1a) Explain in your own words, the meaning of ‘Installation Art’

“Installation Art” refers to a piece of artwork, usually in 3 D form and is placed in a specific place. It allows people to walk around or through it, literally, to observe the piece of art from different perspectives in that place specific area. It also allows the viewer to have a sense of total experience. “Installation Art” is often an assemblage of found materials and it rejects concentration on a single object. 

b)Describe the subject matter by Montien Boonma, highlighting the significance of the materials used

 The subject matter depicts 2 buffaloes, each made up of a filled-sack and a stool, both of which are brown in colour, which symbolizes the colour of the buffalo. The 4 legs of the buffalo are represented by the legs o the wooden stool, and appear to be lean and thin. The body, and perhaps the head of the buffalo, are collectively represented by a fully filled-sack and is stacked upon the stool, giving the impression of a sturdy buffalo’s body, The 2 buffalos are placed side by side close to each other. One of it depicts a dark-brown buffalo horn coming out of the sack. This represents the direction of where the buffalo is facing. The other buffalo shows a long, curved and brown structure coming out of the sack, which may represent the tail of the buffalo. It appears to be made of dried organic material. The materials used to depict the subject matter are mostly associated in the more rural areas, such as the wooden stools used to represent the legs, the sack for the buffalo’s body, as well as the horn and tail. The choice of materials, which are also the more “natural” and “organic” ready-mades, could symbolize how the subject matter–the buffalos–are closely linked to the more rural areas. 

c)  With Reference to another work by the artists, explain why the subject matter appeals to you as an installation, as opposed to a painting

Another work of Montien Boonma is ‘Lotus sound’, an installation art done in 1992. It is made up of many terracotta vessels shaped like bells and stacked together to form a circular wall. Gilded terracotta leaves are attached to the walls to suggest falling leaves of a lotus flower. 

Here, we can observe the subject matter –the lotus flower–from different perspectives–high, low, angular, and so on. There is more room for imagination and exploration, and the viewer can choose his or her own perspective. One moment I could be towering over the installation, and the next I could be squatting next to it, and the buffalos now towering over me. However, we can only observe a painting at a single point of view physically, of what the artist has chose to show. Besides, installations are more interactive. Paintings can only be viewed with our eyes while we can touch, feel, smell and even listen to installations (e.g. the sound of lotus in Lotus Sound).

2 a) Describe the subject matter of these two paintings

In “Seated Model”, 1953, by Liu Kang, the subject matter depicts a woman sitting in a relaxed manner against the chair in the fore-ground. She is a Balinese woman withhair neatly tied up and ornamented by a red and purple flower. She is also wearing two large earrings, Her eyes are closed, and her head is leaning against her left arm, supported by the back of the black chair. Her right hand is placed relaxedly on her lap, and some white flowers rest in her pal. Her upper body is nude but she wears a read local dress complete withe green strip and a white wrapped clotharound her waist. Her feet are also bare. The background of “Seated Model” depicts the outdoor local context–bare soil and ground with bushes of white flowers, and the large green coconut tree leaves also frames up the painting. We can also see a structure which resembles a building. Overall, the colours used are peaceful and pleasant. 

In “Bandung as a Sea of Fire”, 1972 by Hendra Gunawan, we see a fiery scene of people trying to escape from the fire. The painting is separated diagonally into the foreground and background. The foreground depicts a fallen man lying on his back, with his face full of anguish facing the viewer. His arms are wrapped around himself and we see the tattered mend on his stripped shorts. He is also barefooted. The background is in fact a slope on which people are running up, showing a stark contrast between the allen man in the foreground and the running and escaping people in the background. The right side of the picture, which is the lower part of the slope, or the middle background of the painting, shows clearer figures carrying their wrapped belongings and children upon their backs. Finally, the left of the painting, or the higher point of the slope, shows some trees which are depicted in a dirty green colour and appear to be broken. Here, the colours used are more vibrant and dark, such as hot shades of orange and disturbing browns and blacks.

b) Analyse and interpret the artists’ intentions

Both artists depicted the life of the Indonesian people in the mid to late 20th century in the rural areas. 

