Unknown Artist- "Sunk Cost" in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

This large-scale sculpture in Uruguay is very interesting. Its name, Sunk Cost, is very inviting and the work of art is a success. It has visual quality, a correlated theme, and has power because of its size. Its unique location and position gives way to creative genius and inspires me to think large scale and to make my work more powerful.  I can interpret this work in correlation with my theme of Coexistence because it was made from man, its location is obvious that man placed it there, and its shape is a hand that reminds me of man.  However, its material and location are not manmade and would represent nature in my mind. In essence, the coexistence of man and nature are displayed in a non-literal way other than the fact that the shape is a hand.  It inspires me to think about my location where I will place my artwork and to think about the scale relative to the location and actual size if it is in relation to humans.

Mehmet Ali Uysal- How Those Waves Were Made

Mehmet Ali Uysal made this earth sculpture and it is in Park Chaudfontaine in Belgium. It is called , How Those Waves Were Made. It displays a huge closepin clipped on to a big green hill. The pure creativeness and unique approach of this artwork is very visually interesting. The large scale of this artwork makes it very powerful.  This inspires me to think outside-the-box. I know from looking at this artwork that even if you make something that is not interesting normally to a person, you can make it really big so it looks powerful and place it in a abnormal location to show a creativeness that is like a white marble in a sea of black marbles in the art world.  This work inspires me to utilize scale, proportion, and location in relativity to my theme of coexistence.

Jason deCaires Taylor - Series: When Statues Drown in a Storm, Where Do They Go?

Jason deCaires Taylor made these sculptures in the process made the world’s first underwater sculpture park, although now he has several. This is one sculpture as a whole in a series, however I thought this was the most interesting and visually entertaining.  Jason Taylor likes to blend modern art with the environment so his theme is very similar to mine. Coexistence is my theme and is what I feel when I see this sculpture of many people in holding hands in a circle, standing on the ocean floor.

               The water in the ocean is part of nature and would represent the environment part of my theme, coexistence, while the people holding hands would represent humans as a whole, in a more literal way. I find this piece literal, but unique, creative, inventive, and innovative.  I am inspired to think about how I could create a work of art that could be outside in a unusual place and could represent coexistence in a way that is visually rhythmic and entertaining like this piece by Jason Taylor.

Chris Dury - Carbon Sink

This piece is called Carbon Sink, by the UK artist, Chris Dury. This sculpture is a giant 36 foot circular work made up of logs and lumps of black coal. Chris approached this ideal from a environmental perspective making a connection between the coal industry and dead trees. I like the way he made the silvery logs look like something they are not.  This piece gives me the thought of a helicopter propeller or fan spinning really fast almost to the point that the blades start to blur.

            I respect this piece and comprehend it in terms of coexistence by interpreting it with parts relative to the term.  The fact you can tell manmade it is evident.  It is very large and involves parts in it that are from nature like logs and coal and the ground it lays on.  The way it is shaped and the combination of materials, just its existence gives the aurora of coexistence without literally having humans in it. I am inspired by this concept and will explore it.

Beth Galston- Luminous Garden (Aerial), 2009.

This work of art was done by Beth Galston and is called, Luminous Garden (Aerial), 2009. Beth wants to show cohesively the relationship between light and space by making these architectural environments. Beth Galston has worked for over twenty years on art using a wide range of media and this work of art she has created is part of a series which is very interesting.  Its uniqueness is determined as first sight and she gives the illusion of floating flowers or flowers that could be floating on water in my mind.  The creative connection between the flowers is significant.  They appear to be tangled up but are free flowing and give a peaceful vibe.  I can appreciate the style she brings and the essence that her work displays.  I can interpret her work in relative connection to my theme of coexistence because the flowers and wires that hold them up are made from man, but they have the appearance of plants in nature.

Steuart Bremner and Terry Talty - Forest for the Trees

This is an environmental installation by Steuart Bremner and Terry Talty called, Forest for the Trees, and signifies environmental clarity.  This piece is very interesting and inspirational to me because it involves people and stands as a artwork on its own in a intriguing way.  There are many pieces of trees lined on top of each other in a vertical manner with a hole cut into them in a unique way almost to suggest a portal.  It is beside a bike trail and this piece was commissioned to be installed here.  Its interesting because when bicyclists ride by it all you can see is a blur and it adds another element to this piece.  I would like to utilize my creative potential in making a piece or pieces of artwork that display coexistence and this environmental installation by Bremner and Talty influence me to possibly create a work that is supposed to be outside and utilized by people.

