Art: Meaning and Forms PDF

ART: Meaning and Forms Context of Contemporary Art It refers to the network of conditions surrounding the work of art. The following are inquiries about the context of an artwork: 1. What key historical events occurred at the time the work was created? 2. What scientific discover...

ART: Meaning and Forms Context of Contemporary Art It refers to the network of conditions surrounding the work of art. The following are inquiries about the context of an artwork: 1. What key historical events occurred at the time the work was created? 2. What scientific discoveries or technological innovations may have influenced the artist? 3. What were the other artistic influences on the work? 4. What were the philosophical ideas of the time that informed the artwork? 5. What were the cultural influences? 6. Who was the intended audience? 7. Is the artist identified with a particular movement, school, or style? 8. What was the original purpose of the work? Context maybe classified into: Primary Context- Pertains to the artist: His/her attitudes, beliefs, interests, and values; education and training; a biography (including psychology). It also includes the artist's intentions and purpose for making art.  Secondary Context- It addresses the external conditions in which the work was produced: the apparent function of the work; religious and philosophical conventions; socio-political and economic structures and even climate and geography. Art can be produced and received in different ways by people situated in specific social environments. Criteria for a thing to become an ART: (How things or processes take on this value is a part of the study of art.) A. An Aesthetic Experience Are our responses toward phenomena like enchantment, fear, awe, terror, or guilt all that it takes to name something as art or consider something as artistic? B. Consensus of the Art World It refers to a network of institutions (schools, museums, galleries, commercial market systems, and Professions) that exercise the power to set the terms with which the public is made to perceive art. C. Cultural Practice and Shared meaning Every culture creates art, and each has its standards of representation, its cultural context, and its aesthetic conventions. FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF ART  FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF CONTEMPORARY ART Fundamental Object of Process of Components Analysis Analysis of Arts Form Technique Imagination Language Meaning Interpretation Mode of Political Ideology Production Economy 1. FORM– It allows the work to be perceived by the senses and its idea to be communicated through the arrangement of elements as a whole. It is made up of: A. FORMAL ELEMENTS: line, shapes, value, tone, color, texture, mass, volume, space. B. OVERALL COMPOSITION is the arrangement of those formal elements that refer to size, proportion, balance, rhythm, Emphasis and subordination, and Unity and variety. C. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUE: How an artwork is made. ⇨To appreciate the art form, one should look into the transformation of raw materials beyond the application of mechanical technique. One must take into account: IMAGINATION – This is the faculty that allows us to generate mental pictures, ideas, and sensations that do not exist in the world and some cases cannot exist. CREATIVITY – The generation of ideas, insights, and previously unimagined images and artifacts. 2. LANGAUGE – This is a medium where cultural meanings are formed and communicated. It is the primary means by which we form knowledge about ourselves and the social world through the interpretation of meaning. ⇨The language of ART is analyzed through the interpretation INTERPRETATION – Concerned with the search for meaning. To interpret is to establish meaningful connections between what we see and what we feel in a particular work of art. 3. POLITICAL ECONOMY – This is concerned with power and the distribution of economic resources in the context of art production. It explores the questions of who owns and controls the institution of the economy. ⇨In analyzing the political economy of art, IDEOLOGY is unearthed and reveals the surface of the form. The ideological nature of art questions how images serve the interests of some, but not all individuals in society. DISCIPLINES OF ART ART PRODUCTION- This is the process of responding to observations, concepts, emotions, and other experiences that we encounter in the world and interpreting these responses by creating artwork that employs human skills, intuition, and imagination in raw materials or mediums with the appropriate tools and techniques of execution. In producing an artwork, one recognizes that the process of creation entails knowledge of the following: Applying a wide range of art materials, tools, equipment, and techniques, and developing expertise in handling them. Learning about the tradition of craftsmanship and respecting the inherent properties of the material. Learning the attitudes and feelings of artists toward their work. Building human character by acquiring the personal qualities and skills required for successful artistry, such as persistence, patience, self-reflection, and self- criticism.  