Liu Kang’s”Seated Model” present the peaceful, quiet and relaxed aspect of the local life, as depicted by the woman resting against the chair. The realistic style of painting also captured the still moment, giving the painting a sense of stillness, and simultaneously, quietness. The use of colours–green and blue shows the harmony and coolness of the colour of nature. The painting is also filled withplants, such as coconut trees, leaves, flowers and further places an emphasis on nature. The colours used are also subtle. All these adds up to the pleasant feel of the local Indonesian life; a relaxed, peaceful and filled with and abundance of nature. 

Hendra Gunawan’s”Bandung as a Sea of Fire” could have depicted the lives of Indonesians in harder times, such as in a fire outbreak. We also see the issue of poverty. For example, the man in the foreground is wearing tattered shorts which has been mended by patches of cloth. The people who are escaping also have to carry their belongings in a wrapped cloth, along with their children. Their village, and houses which have gone up in flames are simple structures. All these are signs of poverty. Known for painting the lives of the working class and Indonesian commoners, Hendra Gunawan could have been addressing and highlighting the plight of the Indonesian commoners, such as the poverty they are facing. 

The strong use of colours also represent the dark times. The style of painting, a painterly fashion, suggests mere forms and adds to the commotion and frantic movement of the painting. 

The two paintings show a stark contrast between peace and war.

c) Discuss the impact the two paintings have on you

“Seated Model” gives me a peaceful and relaxed insight into the local lives of the Indonesian rural area. I feel that the careful modelling of the woman and the details of her dress in Liu Kang’s painting captures the stillness of the moment. The choice of colours, such as the green of the plants, and the cool tones, makes me at peace. I also see the richness of the Balinese life through the rich colours.

“Bandung as a Sea of Fire” on the other hand, is a stark contrast. It makes me feel anxious for the people in the painting, and at the same time, i can sense the movement and urgency through the fast brushstrokes the artist used. The lack of modelling also results in a roughly painted scene, adding to the commotion and chaos. The use of dark colours, blacks and reds, also add to the overwhelming fear which seems to overpower the humans.  

The contrast in the two paintings allows a comparison between the two very different kind of lives that people could experience. One moment, we could have been in total serenity, and the next, a living nightmare.

an overview of the work

flower bed!

this particular piece of work was my favourite amongst several other works at the exhibition by (mr?) Chun Kaifeng and Kaiqun called For Mr. and Mrs Children.

more information about the exhibition at

http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24315893196&ref=mf or

their works at http://www.nextstoplaputa.com/  or

http://unfinishedadventures.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/the-new-long-kang-part-ii/#more-78 or, google it.

This piece of work is entitled Race for the Prize by Chun Kai Qun. It was inspired by the artist’s childhood pastime of racing paper boats in the “long kangs” (drains), and as his brother Kai Feng puts it, they wanted to “bring something mundane to a professional level”.

(at this point something going “doainnggg” in my head and hey, I know what exactly I want for my little house!)

The 3 dimensional work shows a not-so-much-noticed long kang, made painstakingly out of cement in a closed loop transformed into a racing track. More blatant were the “start” and “finish” gates, which were constructed with rather raw materials-twigs, as well as the little coloured flags which we always see at the racing seasons.

The Long Kang is filled with flowing water, which I thought was pretty amazing. It literally brings out what goes on in a Long Kang.

The race course is decorated with obstacles, such as “spikes” made of sharpened twigs, water wheel gates, gushing water…and so on, as seen in the photos. The “finish” gate is decorated by a bed of flowers and before you see the flowers, you’re greeted by this steam of mist. Ever so dream like. More interestingly, the race circuit is completed by billboards of their apparent sponsors, such as “Nookia”, “KoKo Kola”, and “Nikey”.

I like how the race course makes use of so many materials which are natural, like the twigs, the water, mist, the pretty flowers and the grass, though the grass and flowers are fake. To me, it is like something fanciful and dream-like, almost slow, laidback, which juxtaposes the speedy race. The numerous “obstacles” also prove to be a distraction along with other fanciful stuff growing out of the sides, such as mushrooms, which contrast with the “modern day” adverts on races. I can imagine miniature humans or elves or fairies (because of flowers and mushrooms) or the likes of it taking a slow stroll around the race course.

Well does it remind you of our soon-to-come F1 night race?

To quote MR Chun kaifeng again, “take silly things to the extreme to bring out the message” or something like that. It’s pretty late and my brain is not functioning. In fact, it hasn’t functioned for the entire day.

