context. Japanese.

Japanese Fashion.

History of kimonos.

‘’kimonos’’ was the Japanese word for clothing, but after the years, the word has been used to refer to the traditional Japanese clothing.

Kimonos came into being during Heian period between 794-1192

Before kimonos people used to wear separate clothing, meaning upper and lower garment, like skirts and trousers or a one piece clothing.

Kimonos where made by a straight line method, it involved cutting pieces of fabric in a straight line and sewing them together, so it was easier for the tailors. Kimonos where ways to fold and suitable for all weathers, they could even be worn in layers.

Over time people took more interest in kimonos and started making them in different colour combinations.

Kimonos make grew into an art form and kimonos became more valuable by time.

Nowadays Japanese people rarely wear kimonos and wear them on special occasions like weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies and other special events.

Japanese Pottery.

Kutani is a famous pottery tradition. Kutani ware is a type of pottery style fist made by goto sajiro in Japan. He set up a kiln in his village and started experimenting. This potter style is know for its multiple colours that include greens, yellows, purples and reds. Sometimes the plates include gold with bold designs covering most of the surface of the pieces. Birds do appear quite often on these type of plates.

Kutani show a Chinese influence. These plates are highly desirable and sought after.

Japanese Temari.

Japanese Temari is known as a symbol of perfection. It is highly cherished and valuable gift.

The earliest traces of the Temari history starts in the Nara period. As Buddhist travelled east from India to china and Korea to Japan. They didn’t only spread religious beliefs but culture too, in the ancient game known as KemariFootball. They players this game with a ball that was probably made from dear skin.

The ladies from the Nobel families (Herain Period)

Began using silk threads to embroidered and wined them into decorate balls. The ladies even competed against each other in making the most colourful and beautiful patterns medieval era approached in the 1400 – 16000 century, street performance where know to use the balls for juggling. Temari was handed down from generation to another. It also became popular in other towns. Today this traditional Japanese folk art, has been revised in newly designs and different patterns. You must train and be talented to make these Temari balls, because it’s not an easy technique and it takes a long time to becoming a master at making Temari balls.

Bibliography :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temari_(toy)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_handicrafts

http://www.temarikai.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono

http://gotheborg.com/marks/kutani.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imari_porcelain

Arts and Craft.

Arts and Crafts Movement.

The arts and crafts movement began in England in the late 1800’s and was later adopted by north amerce.

This was just after the industrial Revolution which is actually what the arts and crafts movement exists.

Because there was an increase in the merchandising and the workplaces, manufactures could mass produce decorative items for the growing consumers. A lot of the items produced where affordable but they were poorly made and looked cheap.

A lot people were upset when all this was happening. But mostly William Morris.

He wanted to reform the industry of product making and that's why he came up with the art and craft movement.

Morris was heavily influenced by John Ruskin, who praised Gothic and medieval craftsman.

The depression on the industrial revolution made a huge impact on Morris.
William founded the arts and craft movement along side John Ruskin and Augustus Pugin.

William Morris

John Ruskin.

Augustus Pugin.

Bibliography
:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_Crafts_movement.

Romanticism

Romanticism is impossible to define as a style or technique but it changed the course of art. Romanticism as an art form doesn't have much to do with love and romance but it is all about Passion. Romanticist expressed their passions and their feelings to the people looking at their art. Romanticism influenced music and literature too. Artists used this art form to express their deepest beliefs. An example of a painting depicting true passion is; Abduction of Rebecca. This painting is by Eugene Delacroix, this painting illustrates a scene from a novel written by Sir Walter Scott. The artist captures the intense drama of the moment. Romanticism started in the beginning of the American Revolution in 1776 and French Revolution in 1779. Between 1800-1860 romanticism was at its peck. One of the best known romanticism artists Gericault. Some of Gericault’s famous work is

The Raft of Medusa:

This painting was inspired by ship-wrecked survivors. He shows the feeling of hopelessness, the disperse of the man facing the raging ocean. This was Gericault’s first major work.

Francesco Goya is known for his famous painting The nude Maja.

Goya switched to darker scenes in the late 1800.