'Memorial Project Nha Trang, Vietnam' (2001)

This project was originally planned out to be a solo performance of Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba pulling a cyclo suspended in a large water tank which then escalated into a video of 6 cyclos riders in the sea, with the whole thing being filmed entirely underwater, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba’s 13-minute video shows a strange yet familiar feat of six Vietnamese fisherman pulling cyclos along the sea bed. Filmed in 2001 off the coast of Southeast Vietnam this work of art will engage with the viewer letting them visually dive into the what and whitness the fishermens Silent duty, through the water.


Its almost as if it is a ghost town with the blue tinted look of the water and the still/slow images of the fishermen. 'I wanted to create a cyclo museum. That idea actually led me to this video. Cyclos are still refurbished if anyone needs them fixed; however, this happens less and less'
So in fact, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba was stearing towards this style even before he started to create the work.

Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba’s video work, Memorial Project Nha Trang, Vietnam: Towards the Complex—For the Courageous, the Curious, and the Cowards, was first video work and offers captivating images of local fishermen pulling cyclo underwater toward an area where the artist had about thirty stretched out mosquito nets across the sea bed. The cyclos, deep underwater, represent the weight of tradition and reference Vietnam’s historical past in the context of the country’s struggle with the processes of modernization.

This piece of work could almost be said to be about modernism, with the decline in the use of veitnams unique transportation device, the cyclo, Nguyen-Hatushiba seeks to immortalise the vehicle in their work. Like a statement against Modernism, saying that progress is not necessary in some cases and if it continues at this rate, Vietnam could lose an important cultural icon.

His work has a very spiritual connection to many things beyond his work. He mentioned that he got a supernatural feeling when filming this, 'I remember getting goose bumps looking down at the bottom of the ocean where we had placed the mosquito nets. I interpret goose bumps as an interaction with the supernatural.'

So the title has its hidden meanings in relation to the work, ‘Towards the Complex-For the Courageous, the Curious and the Cowards’ this title could mean many things, ‘Courageous' symbolizes the cyclos riders for carrying on their cultural tradition even though they know they will struggle along the path to bring back the 'cyclos' heading towards the complex filled with 30 mosquito nets this depicts the safe haven from modernisation. ‘Curious’ describes the audiences reaction towards this bizzare sight of underwater cyclos. ‘Cowards’ is refering to the people who have struggled to hold on to their traditions in order to adapt new eras of technologies and ways of life.

Week 7 - Industrialisation and Art

'Impression Sunrise' (1873)

1.Define the Industrial Revolution and Industrialism.

The industrial revolution may be defined as the application of power-driven machinery to manufacturing. It had its beginnings in remote times with lesser technologies, and is still continuing in some places. all of western Europe began to industrialize rapidly during the 18th century, but for England the process was highly accelerated. England's head start may be attributed to the emergence of the number of numerous factors.


2.Research Monet's painting 'Impression Sunrise'(1873) to analyze the work in relation to Industrialisation.

During the 19th century the industrial revolution was at its peak. Manet illustrates the ideas of progression and the build up to a, you could say, bigger and better world. To the viewer, the sun gives the feeling that it is pulsing. This may be because our eyes are so used to seeing the sun in our everyday lives, and we naturally think of it as a pulsating object in the sky as it sends it heat waves down to us. Monet's shows this with the sun being a warm luminescent orange, this blends seemlesly with the grey clouds in the background. Also having the clouds behind the sun makes the sun seem as if it is in the foreground.

3.Olafur Eliasson's 'Weather Project'(2006) is a contemporary work that relates to Monet's
famous landscape.

Olafur Eliasson’s work and Manet’s works are very similar in colours both using the illusions of the sun with the viewers eyes. But with Olafurs work 'Weather project' he uses hundreds of monochromatic lamps to recreate the illusion that it is a sun. Both artists create a feeling of warmth and serenity by using orange, yellow and grey and black.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olafur_Eliasson#The_weather_project)

Week 5 - Science and Progress - Tony Oursler

Research Tony Oursler's projection sculpture to identify some of the ideas and methods he uses in his work.