Wait, so how do I apply that to my coursework? And have you figured out who the 2 artists are? Hehe.

*edit

if you look at my final coursework, im heavily influenced by this piece of work!

Describe one of Han Sai Por’s Sculpture

“Floral Inspiration” by Han Sai Por is a set of carved and polished marble sculptures done in 2007. They are currently located in Changi Airport Terminal 3. The 2 sculptures, standing side by side, consist of 1 tall and lean sculpture and the other being slightly more spherical in shape. Other than their shape, the 2 sculptures share similar characteristics. They resemble enlarged cylindrical/ spherical peach seeds, with an entwined coral-like network encasing the seed body, which eventually fuses into a smooth pointed tip. The seemingly endless twining of the coral like network results in the white marble having shadows in various shades of grey, and adds to the interest factor. The 2 sculptures are organic in shape, and the white medium is enhanced by the lighting set at the base of the sculpture, which also places emphasis on the coral patterns. The sculptures are well balanced and look the same all aroundl. Like the “Seed Series”, Han Sai Por probably takes her inspiration from Nature.

[ picture from http://placesinsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/03/changi-international-airport-terminal-3.html ]

Describe one of Antony Gormley’s installation

“Domain Field” by Antony Gormley done in 2003 is a set of sculpture consisting of 287human figures, each known as a “domain”, is constructed using stainless steel bars of various lengths. The individual sculptures resemble human forms in different but natural positions, varying from standing  relaxedly to lying down, giving the domains a sense of life and moment, yet simultaneously seem to be frozen by time.

Human volunteers are moulded in plaster to construct individual sculptures, (so the sculptures are life-size, ranging from children to elderly,) by welding steel elements together inside each mould. The recognisable human forms are suggested by the sparse criss crossing of the steel bars.

At a glance, the figures in “Domain Field” appear almost mist like and seem to fade into the background, giving them a sense of weightlessness, despite chosen medium. The use of lines, steel bars to sketch, or cross hatch the drawing of the sculpture, reveals the construction process, like steel structures are to a building.

And here’s a quote which wraps up the installation nicely

“The body becomes an open matrix, where the viewer is completely aware of the human presense, yet also simutaneously its absense“–Philips dePury and Company

[ picture from http://www.hants.gov.uk/antonygormley/domainfield.html ]

Compare and contrast the works by the artist, paying attention to their concerns in art.

Similarities:

Both Han Sai Por and Antony Gormley make use of the colours of the raw materials, Han Sai Por with her polished marble in “Growth” and Antony Gormley in his “Time Horizon”.

The use of repetition also occurs in the works of both artists, though in different ways. Han Sai Por’s series  shows similar sculptures, yet each is unique as each of them is hand made, while Antony Gormley’s sculptures may be mass produced industrially, as seen in “Time Horizon”, where the same figure appears, buried in varying depth.

Differences:

Han Sai Por is concerned with nature, as seen “Floral Inspiration”, as well as the sense of timelessness and permanence, while Antony Gormley is more concerned with human figures, and human psychic, as well as playing with “presence and absence”, such as in “Domain Field”, “Time Horizon”, and “Another Place” just to name a few.

In terms of medium, Han Sai Por likes to use stone, marble as her medium to carve, which is closer to nature. Antony Gormley commonly uses metal, such as steel and bronze to cast his sculptures.

Han Sai Por works with positive spaces, carving out of materials, while Antony Gormley works with negative spaces, uses cat to cast bronze, stell, metal and sometimes the reversal of it.

Lastly, Han Sai Por works with relatively small, minimal sculptures, such as “Growth”, and her largest sculpture being “Shimmering Pearls”. Antony Gormley works with increasingly large scale commisions, eg, Angel of the North.

Movie Review

Title: Pleasantville (1998)

Director: Gary Ross Discuss the symbolic use of colours in the movie Pleasantville that address specifically the themes of race, sexuality, and personal freedom.  

In the movie, the only original colours, which later were specifically authorised, were white, grey and black. The colours were highly limited and straightforward, as well as monotonous, unchanging. 

The most obvious use of colours was to symbolize the issue of racism. The word “coloured” was in fact a pun to refer to the “coloureds”—the blacks in America. After the scene showing the riots, signs were posted in shops declaring “No Coloureds”, parallel to the people discriminating against the blacks in America. The Law imposed in the movie stating that only black, grey and white were allowed—no coloureds, probably meant the same thing. It also seems to me that the use of the colours black and white as the initial and original colours which co-existed together, could have been a subtle hint that Blacks and Whites were similar to each other and that they could have co-existed together in harmony and equal rights.  