Sfona Pelah - Untitled

Sfona Pelah made this monoprint and it is untitled, but I could think of many terms to describe it such as isolation, depression, and motionless. This is a print that helps me to think of my theme of coexistence in a different light.  If I do printmaking, I could use figures in my prints in a literal way, but in a way that evokes a emotion from the viewer and translates a the theme in a different way.  Coexistence does not have to be seen through just my eyes. I could display it through my eyes looking through another persons eyes like this image does.  A man is staring our a window into a desert filled with nothing, however I can interpret this image as coexistence in the way he seems like he wants to go out into the world and be something or do something, but he is stuck.  Coexistence could be displayed in a positive way or negative way like in this print from a person looking into the world wandering who he is. This print inspires me to analyze my thoughts and dip deeper to evoke emotion from my viewer.

Jacqueline Dotson - Rainy Day

This is a intaglio print by Jacqueline Dotson called, Rainy Day. She brings a interesting feeling to printmaking with her style.  Her style is one derived from abstract thought processes and she inspires me to think critically about my art.  Jacqueline Dotson is definitely not literal in developing this print because as you can see, the figures in this print are meant to look like penguins, but actually look like men in trench coats with umbrellas.  She gives the effect that it is raining with snow on the ground which adds depth and dimension to her work.  I feel she inspires me to think about my theme for senior seminar of coexistence in a different way with abstract thought processes and a finished project that is creative that gives illusion to something it is not.  The interaction of men in trench coats with each other and their surroundings gives me a feeling of balance, rhythm, repetition, and emphasis which I could utilize more in my work.

Igor Koutsenko - Summer

This is a print done with drypoint and roullette called, Summer, by Igor Koutsenko.  I feel he has a nact for creating extremely unique and interesting prints. Surrealism is the word that comes to mind, and this is a route that is a little literal of my theme coexistence, but displays it in a abstract and creative way.  This woman’s hair is either appearing to grow with nature, speficially leaves, vines, nuts, and twigs or either her hair is stuck in it. Either way, her existence is with nature and is interconnected in a more literal abstract way.

               This reveals a unique way to think about portraying my theme of coexistence.  I may not do printsmaking, but this ideal is one that inspires me to get my hands dirty and think outside of the box. This composition is sound and fills up the entire image. There seems to be a asymmetrical balance in this image because the girl is on one side and the plants, leaves, and vines are on the other which create a feeling of peacefulness with hectic movement.  The contrast is interesting and inspires me to explore new ideas.

William Lee Hankley

This is a print done by a British artist named William Lee Hankley. This print is done using aquatint and  etching, which inspires me to work with different mediums to display my theme of coexistence. I can appreciate different mediums that are done well and portray a concept in interesting way. Plus, I have been in printmaking this semester and I have been using my theme, Coexistence, to create create visuals.

            I think the people and the environment they are in represent coexistence in a literal way here, but still in a rhythmic way. The color brings my attention immediately to it and my eye travels from the sun to the people walking.  This print by William Lee Hankley inspires me to focus on coexistence using printmaking like I already have been, however I might chose different techniques like using aquatint in this print.

Clyde Butcher - God Speed, John Glenn

Clyde Butcher is one my favorite photographers that does landscapes. He uses a classic way of developing photos by using a darkroom.  He does very large scale photographs also and they come out looking gorgeous. He reminds of a modern day Ansel Dams and his work is interesting.  I am inspired to look at his work in terms of using black and white photography and utilizing interesting locations in nature with awesome compositions.

            This picture by Clyde Butcher is of a space shuttle taking off into space and could represent man, which in actuality, man is running it.  I can interpret this as coexistence in correlation with my theme because of space shuttle representing man, but also because the landscape around it representing nature. This is a more literal way of displaying this, but the ideal gets across at what I am unveiling. I will use Clyde Butcher’s wonderful landscapes as inspiration to look for interesting places to think about photographing.

