Emma McLellan

Emma McLellan is a lecturer here at MSVA and teaches the DVA students. Her interest in Animals, Patterns and Genetic Engineering is evident in her works we saw today. A strong influence from William Morris and Konrad Gesner help add the fantasy element to her unique "painted prints"

Layering is a technique that McLellan uses in each of her works we saw today. Layering of media, pattern and colour. This connects to McLellans interest of Genetic Engineering (as she told us in our lecture today). Animal modification and the creation of fanatical beasts is made from layering one animal with another. A Chickens head, with a Rats tails on a Sheep's body. Much like how genetically modified animals are created. This is typical of the McLellan style and taste we witnessed today, McLellan herself saying she "loves fantasy creatures"

Konrad Gesners 'book of beasties' is a book McLellan uses a lot in research for her works. Sometimes also uses Gesners images as found images to use in her work. Cutting and pasting to create new and improved beasties from his ones

Another aspect McLellan is fond of is the idea of cloning, which I guess fits in well with Genetic Engineering and McLellans love of pattern (William Morris) Cloning is much like pattern, our genetic makeup is a code, which could also be referred to as a pattern. So in a way, us as people are connected with wallpaper and genetically modified animals..?

William Morris was an English furniture and textiles designer mostly famous for his wallpaper designs, which most were based on nature, looking intricately at the detail is natures plants. He is a big influence in McLellans works, and this is evident when looking at her art works of which we saw today. McLellan uses Morris' style of subtle colours which are allowed to fade into the background.Creating a muteable setting. McLellan uses imagery much like Morris. Creating patterns based from natures objects and overlaying then with fanatical beasts.

What I like about McLellans work, is how she has taken objects and design from the 1800's, and created futuristic pieces of art. With McLellans interest in animals, genetics and cloning, it is no wonder her works are so incredibly intriguing.

SEMESTER TWO!

Our blogs this semester are on different lecturers who will be coming to talk to us about their own individual practises. I think this semesters lectures are going to incredibly interesting!

-Emma

Psychology

"Tears make the world go round"

Louise Bourgeois

During today's lecture we viewed a range of artists who create psychological art. I was captivated by Louis Bourgeois, a insomniac sculpture.

Bourgeois's father was an anglophile, meaning he loved all things English. Lucky or Unlucky for Bourgeois's father, the family nanny was English. Ultimately causing her father to have an affair with her (the nanny).

We are told that this is what caused Bourgeois's Insomnia, the hatred and betrayal she feels about what her father did, leaves her unable to rest.

This however is the cause of her art.

Bourgeois's work explores the psychological concerns of emotions. It almost seems Bourgeois is trying to rid herself of the hatred and betrayal caused by her father, by creating art pieces, which cause the viewer to feel her emotion, and by producing it in a very rough and strong way.

She uses the band saw in a lot of her work, this is because she can be aggressive and it allows her to be in control.

By producing work about her emotional states it is full of meaning and is very symbolic to her. She (Bourgeois) can only trust her unconscious.

By producing work that is highlighting her own psychological concerns and feelings, she is creating a very personal and deep work. That only she can really understand but it open enough for viewers to interpret their own understanding of.

"I'm a wild beast some of the time"

Said by Bourgeois, this shows how she thinks in terms of herself, and how she can create raw emotion through art.

I feel that the reason Bourgeois creates art is too release herself of her hurt and to try get on with things, however when watching the way she lives her life and how shes goes about daily routines, some may think she is happy how she is. She gives off that impression.

She very abrupt and upfront saying what she needs to say to get the job done.

"At this level we are in business. You can talk to me"

Andy Warhol and Multiples

Multiples

Andy Warhol's use of multiples in his work is evident through his silkscreen process. It was his use of multiples that generated most of his income towards the late 1960's.

Andy Warhol's multiples were commodities. Things that were produced, with there sole purpose being, to be either sold or exchanged.

Warhol's 'The Marilyn's' are great examples of multiples. 'The Marilyn's' are silkscreen prints, that are all the same. (Multiples).

Walter Benjamin talked about the aura that one would feel when looking at the original of a piece of art. The aura, referred to as the sense of awe and reverence one would presumably experience when in the presence of a unique piece of art.

So therefore you cannot experience the aura of an art piece if it is a reproduction of itself.

This makes me wonder.

Warhol's work is consider as multiples. But they are still all individual art pieces. So if what Walter Benjamin is saying that you cannot experience the 'aura' of a piece if it is a reproduction, then can you experience the aura of a piece of from Warhol's 'The Marliyns' collection?

They are all individual pieces, all made the same way, printed from the same screen using the same ink, but at individual times. They are not photocopies, scans or photographs of the original. They are all original pieces of art but they just look the same. So can you experience 'aura' from each piece or not?

I think in this case you can. Even though the pieces may look exactly the same. They are not exactly the same. Each piece may have a slight difference from the one before.

So I feel that in this case, Benjamin is wrong. In the case of Warhol's silkscreen prints you can experience an 'aura' from a multiple.

Spike Lee

"Do the Right Thing"

The 1989 film Do the Right thing by Spike Lee had many key elements that contributed to the overall structure and development of the film. One of these was 'Sal's Wall' which is really the main reason why Radio Raheem was murdered by the police.