Learning artistic techniques and solutions to express ideas and feelings in tangible form to be perceived by others. Understanding the motivations and attitudes of artists by studying their lives and appreciating their contribution to society. Appreciating the forms of cultural histories from which the artists derive ideas and inspiration to create their work. ART CRITICISM - It helps us defer our judgment process and understand why we respond the way we do. It involves learning other criteria for judgment beyond our likes and dislikes. Through art criticism, one is engaged in a process of comparing and contrasting works considering the social and cultural context in which the work was produced and circulated. It is an informed talk or writing about art. ART CRITICISM - It helps us defer our judgment process and understand why we respond the way we do. It involves learning other criteria for judgment beyond our likes and dislikes. Through art criticism, one is engaged in a process of comparing and contrasting works considering the social and cultural context in which the work was produced and circulated. It is an informed talk or writing about art. Art Criticism is a four-step process that seeks to address the following questions: 1.What do you see? Description – In this step information is collected about the subject of an artwork. List all information from the credit line. What is the subject of this artwork? Describe the sensory properties (i.e., line, shape, color, texture, value, space, form) 2. How is the work organized? Analysis – It deals with the work’s compositional qualities. The art elements used as well as the art principles that organized them are noted. How are the elements of art arranged in this work? Describe the formal properties (i.e., balance, contrast, emphasis, unity, pattern, movement, rhythm) 3. What message does this artwork communicate? Interpretation – This step deals with the content of the work. Assumptions and guesses are made about the possible meaning of the work. What is the meaning of the work? What mood (i.e., playful, sad, joyful, mysterious, peaceful, terrifying), idea (i.e., truth, pride, honor, courage, wisdom, authority, compassion) or dynamic state (i.e., calmness, excitement, power, conflict, suspense, tension, relaxation) does it express? Describe the symbols used in the work about the cultural and historical contexts. 1.Is this a successful work of ART? Judgment – In this step one expresses the success or failure of the artwork and establishes its value in society. Judging a work of art means deciding its success or lack of success. Do you think this is a successful work of art? What is the value or relevance of the artwork in contemporary society? ART HISTORY – This is the study of art, past and present, and its contributions to cultures and society. The primary purpose of art history is to establish the timeline and sustain the systematic sequence of events in the development of culture and tradition. It provides answers to the questions of who, what, when, where, and why. It is about the historical, social, and cultural context of the art object. It focuses on the aspect of time, tradition, and style as they relate to the artwork. It establishes the historical order of art movement and stylistic traditions.  It establishes the historical order of art movement and stylistic traditions. Historical Inquiry into a work of art takes a wide range of forms: 1. Attribution – Where, when, why, and by whom was the work made? 2. Authenticity – What scholarly verification is made to document and affirm the attribution of work? 3. Iconography – What are the meanings of the objects, symbols, and motifs in the work? 4. Provenance – What is the history of ownership of the work? What were the circumstances behind the transfer of ownership across generations? 5. Function – What was the original function of the work? Why was it created? 6. Style – What are the remarkable characteristics or qualities that identify the work? How is the work related to the body of work in a particular period? 7. Psychology – What personal factors help relate the artist to his or her time and the work to a particular social or cultural condition? 8. Connoisseurship – How does the intensive study of the work reveal or help resolve the problems of authorship, ownership, or physical condition? AESTHETICS – It refers to a work of art's nature, beauty, and value. It is a branch of Philosophy that examines the nature, meaning, and value of art and other things, from an aesthetic point of view. (Dobbs, 1998) The question of beauty is a part of aesthetic inquiry. Aesthetic inquiry deals with questions such as: ⮚What is Art? ⮚Are all people creative? ⮚Does every piece of art deserve praise? ⮚Can something e art in one culture and not in another? THE ART WORLD THE ART WORLD - is composed of people involved in the following: PRODUCTION COMMISSION PRESENTATION PRESERVATION PROMOTION CHRONICLING CRITICISM SALE OR CONSUMPTION OF ART CORE ACTIVITIES: A. Production of Art B. Exhibition of Art Galleries COLLATERAL ACTIVITIES: A. Facilitation of production and exhibition B. Dissemination of art and art discourse GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS RA 7356 – is an act creating NCAA and NEFCA. Section 2 – Culture as a human right. Culture is a manifestation of Freedom of belief and expression and is a human right to be accorded due respect and allowed to flourish. HISTORY OF NCCA In 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino penned Executive Order # 118 creating the Presidential Commission on Culture and the Arts Five years later, in 1992, this presidential decree was enacted into Law – RA 7356 The original bill was jointly authored by Senator Edgardo Angara, Heherson Alvarez, Leticia Ramos Shahani, and Congressman Carlos Padilla. NCCA – National