David Evans - Matilda Bay

David Evans is a landscape photographer who focuses on clarity through photographing places that are fun and untamed in the world that we may not pay much attention to at first. I can appreciate the isolation, peaceful, harmonized feeling this brings me. The boathouse being in the middle of the picture centering the focus immediately there and the beautiful subtle colors of the water and lights from houses.  This picture makes me think of my theme of coexistence because it relays a strong visual sensory experience to me.  The boathouse, lighting of the houses, and the boatdock could represent manmade structures, while the magnificient sky, water, clouds, and air can represent nature, or our environment.  We don’t always see the theme of coexistence at first glance and that is why I have dwelled on this concept. Live in the moment is a underlying thought that makes me observe the beauty around me and realized the magnitude of creation and our coexistence with nature.

Stephen Shore - From the series Uncommon Places

There is a interesting visual rhythm in this photography by the contemporary photographer, Stephen Shore from the series, Uncommon Places. It takes me to a place far from where I am at visually and mentally. I get feeling that Stephen Shore has the eye for what he wants to photograph and takes really good photographs that have interesting composition that fills the frame. I appreciate the landscape view and image that he captured on the billboard. The backdrop of the mountains and desert-like area give an isolated feeling of coexistence that I am inspired by. From my theme of coexistence, I can interpret the billboard as man because its man-made and actually has a picture of nature on it that makes it even more appealing to me and the fact the billboard is coexisting with the location its in well is also interesting to me.

Alec Soth - From the series Broken Manual

This is a photograph by Alec Soth who is an American, contemporary photographer who does many types of photographs from landscapes to couples in places he travels. He is one of my favorite photographers and reminds me of my theme of coexistence for senior seminar. The disco ball in the middle of a forest that we have no notion of the location is fascinating to me. It inspires me to think outside of the box by using photography as a extension of my creative capacity.

            I believe that by using photography in a way that is interesting visually, creative, and entertaining because of its almost surreal image can be a route I may take.  This can be perceived many ways but in my mind, I see the disco ball as “man,” and the forest its hanging in as nature, our environment and world.  This concept is one that is abstract in reality, but that is the path I am inspired to do when I look at some of alec soth’s contemporary photography. 

Joel Sternfeld - A Blind Man in His Garden, Homer, Alaska, July 1984.

This is a photo by Joel Sternfeld, called A Blind Man in His Garden, Homer, Alaska, July 1984. This photo is interesting to me because of its visual quality and rhythm. I am thinking about pursuing photography and another medium like wire or printmaking to cohesively display my theme of coexistence. This photo by Joel Sternfeld portrays a blind man in his garden at his home in Alaska and has a sense of harmony, and coexistence of a man with his personal place in the world that he appears to feel compassion for.

               I think the color of the flowers attract me at first and then I see a man standing in the middle of them that I would not of known was blind until I read the title which makes this photograph even more interesting because of the question it raises. Photography like this that has a narrative that is relative to coexistence is a starting point that I could take note on and start with. I realize that theme of coexistence may not be surfaced at first glance of this photography, but I think it inspires me to start somewhere with my theme incorporating human interaction with nature.

Kelley Walker - Untitled, 2008.

 

Kelley Walker is a American born artist that created this work that is untitled in 2008. He is an American post conceptual artist who works in New York City. He uses digital media with help from another artist to create, in essence, paintings, using screen printing. He likes to show the underlying issues of American politics. This piece inquires a very deep thought process by Kelley Walker and is awesome because of the four- color process silkscreen on canvas he does and he makes this image look so realistic it is inspiring.

            It relates to my theme of coexistence of humans in nature because I see the different shaped digitally created bricks as nature that is sturdy and a safe haven for many, while the colors and design are people of different races and personalities.  The way he displays this technique is good too because it is on a wall and the viewer can easily view it and interpret the piece in anyway they feel.  It gives me a sensory experience, illusion, and sets off a visually rhythmic aurora.  I respect digital art and the process of silkscreen on canvas that Kelley Walker utilizes. In essence, I am inspired to focus more on my creativeness with my project.

Danh Vo- 26.05.2009, 8:43. 2009.

