CY Twombly Untitle 1970

CY Twombly "Untitle" 1970.

Oil-based house paint and crayon on canvas, 13' 3 3/8" x 21' 1/8" (405 x 640.3 cm).

It’s a very big scale canvas. Despite the scale, people will think it’s a graffiti by an innocent kid. The composition of the lines scribble evenly all over the black canvas. The volume of the lines seem the fur from an animal.Further checking the details, the white fluid, continuous lines with horizontal direction writing goes smoothly and naturally. The only subjects on the canvas is the repetitive, overlaid lines. Some areas with smudges seems covering with a thin layer of gauze. The placement of the lines on the big field is energetic. I heard that Twombly made this work using an unusual technique: he sat on the shoulders of a friend, who shuttled back and forth along the length of the canvas, thus allowing the artist to draw the lines. lines.
I can feel the rhyme of lines with elegant melody seems to tell a story related to the artist his own. I am waiting someone can tell me the truth about the story. It’s a myth of the painting and shapes and forms imply the unique visual language which only the creator can understand and translate it.

Gender, the Body and the Gaze

One of art works in Judy Chicago's installation art The Dinner Party, called "O'Keeffe's dish". The flower looks like female's vergina.


(The Dinner Party is an installation artwork by feminist artis Judy Chicago depicting setting 39 mythical and historical famous women. It was produced from 1974 to 1979.)

The tribe in African nation of Niger

Gender, The body, and the Gaze

Sextuality is an issue related to the biology. Sex refers to the biological distinction between females and males. The two sexes have different primary sex characteristics. Mature females have wider hips, breasts to allow for pregnancy, giving birth and breast-feeding.
Matured males, on the other hand, develop more muscle in the upper body, and deeper voices. Many people understand little about sexuality. For most people, sex has been a culture taboo in Asian society. But sex-Industry(prostitute) is still busy with great sale.
People in western countries, they kiss in public, the Chinese kiss only in private. The Maoris rub noses.

Culture can define the two sexes very differently. In ancient time, women take care of children, cook and clean and men do the hunting, repairing and hunting. Cultures have in defining what is feminine and what is masculine. Some men in African tribes are proud of a display of dress-up, beauty, but most people in our society would think it as feminine.
Women struggled the equality with men. In general, women fare better in rich countries tha in poor countries. In Asian countries, most parents hope their first-born will be a boy rather than a girl. China has continued one child policy to limit China’s population growth. The rule has caused abortion, abandonment for female infants. It resulted the big difference of birth rate between male and female infants.

Talking about gender indentify, we knew some famous artists who are conflicting their sexuality. Marcel Duchamp was a cross-sexuality. Andy Warhol was a openly gay, Shigeyuki…., how about lesbian from the modern art history? Artists are especially emotional that’s why
they can create arts. Now free love is commonly supported by most of people. “ I do what I like, not what the people want me to do”. I feel more and more people talk about the gender issues from media(TV,radio, movie..). I am suspicious about some people are not a real gay but announce they are gay openly. I t has became a general issue, I don’t think we need to purposely mention about it.

During this contextual course, let me think of Georgia O’Keeffe(1887 ~1986 America) and Frida Kahlo(1907~1954 Mexica) . They both are artists who like express sexuality(woman’s body, organ) by metaphoric way into their drawings. Their powerful, passionate painting style imply an extraordinary mythic atmosphere.
I will do further research about their personality ,backgrounds and art –style.

Ref:

"Sociology " by John J. Macionis

"Moderism about the role of women and gender in modern art"

http://www.artist-magazine.com/ Mar., 2009 no. 406

HOPE

Obey Manifesto
The Obey campaign can be explained as an experiment in Phenomenology. The first aim of Phenomenology is to reawaken a sense of wonder about one's environment. The Obey campaign attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the campaign and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with Obey propaganda provoke thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewer's perception and attention to detail. The medium is the message.

http://www.thegiant.org/wiki/index.php/Obey_Giant The "Hope" poster was produced during the US presidential election in 2008, by artist Shepard Fairey in support of the Obama campaign. One day, Shepard found a photo of Obama and illustrated it into a image. Soon he received the approval from the Obana campaign and was asked to produce the text highlighting the ideology of hope. "Hope" and "Progress" both were commonly used throughout Obama campaign . The "Hope" poster soon became used by the campain. And easily spreaded as a symbol of Obama compaign (Democratic Party)
During the presidential election, Obama was himself a symbol of change, and representing hope to Americas. It satisfied the publice who are supporters to Obama. Meanwhile, It achieved the reputation of Obey campaign and the artist's wealth.