How do you think the Enlightenment concepts of Science, progress, reason, individualism, empiricism, universalism, freedom and secularism can be applied to Oursler's work?


Tony oursler's work is based on installation projects which combine spoken text, performance, moving images and sculptural objects but mostly using video projection on a 2d or 3d surface such as balls, bubble like scupltures and also treetops and clouds of smoke. According to the artists website he has been said to have 'freed the video image from the "box" creating a hybrid of art and cinema'. He has been regarded by many as one of the unique, revolutionary contemporary artists of modern times. In one of his shows of works he focused on the head of the human body where the works were based on the head and the notion of the head as the premeable centre of consciousness. These works relate to the flow of elements such as smoke, thoughts, language, impulses, light, voice, memory, which interact with this central icon of the human head.
Tony oursler's installations are influenced by his interest in our information and media society and its effect. The elements listed previously are expressive of this interest as they use video technology as the central focus to create a strong relationship with humanity through the subject matter (the human head and in particular the eye).


Enlightenment can be described as influencing the current way of thinking. Tony Oursler is very well-known for his video and installation work around the world and he has been making works since 1981. He integrates sound, performance, moving images and scuplture in his videos and projects them onto oddly formed objects as mentioned above.

Week 4- Damien Hirst and the diamond skull.

Discuss how Hirst's persona and work relate to the Renaissance concepts of Mercantillism and the (increased) status of the artist.

The work of Damien Hirst relates to the artist and the economic system of the renaissance period. Originally part of the YBA (young British artists) he led the movement of conceptual art in Britain in the early 90s.

The artists commonly used shock tactics and had fresh new ideas . Hirst particularly pushed away from the traditional art of Britain in the 90s and his exhibition, 'the physical impossibility of death in the eyes of someone living' was exemplary and similar to the acts to the Renaissance artist of the time. similarly pushing away and thinking for themselves as to what art is? In the same way the role of the painter and the sculpture of the Renaissance period, (traditionally thought of in the lower social role of the crafts person) wanted their profession to be recognised as a member of the liberal arts, Damien Hirst and the YBA wanted their art to be recognized as a true artists movement in Britain at the time. His work 'For The Love of God' a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a pear-shaped pink diamond located in the forehead. Costing £14 million to produce, it is an interesting look into modern mercantilism. The idea of mercantilism was for a nation to increase imports and collect precious metals in order to best serve wealth and power in their given country. I find that Hirst's persona is somewhat arrogant and flamboyant, a prime example of his flamboyancy is his skull, the most costliest piece of art in history, it relates to the idea of precious metals being collected for ones nation. Relating to the saying 'no man is an island' which clearly doesn't apply to Hirst.

I believe Hirst makes the statement that man is his own nation in particular the rich. Collecting and spending and growing as we all constantly are as individuals, some more so than others. As his critics have commented on; "work of art? He is not an artist. It's all commercial value to him. Is this just another way for rich people to deal with their time and excess of money. If Paris Hilton or Ali G say they did it, instead of Hirst, would you call that art? or just another publicity stunt?"

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5721243092885760241&postID=8586704498988537630

I believe that Hirst makes clever observations on society with His Art, 'For the Love of God' in particular commenting on the social status of individuals in today's society.

Week 3 - Fiona Hall's work and Mercantillism

'Leaf Litter' (1999-2003)
'Tender'(2003-05)

Fiona Hall's contemporary work relates to the Renaissance concept of Mercantilism.

Research the two examples; 'Tender'(2003-05) and 'Leaf Litter'(1999-2003) to explain how they relate to this concept. First define mercantilism and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance. For each work you will need to describe the shape, form and materials of the work, and explain the ideas behind each example.These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on YouTube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.

