Module 12 Video Review

The two videos I decided to watch were Isamu Noguchi and Andy Warhol.

In the first video about Isamu Noguchi, I learned about the importance of experimentation in art. 

Noguchi was a sculptor to be specific, and in his works he always pushed the limits of the elements with which we worked. For example, his golden sculpture in New York City seems to focus heavily on emphasis and perspective. It is a more complex work, unlike his Red cube sculpture which is a more minimal piece that focuses heavily on subtraction and position.
I can say this video definitely helped me understand more about what makes a sculpture successful.
It doesn't always matter what the sculpture is about, it can also be the craftsmanship of the sculpture and the process of how it came to be.

In the second video about Andy Warhol, I learned about his very clever use of color, shade, and value. I find that his pieces spoke for themselves through the identity Warhol created with them.
His portraits in particular, were absolutely beautiful and often brought  to life with brilliant colors.
I have been a Warhol fan for some time now so this video was great for me. I always love a chance to observe Warhols work because I feel like he is one of the most skillful and talented artist to ever use color. I definitely learn the harmony of colors and shapes and how they can be used in unordinary ways and still make a statement. 

MODULE 10: Mask Making

ASPARTAN MASK, MADE PATINATED RESIN. 

I LIKE THE AGGRESSIVE SHAPE OF THE MASK.

 PARTICULARLY THE EYE AND FACE GUARDS

I ALSO LIKE THE RUGGED SURFACE OF THE MASK.

THE MASK WORN BY VEGA, A CHARACTER IN STREET FIGHTER

THE MINIMALISM OF THIS MASK IS WHAT MAKES THE AESTHETIC.

I ESPECIALLY ENJOY THE LARGE BLUE "J" EMBOSSED ON THE CHEEK.

MASK WORN DURING THE MEXICAN HOLIDAY: DIA DE LOS MUERTOS OR DAY OF THE DEAD

I MOSTLY ENJOY THE INTRICACY OF THE HAND PAINTED DESIGNS.

I ALSO LOVE THE STRONG IMAGERY OF LIFE AND DEATH CREATED BY

THE PLANTS ROOTS AND PETALS ON A SKELETON.

THESE ARE MY PRELIMINARY SKETCHES. I KNEW THE SHAPE AND THE MEDIUM THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY END UP USING. BUT I NEEDED TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THE MASK

THIS WAS MY MY FIRST ATTEMPT. I STARTED OFF THE SPIKES AND AND A HEART ON THE FOREHEAD. THAT LEAD TO ME EXPERIMENTING WITH HEARTS ON THE FACE AND CHIN PARTS OF THE MASK. I WANTED TO CREATE A SENSE OF BALANCE AND I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE I GET THE CORRECT SCALE BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT ONE ELEMENT TO BE MORE EMPHASIZED THAN ANOTHER, I WANTED EVERYTHING TO EVENTUALLY GRACEFULLY WORK TOGETHER.

 THIS WAS MY SECOND ATTEMPT. I BEGAN TO ENJOY WHAT I WAS GETTING AT. I NEEDED A WAY TO BRING OUT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MAKS THAT I MOST ENJOY. I STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH "TEXT". SCRIBBLES THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY FILL IN WITH WORDS AND PHRASES AND SYMBOLS THAT COULD SPEAK FOR THE MASK. I ENJOYED THE IMBALANCE THAT THE SYMBOLS CREATED ON THE FACE AREA OF THE MASK. I WAS STARTING TO REALLY ENJOY THE HARMONY THAT I WAS CREATING IN THE MASK AND THE MOTION THAT MY EYES WERE TRAVELING WHEN I LOOKED AT IT - COUNTER CLOCKWISE.

THIS IS MY MASK.

I DECIDED TO GO WITH A HEART MOTIF ON THE FOREHEAD AND I DID USE WORDS AND SYMBOLS FOR THE MASK. THINGS THAT DEFINED THE OVERALL IDEA THAT I HAD FOR THE MASK WHILE I WAS SKETCHING IT - FREEDOM, PAIN, PEACEFUL PROTEST, EXHAUSTION, AND STRENGTH.

Module 10 video review

I chose to watch the video on Hinduism and the Video on Buddhism.

I chose both of these videos because of their short time duration.

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Hinduism

I learned about the Hindu's use of the harmony and balance in their art. They use these two elements regardless of the medium of art, whether it's music, dance, illustrative arts, or ceremonial arts. The Hindu people also include these elements in more ways than one might think - using people, colors, sounds, and movements in cohesion to create an engaging experience in their part of the world. This includes anything from festive decorations to mass architecture. My opinion on this film as that the Hindu people, were very devoted to spiritualism. For this reason, they included strong esoteric imagery that dates far back into their origin. I believe these images and methods were maintained in full and left mostly unchanged, creating the very colorful and vibrant identity we, as a western civilization, imagine of Hinduism today. 

Buddhism

While watching the video on Buddhism, I noticed a special attention to pattern and proportion. This was used in a more traditional fashion. Using it as decor for buddhist apparel, embellishments on buddhist statues, and especially in buddhist architecture to tell complex stories of their history. What I enjoy most about this video was the sense of discipline that exists in the buddhist culture. Transcending their art, they have built their entire existence around discipline. So much so that everything they have created has a piece of history within it. They are a very devout people and I think if one could take such discipline - like the buddhist - and apply to art fully as many have in the past; the result will be and has been remarkably beautiful and almost incomprehensibly complex.