http://www.obey.com/

http://www.obeygiant.com/

Capitalism, Commodification and Andy Warhol

Capitalism, Commodification, and Pop Art

Talking about capitalism, it’s a system which is economic, social and political. The system should trace further to 16~17 century from Europe. The system in which wealth and the means of producing wealth, are privately own. Through capitalism, the land, labour and capital are operated and trades under free market for the purpose of income by supply good, commodity. The opposite system of capitalism is socialism evern more communism. I am not concerned about the issue like which system is better between capitalism and socialism. In 20 century, the most symbolic country of capitalism is America. During the period of 1960, a capital society made every products as a target on making money. A mass consumer culture spreaded widely. The consumerism was gladly accepted as a basic value by the free world. Under the commodication circumstances, Andy Warhol’s extraordinary concepts and artistic repetitive method drew public attention to his unsual talent. He was a advertisement illustrator in the beginning. His first exhibition about the pictures of Campbell’s soup cans in Jul and Aug., 1962. A mixture of painting, silkscreen and a stamp process. Andy Warlhol’s art works reflected its social background, maybe that’s because he had ever studied sociology. Campbell’s soups, Coca Cola......which are common and very important to everyday life for everyone. Taiwan was under American protection and a member of the democracy at the time. And it naturally wa affected by American culture including POP trends. Coca Cola is a symbol of American dream during my childhood. I remember when I was sick I could get a bottle of Coca Cola for a special treatment from my mum. Now I can understand why I could have the coke, it’s a
kind of metal healing for a kid with sickness.

Later he continuously created a series artworks related to super stars, singer (Marilyn Monroe, Liz tayler , Elvis Presley…), and politician like Mao Zedong (a leader of People’s Republic of China). He earned the success of his reputation and wealth. He was called “ The POP of POP”.
During the time of 1960, Billy Apple (1935, Barrie Bates in Auckland, New Zealand) also a member of POP artists.
He collaborated with Andy Warhol and the other POP artists. His art life from POP period and from 1970 he involved into the conceptual art in N.Y. Billy changed his name from Barrie Bates into Billy Apple in 1962. I was impressed by his art work “SOLD”(The giving as an art political statement) in 1981.
The gallery poster showed “Art for Sale”. When people entered the gallery the wall were empty , there were not pictures at all, but sales-stickers. because the art all sold out. Only the sold stickers showed on the wall.
But they didn't look much likeThe biggest sales-ticket cost $3,000 and the prints, which after all were smaller and on paper and weren't unique items, cost only $300.

Is it a joke? A gallery where everyone supposed there are full of art works. Now There is no other content, no pictures except “SOLD” the statement in a gallery. "SOLD" makde it more obvious about the relationship between the gallery, the artist and the clients. “SOLD” reflected the issue about the money of art , the business of art.
Sometimes I feel very confused about the conceptual art and the artist’s controversial art method. Conceptual art can be seen as the artist’s philosophy presentation.

Ref: "Pop Art" by Klaus Honnef

www.wikipedia.org

Gallery visit: Filipe Tohi at Fresh Gallery

Gallery visit: Filipe Tohi at Fresh Gallery/Otara, Manukau city

Color and contrast
A solo exhibition by Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi
20, Mar - 11 Apr., 2009
Last week we missed the visit for Fresh Gallery because it was closed. I visited there again this Tuesday(6, Mar).
After the introduction with details about Filipe Tohi’s art works from gallery staff, Nicole Lim, I finally understood about the artist’s background and the creative ideas about his artworks.

Filipe Tohi was born in Tonga and migrated to New Zealand in 1978, at the age of nineteen. Filipe lives and works in New Plymouth were several of his sculptures can be seen. He became a full time artist / sculptor since 1990. He works with a wide variety of media from wood, stone, steel and Perspex.
Last year, he experimented to work with acrylic painting s and a series of “haukulasi”(flatten lalava in wool)
In Fresh Gallery, there are 11 art works showing. 5 acrylic paintings and 6 Haukulasi. I was fascinated to the geometric patterns with abstract creative art forms. With the combination of square , triangle with contrast colors and the volume with illusion and lines. Those are modern representation of identity of contemporary arts.

What’s the meaning of Haukulasi?
Haukulasi is a practice invented by Tohi which uses traditional Tongan techniques(lalava) to create a new form using wool.
What’s the meaning of “Lalava”?
Lalava is also known as Haukafa. It is a traditional binding methods,made with sannit(coconut fiber).
The lalava is usually done with two colors-black and natural. Lashing is traditionally with the two colors-however , it is traditional binding with either one or two colors of coconut fiber.