 

Danh Vo is an artist that works in Berlin and is an performance art inspired conceptual artist. This piece was named, 26.05.2009,8:43, and was created in 2009. He is interesting to me because he utilizes objects around him to make into artwork.  This piece is a Chandelier from the former ballroom of the Hotel Majestic in Paris. Danh Vo took apart the chandelier and organized it into sections according to their function and shape. This piece could be seen as simple, boring, minimalistic, and after all, a chandelier.  However, I see it as visually interesting, organized, and yes minimalistic in a way, which is intriguing to me.

            I am really inspired by this work by Danh Vo because it is a artwork that was created from nothing in a sense.  Moreover, people may not look at a chandelier as a piece of art, but when broken down into parts, it can be visually interesting. This relates to my thought that wire in a spoil is nothing until I mend, bend, twist, cut, and shape into a specified way that can display a theme of coexistence that is strong in itself.

Adrian Villar Rojas- Return the World (Trunk), 2012

Adrian Villar Rojas created a series called, Return the World, in particular this piece, Return the World (Trunk), in 2012. He uses unusual materials to recreate things seen in everyday life like  trees, plants, etc.  In this piece, Rojas uses unfired clay, metal, cement, and wood to create a huge tree trunk that has broken and fallen over.  The style he has and materials he uses are unique in the contemporary art world which is interesting to me. I feel he puts a lot of critical thinking about location of his pieces too.

            I am inspired by Adrian Villar Rojas’s work because he gets it.  He has obvious skill with recreating things in nature from synthetic materials. Also, he has sound technical skill and his literal interpretation of organic things with synthetic materials is interesting and inspires me to think more about the materials I could use to portray the positive and negative aspects of coexistence.  Rojas and I both have love for nature and we both display this.  However, I use wire in a non-literal way to display nature by shaping it in organic ways and my figures in a way that displays coexistence with nature, so I think me and Rojas are different, but there are many interesting aspects from his work that I can learn from him.

Gabriel Orozco- Lintels, 2001.

 

Gabriel Orozco made this series of pieces called, Lintels, in 2001. Gabriel Orozco uses everyday objects we use or see in the urban parts of the world. He likes the idea of making visible the idea of chance, and paradox. I really like how Orozco can take any object such as a deflated football and make it into a creative artwork with the use of photography.  He is definitely a creative genius and has a very different way of thinking about ordinary objects we see and use everyday.

            Gabriel Orozco’s, Lintels, is intriguing to me because he uses dryer lint out of all things to create a series in a creative way. Most of all, the way he positions the dryer lint, and suspends them in air is really what interests me.  His way of displaying his artwork is key for his art.  The viewer automatically moves from piece to piece when looking at this series and the staggered, suspended positioning of each piece makes the viewer feel an emotion, almost peaceful.  In essence, I am going to think more deeply about how I can display my artwork in a way that makes it look more interesting like Gabriel Orozco does.

Haegue Yang- Sallim, 2009

Haegue Yang made this piece, Sallim, in 2009 and it entails many materials to make a large scale structure with many parts. Haegue is having a exhibition on her series, Condensation, and this piece is a part of the series.  Haegue likes to explore  vulnerable sites like her Berlin kitchen, where informal development can happen. Haegue Yang focuses on the ideal in this piece of how a kitchen can be used for in ways that are not ordinary.  She is thinking outside the box and uses made design principles in her art which inspires me to look for different ways to show my theme.

            Haegue Yang uses many materials in her piece like Steel frame, perforated metal plate, caster, aluminum venetian blinds, knitting yarn, acrylic mirror, IV stand, light bulbs, cable, electric fan, timer, garlic, dishes, hot pad, and scent emitter which display a structure that is unique and interesting.  It inspires me how she makes a big artwork that may not be magnificent, but displays her idea well.  Her preparation and thought processes are what I look at and what I need to work on more.  This piece, Sallim, has many parts that create a whole, which has rhythm, movement, and makes the viewer want to walk around it to understand it. This is the path I want to take too.

Paula Hayes- Bird Bath, 2009.