Definitions of Mercantilism

Mercantilism is the economic system of the major trading nations during the 16th, 17th, and 18th cent., based on the premise that national wealth and power were best served by increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return. It superseded the medieval feudal organization in Western Europe, especially in Holland, France, and England. The period 1500–1800 was one of religious and commercial wars, and large revenues were needed to maintain armies and pay the growing costs of civil government. Mercantilist nations were impressed by the fact that the precious metals, especially gold, were in universal demand as the ready means of obtaining other commodities; hence they tended to identify money with wealth.
(http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/mercantilism)

Mercantilism can as the economic system of major trading distributions during the 16th, 17th and 18th century, these focused on the idea behind national wealth and power were best received by increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return, such as gold, this would allow others to determine how wealthy an individual was. But since the renaissance the government has adapted to new customs and ones wealth is no longer judge by how much gold they have in their possession, but how much money they have.

Fiona Halls work 'Tender' relates to the concept of mercantilism as she incorporates nature(the leaves) with modern society(the dollar bills). Fiona Hall shows the fragile nature of money through her work 'Tender'. In Fiona Hall’s work there is an evident sense of her passion for the beauty and dependency of all living things. Only with dedicated love and commitment towards art would provide the immense patience required to create these delicate works of art.

With the series 'Leaf Litter' Fiona Hall seems to speak out that money is just paper, its not in any way tying us down or restricting us from what we love the most. She is pationatly concerned with the enviroment and the protection of it and how some enviroments are being overtext by the demands of commercial profitability. Also she reminds us that some of the once most burdened parts of the world are now amongst the poorest parts. There are some things in life that no amount of money can fix such as the enviroment. In this work she again reminds us of the fragile diversity of the natural world and how it can be broken so easily with just one small decision.

References

• http://dl.screenaustralia.gov.au/module/849/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Margaret_Hall
• http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/mercantilism

Week Two - Auckland Triennial 2010

Nick Austin, ye old age
2009

Mahmoud Bakhshi, Tulips Rise from the Blood of the Nation's Youth, 2008,neon, tin, wood, plastic, electric engines, courtesy of the artist andKhastoo Gallery, Los Angeles

'Last Ride in a Hot Air Balloon' is the title for the 2010 4th Auckland triennialwhich is on show from 12 March - 20 June. Watch the video of the curator,Natasha Conland discussing the art show.

Youtube conland348. MP4

Use the information from the video andon the Triennial website to answer the following questions;

1.What are the themes behind the title "Last ride...' for the Auckland triennial?

The themes behind 'Last Ride in a Hot Air Balloon' are the on going relation between adventure and risk taking in contemporary art today

2. What does a curator of an exhibition do?

A curator is a host and guide to places such as Art Galleries and museums etc. A curator develops, maintains, and researches the collections of the exhibition.

3. Which countries are represented in this year's triennial?

Here's a list of where this year's triennial can be viewed:

New Zealand, Germany, Australia, USA, Ireland, Sweden, Argentina, Denmark, Mexico, Iran, England, Scotland, India, Lebanon, China and France

4. Is Auckland the only country to have a triennial? Are there other similar art shows?

No (As listed above) there are many countries that are displaying. Here are some similar art shows and exhibitions.

Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art:

http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/apt

Indigenous Art Triennial

http://nga.gov.au/exhibition/niat07/

5. Name 4 artists who will be showing work in the show.

Some of the artists showcasing their work in this years triennial are Walid sadek, Zheng Bo, Nick Austin and Sharon Hayes

6. Select an artist's work from the website, copy the work to your blog and write a short comment on what the work is, and what it represents.(Reference your sources)

This is Nick Austin's work titled 'Nick Austin, ye old age 2009' (the yellow piece of art at the top of blog) This work represents ones eyesight getting worse/less adequate as they get older in life. The magnifying glass represents the glasses which increase/improve the sight of the user, this relates to eyesight because when someones eyesight is getting worse they result in having to buy prescription glasses to more or less renew their vision.

7. Comment on why you find this work interesting, how does it relate to your own interests?

I find it interesting as he has displayed his message clearly and i like that almost anyone can see what is trying to be conveyed through his work. It does not relly relate to my own interests, but i have noticed that my eyesight has been geting worse lately.

Students doing the commentary should comment on their partners answers, and answer questions 6 and 7.

Resources:

http://www.aucklandtriennial.com/artists/nickaustin.asp

http://nga.gov.au/exhibition/niat07/

http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/apt