Comparison 2 different series of Filipe Tohi’ s art works including acrylic painting and Haukulasi in the gallery. I like Haukulasi rather than his paintings although the vivid modern colors. Haukulasi looks so modern with fine designs and precision of lashing with the media of wool made 3 dimension to bind with particle board. The lalava patterns implied his Polynesian background. The contrast of 2 colors coming with squares and lines represent a balance patterns like the traditional Tongan life philosophy. I stared the squares,one by one, each square is like a small world with the mass of layers and lines. It’s un-touchable to the bottom (source) of each world. The depth and width of ancient culture. He is the only one modern artist with traditional art form of lalava.
“My work transforms the technology of the past into a modern representation of identity and experience. By using the patterns established by lalava. I express a dynosian heritage with metaphors for that speak to the entire community. -written by Filipe Tohi.

www.tantai.org/sopolemalama-fillipe-tohi/
http://www.lalava.net/

According to Nicole Lim’s introduction, there are some metal work projects by Tohi in New Zealndn and overseas. One in Tepapa museum in Wellington, one(coming together ) in Onehunga community center and library 2004, and one in New Plymouth.

Field trip to Polyfest 2009

Field trip to Polyfest 2009

"Many Cultures, One World" - "Nga tikanga-a-iwi o te ao whanui" - "E tele aganu'u ae tasi lava le lalolagi" -" ‘Oku tau taha pe neongo ‘oku tau kau ki he ngaahi matakali kehekehe" - “ Kehekehe e tau aga Faka-Motu, ka e taha e lalolagi” - "E mànganui te àkono’anga, 'okota'i rai ao"

The 2009 ASB Polyfest held over four days, from 18th to 21st Mar., 2009. In its 34 year, it’s expected over 9000 students and 85,000 people to go to south Auckland for the popular annual event. Poly fest is considered one of the biggest festival of its kind in the world. The event had 59 schools and close to 200 cultural groups involved in the cultural performance and speech making.
There are five performance stages(Maori, Cook Island, Niue, Samoan & Tonga) The Festival is proudly hosted by Wesley College at the Manukau Sportsbowl
by http://www.asbpolyfest.co.nz/

When we reached there, I was so surprised with a lot of people, most are Polynesian people, gathering over there. 1st stage we went is a competition performance(MIT) which some college students were singing and dancing tradition Polynesian performance on the stage. They were singing and dancing for the joy, not only for the competition. I was so touched and exciting for the atmosphere with happiness and respect for the culture. The feeling is just like I went to the temple fair in my country when I was a child. People gathered in front of the temple for the celebration of Buddhist or God birthday. Enjoyed the food and watched the performance (
Taiwanese opera, or traditional puppy play) on the stage which was built in front of temple. The stage standing in front of temple is because that’s someone donated and sacrificed for God. And God shares the show for the public. It became a kind of community art activity.
I thought of the word of “social sculpture” which we just learned from the lesson.
The phase created by Joseph Beuys. For Beuys social sculpture implied that art could alter society.

People gatherning becoming a kind of art activity. People became the art work, and everyone involved became the artist. It’s my great honor to be one of artists participating in the field of the Poly Festival.

"Every human being is an artist, a freedom being, called to participate in transforming and reshaping the conditions, thinking and structures that shape and inform our lives" Joseph Beuys

www.socialsculptureforum.com.au/index.html

Second impressions at Te Tuhi

Second impressions at Te Tuhi-after doing some research on at least one of the artists involved
Last Saturday, I visited Te Tui Center again.
First thing, I checked the keyboard to prove it’s really workable for information searching. I was cheated last time and thought it as a “fake” thing.
After viewing all the “fake” art works,
I was impressed by Glen Hayward’s art works. The items such as cardboard box, fire extinguishers, plastic chair, painting equipments those are all hand made by wood. It’s interesting that he made the everyday stuffs with quite different material as usual. The most real-like art work is the cardboard box. It’s very successful as playing a character of “fake” in this exhibition. I did close inspection to prove it’s really “fake” in fact. The texture of surface is almost the same with paper-made. The folding cover is similar to an usual one from a cardboard box. Finally, I still recognized that those are all out of wood. Hayward’s sculpture are making joke with the viewer. It became a relationship about a game between the artist and the audience. We all involved and participated into the art form. Those art works seem to invite us to try to touch, hold or sit on them. If I sit on the plastic chair, I, myself, might become an art and add into Hayward’s sculpture. Can I say the work is a performace art? It’s a form of conceptual art. Thinking of it as art. Hayward’s pieces remind me that we see and think the world by our preconceptions. When the shape or material changed, we will see it as “fake’ or unacceptable.
It also remind me about Marcel Duchamp’s art work Fountain in 1917.It’s a readymade urinal. Duchamp changed it by 90 degree angle, and called it as the name of “Fountain”.
He had renovated the art form. A conceptual art. Fountain is regarded the most influential artwork of the 20 th century.