 

This piece is entitled, Bird Bath, by Paula Hayes, done in 2009. It is a piece made from custom-formed acrylic. Paula Hayes has combined her interest in Art and Landscape design into a way that uniquely incorporates art, landscape design, domestic and garden products. This piece is unique and her thought process is one that interests me. She utilizes nature to combine synthetic materials and make a piece that fits in with the environment.  I can tell nature is one of her passions.

            When I look at this piece, I can see my own work.  This piece by Paula Hayes inspires me to display my project in a different way, maybe outside in nature.  I feel sometimes, displaying art in nature is not only a talent by the artist, but it opens the realms of the grandeur meanings of a piece and can tell a narrative.  I combine in a non-literal sense , nature in my project using synthetic materials such as wire.  With this approach I am able to make for a interesting concept and Paula Hayes, Bird Bath, is on the same path which opens my eyes to how I can better my artwork.

Kerstin Bratsch - Matchpoint, 2010.

 

Kerstin Bratsch is German and as you can tell, focuses on illusion with the use of colors, shadow, repetition, and rhythm.  I really like the use of asymmetrical balance, repetition and rhythm in this piece called, Matchpoint, made in 2010.  The reaction by the viewer is obviously a key that is desired from this artist and a sense of illusion by using oil on paper in this piece is phenomenal.  It appears to be computer generated or a digital art piece, but is not. The green, blue, and pink objects in this two dimensional piece are fascinating because they lead your eye through the piece.

            The aesthetics are there in the piece and I feel like it has a minimalist feeling to it that leaves the viewer with questions which is interesting to me. However, in a way the piece seems finished and a conclusion can be made that maybe a reaction a sensory experience is supposed to be derived from this piece by the viewer.  The components,  principles of design, and skill in the piece by Kerstin Bratsch is very intriguing and inspires me to focus on creating a stronger rhythmic  feeling in my work.

Nick Cave - Soundsuit, 2011

 

Nick Cave is a American artist from Missouri, and some of his famous artworks are from the series, Soundsuits, which are wearable fabric sculptures made with many other materials that are bright and whimsical. Nick started out as a kid focusing on assemblage and using found objects to create art. He also dances and does performance art. I think his multiple skills and talents help him to create his artworks. I can understand and relate to this because I am also skilled in many trades, sports, and art mediums.

            Nick Cave’s, Soundsuits, is inspirational to me because he involves so many materials and use knitting, body suits, and mannequins to hold them together.  This assemblage and combination of ideas and objects inspires me to look for unique objects to go in depth about my theme of coexistence.  The rhythmic visual, repetition of form, and bright colors intrigue me also and I hold to create a strong visual with wire twisted into forms that can create a sense of natural, organic materials.

Mario Merz - Places with No Street, 1987

Mario Merz was an Italian artist that created this piece in 1987 and it involves numbers lit up on natural materials like twigs with wire mesh, stones, neon tubing, aluminum and wires. Without any outside knowledge about this piece, I come to conclude that it is suppose to signify a unique story. It involves mechanical pieces leading into a dome with natural materials like stone and twigs with wire mesh over top of it. I love the effort into making a twig rug this large and the unique ideas as well as the piece from a composition perspective.

Mario Merz’s, Places with No Street, evokes a emotion from me that is leading me to be less literal and use unique materials to create a piece that displays coexistence between humans and the environment.  In this piece by Mario Merz, I see the lit numbers and wire mesh as humans, and the stone and twigs as nature or the environment.  Mario thought a lot about the creation and technical aspects of this piece before he made it I believe and the outcome of his piece, Places with No Street, inspires me to create a piece using materials that can evoke a emotion and specific theme from the viewer.

Marc Chagall- I and the Village

                                                      Marc Chagall - I and the Village, 1911

Marc Chagall was an artist that worked in many periods such as, Surrealism, cubism, expressionism, fauvism, and modern art. He is inspiration to me because of the abstract, cubist, expressionist qualities to his pieces, movement, action, and most importantly coexistence that is displayed in this piece in particular.   Chagall’s, I and the Village, was done in 1911 and displays a place where peasants and their cattle coexist and respect each other represented by the animal and person looking into each other eyes.  The abstract, cubist style influences me to think about how I can display the idea of coexistence.  This painting has a quality and style to it that reminds me the positive side of coexistence instead of the negative, which I am dwelling on both in the project.