The colours, as mentioned were limited and restricted. This also partially symbolizes one’s freedom being restricted as well. They are unable to carry out any other things out of their usual parameters. The straightforwardness of the three colours also symbolized the straightforward habits of the people in Pleasantville; the routined lives of the people, such as Bill only doing what he is supposed to do. Their lives are boring. ( like the way I am writing this) These three colours are strictly not versatile which means that the people will not be able to cope with any change at all, whether bid or small.   

Later the change in colours of the people in Pleasantville could be viewed as breaking conformity and the accepted routine or behaviour of the town, or of themselves and pursuing each of their own unique and different passions and pleasures, just like each varying colour, for instance, Bill Johnson who runs the soda shops, pursues his passion to paint and turns coloured, Mary Sue who finds that she enjoys reading, which she previously and obviously did not (at her declaration that “This is the only book I’ve ever read in my whole life, and you’re not going to put it on that fire!”)  

What are the immediate differences that strike David and Jennifer between their lives in contemporary American suburbia and the idyllic American life in the 1950s as portrayed in the TV soap Pleasantville? 

In the contemporary American suburbia, the average teenagers, like Jennifer were mainly concerned with their social lives, their appearances, their popularity and the likes. She was shocked to find herself in “Nerdville” (probably self explanatory) as she calls the idyllic 1950s America at the start of the movie.  Teenagers from the different eras have differing ideas of what a date constitutes. This is seen from Jennifer’s point of view, considering that David’s love life was non-existent. Hints were given as to what Jennifer and her date wanted to do on their first date, from her red hot dress and her conversation with her friend over the phone. Her first date with Skip in the 1950s started out with Skip stating that he did not wish to rush things.  

When David and Jennifer are transported into idyllic American, they see life there modeled after the ideals of the American Dream; the perfect homely house in a society where everyone is a middle-classed white, with a complete family consisting of a working husband greeting his stay-at-home-housewife, who takes care of all the domestic needs, with “Honey, I’m home!” each day after hanging his hat and coat by the door, and a son and a daughter who eagerly welcomes him home.  Breakfast consisted of overly generous servings of bacon, egg, and ham, seemingly a reference to Consumerism, excessive of the needs. David and Jennifer also realize that their mother Betty takes care of all their needs. She appears to be in control of them, and her children will give her the respect due, for instance David/ Bud is not supposed to turn on the television at eight in the morning and he switches it off without any argument. On the other hand, in their real contemporary American life, their family is a broken one; a divorced (and cursing, not exactly the role-model-) mother leaves her two teenagers for a holiday with a boyfriend nine years her junior (again, not the ideal-role-model-mum); the much neglected David who spends (undoubtedly) all, if not most of his time watching the television and the absence of a father.

 A paragraph from wikipedia

“Towards the end of the film, the courtroom scene is a throw back to To Kill a Mockingbird, where Atticus Finch makes his famous closing argument. As in To Kill a Mockingbird, the courtroom is divided by skin color. Sitting in the second floor balcony seats are the “coloreds”, where Black Americans sat in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the black and white people (White Americans) are sitting on the floor seats of the courtroom. Bud, like Atticus Finch, also makes an impassioned speech to the judge and jury about the unfairness of the trial at hand; however, Bud is not the lawyer but instead one of the accused.”

 We laughed when we saw that married couples did not share a bed. I was particularly surprised when Betty actually asked her daughter what sex was, and upon the hearing the explanation provided by her daughter, commented that “George would never do anything like that.” How then, did Bud and Mary Sue come about? Or perhaps people in Pleasantville are never born and will never die. In this way, no one will grief over the loss of a person (if they actually can grief). So much for being pleasant.  

Just to answer the question of “how come Jennifer’s mother doesn’t realize that she is missing?” we see that David has only been gone for an hour, as stated by the announcer of the TV marathon program, though it seems that he had spent weeks in Pleasantville. Similarly, this could apply for Jennifer; she could have spent her entire life in Pleasantville and come back to her real life in a matter of a few hours, provided that the remote control still existed then.  There were some goof scenes in the movie too, if you realized.