Sal is an Italian-American who runs the local Pizzeria, it is a hot spot in the town. He runs the business with his two sons, Vido (who is pro-community) and Pino (who is against the inter-racial community). Sal's wall is made up of only Italian-Americans who Sal feels paved the way for the the Italian-Americans of their time. Since Sal's Pizzeria was the local food stop and attracted much attention, when one black male starts questioning Sal about his wall it divides the two cultures straight down the middle.

Its it Sal's defensiveness and not wanting to change his wall that ultimately leads to the murder of Radio Raheem.

Sal's wall developed the movie from the very start. The film starts out with a happy feel, like its a nice community to live it, but as the film continues to develop, we see how the wall truly cause the dramatic ending.

Was Sal right, not to put up pictures of African-Americans? taking into consideration that 90% of the community were black. There is no real answer, only personal opinions. Sal was pro-community, so it would make sense that he would try and please the community by hanging up pictures of Malcolm X, or Martin Luther King Jr. On the other hand, Sal created 'Sal's Wall' to honour the Italian-Americans who he believes are great achievers. The wall was created to honour his heritage and to portray what is personal to him, not necessarily the community.

It seems Ironic that at the end of the film, Sal's wall it burnt down to the ground, and a memeber of the community puts a piuctures of Martin Luther King Jr. and malcom x. Two men who were for Black civil rights, but went about it in a very differnet manner.

Without 'Sal's Wall' there would be no conflicts between the two culturts, which is really what this film is all about.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright

June 8 1867 - April 9 1959

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American born Architect who produced over 500 completed works.

He produced a diverse range of works, from houses, to churches even school buildings. Sometimes also designing the interior furniture and stained glass

Frank Lloyd Wrights 'Falling water' was one of his most significant buildings.

The 'Falling water' design concept was conceived of Lloyd Wright asking Edgar Kaufman Jr. (The man whose house he was designing), what his favourite spot was.

"The Waterfall. "

Lloyd Wright quickly drew up some drawing for the Kaufman's to look at, and pitched his idea of having the house, above the waterfall rather than below.

The fact that Frank Lloyd Wright, 'falling water' design was based purely on the elements and the materials in and surrounding the site of design, and built directly into the landscape, heightens the viewers awareness of the reality of materials he employed in his art making.

Frank Lloyd Wright's field of practise was Architecture. An area of design which he was exceptionally good at. Architecture has always been a passion of mine.

I spent 10 years of my life dedicating my studies to architecture, when it came to head to University I chose Graphic Design over Architecture. I did not realise until it was time to apply that I preferred the design part of Architecture, but not the physics and calculus that goes along with it.

Frank Lloyd Wrights 'Falling water' makes me realise why I spent over half my life fascinated with Architecture. The pure beauty and elegance of this design is truly stunning. They way Lloyd Wright had Incorporated the local, native surroundings into his work is phenomenal

When I look at 'Falling water' by Frank Lloyd Wright, it does not necessarily make me think differently about Architecture, it just reinforces my feelings towards Architecture. What an amazing and beautiful discipline it is.

It is no wonder why Frank Lloyd Wright was considered

"The greatest American architect of all time"

(American institute of architects 1991)

Commodity Culture

Commodity:

Something you make to sell or exchange

Commodification:

We attach monetary value to things

ANDY WARHOL

Andrew Warhola 1928-1987

A Homosexual Artist.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose parents were immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Often stuck in bed as a child, due to his St. Vitus Dance' (a nervous system disease) he became a hypo-chondriac, which caused him to be out-casted by his peers and helped to create Warhol and his mothers strong bond.

Warhol was a literal artist. He started out doing paintings personally, each one hand painted and sold as individuals. He used to call his studio a factory, this was not a bad idea as Warhol soon realised. Warhol found his works to be selling well, so made the decision to commodify himself.

Andy Warhol started mass productions of his artworks in the 1960's just after he started making his famous paintings of iconic American products, like the infamous Campbell's soup can, and coca-cola bottles.

The 1960's were also the years when he started producing his artworks of famous Americans, such as, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Troy Donahue.

Which to me look as though Warhol has been inspired by Roy Lichtenstein

He turned his 'Factory' into a literal factory, hiring a wide and diverse range of artists, musicians and underground celebrities. Using these people to help him produce these commodities. Andy had a job for everyone, whether it be cutting out stencils, or to print the pictures. Andy Warhol had an assembly line, so he was ably to produce a large quantity of works.

Andy Warhol was a great business man.

Through commodifying himself, Andy Warhol also showcases conviviality and manaakitanga.

When Andy Warhol commodified himself he enlisted the help of others to help him meet demands. His artwork went from only being produced by himself, locked away in his 'factory', to literally becoming a factory, igniting the social boundaries that Warhol had never really experienced

By the 1970's Warhol was criticised, as was being labelled a 'business artist' nothing more

On February 22nd 1987, Andy Warhol died i his sleep, after 'routine gallbladder surgery' where he went into cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

Andy Warhol had stalled his visits to get his re-occurring gallbladder problems checked as he was afraid to see the doctors and even to enter hospitals.

A somewhat ordinary death ending such a difficult yet successful life.