Commission for Culture and the Arts is the overall policymaking, coordinating, grants-giving agency for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts and culture. It is by default the government’s “Department of Culture.” It is headed by a 15 Member Board of Commissioners coming from different government agencies: Department of Education Department of Tourism The Senate Private Sectors  NCAA Cultural Agencies: (under Executive Order #80) CCP – Cultural Center of the Philippines (Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas) – Is the National Center for the Performing Arts. NHCP – National Historical Commission of the Philippines – By virtue of R.A. 10086, Is responsible for the conservation and preservation of the country’s historical legacies. NM – National Museum –Is tasked with the preservation, conservation, and protection of movable and immovable cultural properties for the enjoyment of present and future generations. National Library of the Philippines National Archives of the Philippines KWF – Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (under RA 9155) EXHIBITION, DISPLAY, AND DISSEMINATION OF ART CLASSIC ART: MUSEUM – The Greeks laid the fundamental concepts for a museum as a place for education and enjoyment. INSULAR MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND COMMERCE (under the Dept. of Public Instruction by virtue of Act 284 passed by the Philippine Commission. – Started in 1901 known today as the National Museum MODERN ART: Contemporary forms of art have started to explore the possibilities of engaging audiences outside the context of the Museum. Some would refer it to as a “white cube”. White Cube – is a term that originated from the way contemporary museum exhibit their collections on plain, usually white walls to focus on the display. However, it became a concern with contemporary art where the extensiveness of interaction between the audience, the artist, and the work is heavily tied to the context it moves in. CURATOR - It refers to a person who deals with setting out the physical space for the exhibition and display of artworks. The curator should also present a framework in which the audience may view the work or set of works. The Curator in the same way that the artist can make a statement with his/her artwork can impart his own idea by presenting works in a certain way. SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS Section 15 of Article 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution establishes the role of the Philippine Government in supporting the arts and creative practices. PRIVATE and CORPORATE PATRONAGE Art Patronage – Refers to the support that wealthy personalities and corporate entities bestow on Artists. Patron – From the Latin word which means father; hence, a patron of arts is one who protects the arts. Patrons are often a person of power and wealth who commission art for their homes and even monuments after their death. Patrons: 1. Person of wealth and power 2. Religious Group 3. Private Sector through Donations 4. Corporations through Corporate Sponsorship -They usually initiate national Art Competitions to discover new artists and expose them to a larger audience. Example: Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Philip Morris’s Philippine Art Awards Shell National Students Art Competition SM art for everyone, My City, My SM, My Art THE ART MARKET Varying Intentions of Art Buyers: 1. Those who can finance a hobby of competing to collect market-popular artworks. 2. Those who consider artwork as an investment that can be sold for a higher price in the future. 3. Those who want to hang on their walls sought-after paintings as visual evidence of financial success. 4. Those who are motivated by a combination of two or more of the earlier-mentioned intentions. Artists may create art on speculation –they create art that they later try to sell, either through their own efforts, through agents, or through galleries. Artists may create art on commission – when artists make specific works for the patrons. THE ART MARKET Varying Intentions of Art Buyers: 1. Those who can finance a hobby of competing to collect market-popular artworks. 2. Those who consider artwork as an investment that can be sold for a higher price in the future. 3. Those who want to hang on their walls sought-after paintings as visual evidence of financial success. 4. Those who are motivated by a combination of two or more of the earlier-mentioned intentions. Artists may create art on speculation –they create art that they later try to sell, either through their own efforts, through agents, or through galleries. Artists may create art on commission – when artists make specific works for the patrons. STATE GRANTS AND TAX-SUPPORTED ART NEFCA – National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts is responsible for the administration of permanent funds exclusively for the implementation of culture and art programs and projects. It allocates a portion of public funds for artwork, subventions to art institutions, the organization of art events locally, regionally, and nationally, and the establishment of funds for the arts. Endowment Fund – This is an investment fund set up by the institution in which regular withdrawals from the invested capital are used for ongoing operations and grant programs. Grant –a sum of money awarded to an artist by a government agency or private corporation to enable him/her to produce art. NCCA offers grants for projects such as: - Publications - Exhibits - Conferences - Workshops