Chagall liked lines and angles when growing up which led to his cubist style. I also focus on lines and angles, but with wire.  I like that fact that Chagall made suggestions to the orbiting sun, moon, and earth in this painting with the circular forms.  That is another element that makes this piece interesting. I shape my wire in all types of ways to evoke a emotion and display a theme, which Marc Chagall does well and inspires me to do.

Henri Matisse Dance (I)

Henri Matisse- Dance (I)

Henri Matisse is another artist that is famous and is not a contemporary artist but worked in many periods including fauvism, impression, and modernism which intrigues me and the fact, this work really inspires me with the theme of coexistence in my project.  Dance (I) is a painting that is inspiration to me because of its composition, interaction, my reaction, and its figures.  Coexistence is the term I get from the painting and may be different to other viewers, but my project makes me look more intently into this aspect within this painting. 

                I like to focus on a variety of media for visual keys that may lead to greater critical thinking of coexistence of my part. The is painting by Henri Matisse displays women that are holding hands in a circle with the blue sky behind them, while they are standing on green grass.  The idea, aesthetic, and composition are relatively simple, but help me to think about displaying my figures made of wire, in different ways.  The positive aspects of coexistence could be displayed with figures dancing in some sort of way similar to this painting by Matisse.  So in essence, this painting is more than a painting to me and makes me think out of the box when relating it to my project.

                                                   Auguste Rodin – The Three Shades

                The famous Auguste Rodin isn’t a contemporary artist by any means, but is a artist that relates to my project for Senior Seminar because of his style. In particular, this sculpture in bronze made  from 1881-1886.  He displays three men that are with the heads together leaning in unity. Arms extended out, fists closed, and a sense of teamwork, togetherness, and loyalty is thought.  The act displayed reminds me of a strong interaction of coexistence I am displaying in my project.  Their bodies together and gestural expression signifies this to me.  I like the action displayed and the interaction between people . It can evoke a strong emotion from the viewer and create questions. A narrative can be conclude in different ways and I respect this. I am making figures in my project that display a strong gesture and have body positioning that makes the viewer walk around the piece to fully perceive the meaning behind it. This sculpture by Rodin is inspiration to me and I am influenced by this to create figures with even stronger qualities portraying stylized positioning.

Huma Bhabha created this work, entitled, Bleekmen, that is made up of many materials like clay, wood, wire, Styrofoam, plastic, cast iron, fabric, ink, paper, brass wire, synthetic polymer paint, and ink. Huma likes  focusing on composite sculptures, combining organic and industrial materials. This artwork is inspired by African, Egyptian, Native American art and futuristic aliens.  The name comes from a science fiction book from the characters that were indigenous to Mars. Yet, the artist also thinks that this form relays the form of a derelict building. Furthermore, Bhabha suggests the form of a mask with this artwork made up of found objects.

               This style is very intriguing and caught my eye because I am focusing on making wire art and when you look at wire, it can become anything you want it to be.  Huma Bhabha had this thought process and took it even farther to find objects and arrange them together to form a representational piece.  This idea is what really catches my attention and the way she arranged her multitude of materials creates an illusion of something that is asymmetrical in shape, but has a sense of balance, rough texture, and creativity that is displayed in an very interesting fashion.

Massoud Hassani: Mine-Kafon wind powered deminer

Massoud Hassani grew up in Afghanistan and was inspired to create these works of art as not only a interesting piece, but to have a useful significance.  He grew up playing and creating sphere shaped objects that could be used to race with that were powered by the wind with his friends.  Hassani knew that once one of these balls went into a mine infested location then they were never to be retrieved, so he became inspired to make something that can help find the safest path to take if someone needed to cross mine field.  The material is bamboo and biodegradable plastic that if came across a mine and exploded, some of the material could be retrieved and made into another mechanism, or art work.

               This fascinates me because the significance behind this artwork as a mechanical object used for the greater good. I am inspired by it because the bamboo and biodegradable plastic seem to interact and create a rhythmic sequence throughout it and my project is going to portray this.  Coexistence is my theme and the materials used and the location of this artwork in the picture gives the aurora of coexistence in nature and with itself.