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| Dynamism of a dog on a Leash (1912) Giacomo Balla |
Industrialisation in the late 1800s, and today.
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1. What and when was the Industrial Revolution?
The industrial revolution was in the period of the 18th century and through to the 19th century which was a movement that made significant changes in society with agriculture, manufacturing mining and technology which had great effects on the social and cultural aspects of life at that time period. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution). Throughout this time period the development of machinery and mechanics to manufacture products such as glass and paper and to further transport development effected people as less labour was able to continue with their job as mechanical systems were developed to do a cheaper more efficient and better job. (americanhistory.about.com/library/charts/blchartindrev.htm )
Both paintings featured on this blog, that are from the early 1900s were painted by Modernist painters from the group called 'Futurists'. The Futurists celebrated the machine, and objects in motion. Their primary objective was to depict movement, which they saw as symbolic of their commitment to the dynamic forward thrust of the 20th century.
2. Research both Modernist paintings in order to comment on the subject matter, form and style used to celebrate the machine and motion in each painting. Answer the question in 2 parts for each painting.
2. Research both Modernist paintings in order to comment on the subject matter, form and style used to celebrate the machine and motion in each painting. Answer the question in 2 parts for each painting.
The painting “Dynamism of a dog on a leash” by Giacomo balla uses a technique to blur the legs of the dog and swinging of the leash to help create a illusion of movement to the viewer. The painting is viewed below the womens knee to help show a closer perspective of the dog and possibly a cut off of human perspective meaning more so a less human perspective which explores the idea of a machine dominated world according to Tom Lubbock. The picture using chronophotography newly on canvas represents the machine in motion. (Daniella ranaudo,14th May 2010)
The painting “the city rises” is a painting of the labours’ of men at a construction site utilising the power of horses this is the central focus of the painting. ( September 1st 2010,
Jade Wildy) the painting has use of quick short energetic brush strokes which can help depict movement and can also show the painter himself is a futurist as Umberto Boccioni (1882 – 1916) himself wrote that Futurists “must combine the analysis of colour and the analysis of forms” this suggests “the city rises” is a painting suggesting the ideas of futurism. The painting catches this idea of motion and also shows hard labourers this can be seen as capturing the machine in motion. The City Rises there are both elements of detail and visual clarity juxtaposed with blurs of movement. This painting is said to epitomise Futurist painting, according to Boccioni, in its 'synthesis of work, light and movement'. Compositionally this painting does come across as unbalanced and discordant which could be considered a metaphor for the industrial age therefore it does capture the essence of Futurism. ( September !st 2010, Jade Wildy)
http://www.suite101.com/content/futurism-and-umberto-boccionis-the-city-rises-a280519
http://www.suite101.com/content/futurism-and-umberto-boccionis-the-city-rises-a280519
Cao Fei's RMB City (2007-9) refers to China's recent rapid industialisation and urbanization.
(www.artspace.org.nz/exhibitions/2009/cafeintopia.asp)
3. Research Cao Fei's RMB City (2007-9) in order to comment on this work in more depth.
i.e what images has she used in her digital collage that refer to China's present and history, and why has she used these.
(www.artspace.org.nz/exhibitions/2009/cafeintopia.asp)
3. Research Cao Fei's RMB City (2007-9) in order to comment on this work in more depth.
i.e what images has she used in her digital collage that refer to China's present and history, and why has she used these.
Cao Fei’s RMB City incorporates much of Chinas past and present throughout the virtual world she has created. Also a lot of symbolistic sites are seen such as the Chinese stadium that hosted the Beijing Olympics as well as something as simple as the iconic panda. This online world host 14 million participants designed to see the expanding creativity and discussion of participants as well as conducting a metaphor for the growth of super cities throughout china. Cao Feis has used icons such as the Olympic Stadium and the as well as these historic terracotta staues and far more as it refers to Chinas past and the movement forward it is taking, once again showing this metaphor for Chinas growth and movement forward suggesting futurism.
4. RMB City is described as a utopia/dystopia. Comment on what these terms mean, and how they can be applied to the work.
4. RMB City is described as a utopia/dystopia. Comment on what these terms mean, and how they can be applied to the work.
RMB city is looked at as a Utopia which is an individuals ideal world where worries are not present in the piece by Cao Fei its a virtual world where you are represented by an Avatar and that Avatar is personally customised to your liking. Participants create a parallel reality in which to live out their dreams (http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2008/05/cao_fei_rmb_city.html, n.d) But also I think the online artwork can suggest dystopia as it shows chinas growth and possibly suggests we cannot keep going the way in which we are as in this virtual world it is a Utopia but it can also show how the machine may sooner or later begin to take over where peoples labour can be lost due to the efficiency of the machine.
5. Although the Modernist paintings and the contemporary digital work have emerged from
different contexts, there are also many similarities. Comment on the similarities that you can see in the work. Look at the moving digital image atvimeo.com/4272260, if you have not
already researched it.
Watching the video I think the main similarity which occurs to me is the idea of movement as well as the idea of labour occurring and movement of the machine and movement into the future suggesting the idea of futurism as well industrialisation. The top paintings show movement throughout the techniques in which they are painted the quick brush strokes and the video shows the movement of 3d objects in a video sense more so showing the movement.
5. Although the Modernist paintings and the contemporary digital work have emerged from
different contexts, there are also many similarities. Comment on the similarities that you can see in the work. Look at the moving digital image atvimeo.com/4272260, if you have not
already researched it.
Watching the video I think the main similarity which occurs to me is the idea of movement as well as the idea of labour occurring and movement of the machine and movement into the future suggesting the idea of futurism as well industrialisation. The top paintings show movement throughout the techniques in which they are painted the quick brush strokes and the video shows the movement of 3d objects in a video sense more so showing the movement.
References:
atvimeo.com
www.dictionary.com
i like how you pointed out the RMB City are looked as utopia due to worries are not presented, and in this digital collage work by Cao Fei does show this element. i think she is trying to say that since China is being developed in a well constant speed, it is not far away in the future that utopia can be created by advance technology and efficient machinery. But to me, utopia will always just happen in either in our dream, or the virtual world, this is due to the reality, that everyone do have worries in everyday life, but Cao Fei's work did gave me a inspiration of how utopia can be explained through slow movements of objects and colour contrasts.
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