2nd Visit- St James Cavallier

St James Cavalier visit

I decided to view this exhibition on 6th March, 2014 because I heard quite good comments about the artworks. All the art works was made by Emanuel Bonnici and named it "Eccentricks". The exhibition was consisted by art projects which are 3d. I saw functional projects and un functional once. The functional once are chairs a bike the curved letter box (if it opens) but still the designs are too powerful to be used because they are there to be appreciated for its delicate work.  I also saw some computerized sketches that have been made before construction. It was interesting to see the process of before the art piece. I learned how important it is to sketch in detail before starting.

Curved telephone box

The curved telephone box:

I can see a traditional Maltese telephone box curved. It was made with wood, perspex and finished it with paint such as water base paintings. As a construction i believe it was not an easy task for him. The wood had been carved with specialized machines and sticked together with appropriate wood glue. The typography on tit was clearly made with letters templates.  He kept the original traditional Maltese telephone box colour and just curved the design.

My opinion: It is a very original idea from the designer Emmanuel Bonnici. The way it is curved is unique. It is inspired from the traditional Maltese telephone box. I learned that not every design have to be complicated to be catching to the eye. I learned that you have to dream and imagine to succeed in terms of art. 

Toilet inspired from Maltese traditional boat:

I can see a humoristic toilets inspired from the traditional Maltese boat. I believe it is made from wood and finished with paint. My reaction was a shock because I really did not expect it.  It is quit original and funny to look. Besides the toilet they placed a roll of toilet paper to complete with theme and looks more funny to the audience. It is definitely catching to the eye because everyone loves to laugh.

My opinion: I learned that almost everything can be combined it you think carefully and sometimes you have to add such thinks to gain some interests in your work.

Digital sketching before construction

The rocking chair

This unique Rocking chair is also influenced from Maltese traditional carriage. It was made with wood and finished with detailed white painted areas and green colour paint. It is full of wood strips joined with each other with nails. He decided to leave the design simple full of symmetrical and geometrical shapes. Although it looks very traditional it is still modern in the way it is made.

My opinion: I admire the delicate design of the wheels. I like the way he combined modern with traditional design. I learned that traditional items can give a lot of ideas.

digital sketch

It has common designs, shapes and colours from the rocking chair. He chooses to leave the bike simple and also classic. It was clearly inspired from the traditional Maltese carriage. It is all green with delicate pattern on the wheels. The seat is brown which really complimented with the entire colours. It was made with wood and finished with delicate paint pattern. He attached a seat on which is made with leather.

My opinion: it is another original design but not sure if it can be used realistically. I learned that in the near future i can add traditional items and transform them into modern items. 

digital sketch

I can see a Maltese traditional clock transformed it a modern was mural. It was made with wood and paint. It is full of shapes. It is a unfunctional clock. The numbers are with Roman number for more traditional look. The colour used is vibrant orange and the white colours make a huge contrast.

My opinion: it is very original but I prefer it to be functional with the clock really working. I learned that you can experiment also with colors when being inspired from traditional items.

Salvador Dali- Essay

Salvador Dali- Surrealist

Salvador Dali

 The Painter Salvador Dali was born on 11th May, 1904. His place of Birth was Figueres in Spain. He started to paint when he was just a toddler and at the age of 10 his skills was already at a high level and his mother decided to send him to art school. He made a lot of visits to Paris Were he met his influential famous painters. Pablo Picasso was one of his influential painters in fact between 1926 and 1929 Dali showed a lot of Picasso's influences in his Paintings. Dali  begun to be involved in the surrealism movement and by time he completed to experiment with Impressionism, Cubism and futurism.

This is Dali`s wife Named Gala from the back. Dali`s loved to draw women from behind in fact there are huge variety of painting with human back scenes. There is a replica form of the women on the front side of her. The Replica is transformed with designs. I can see thin columns with arches just like the columns we see in Greek period. The hair in the transformed woman is with depths just like he draws a piece of stone carved. Her architecture replica left arm looks like a tower because I can see a door and small windows. The carved man on the wall looks influenced from Greek period in fact his style is exactly like the style of that time. The curves of the architecture replica of the women also looks inspired from Greek period because of the Ionic designs they used to carve.  The nude woman is staring at the view of herself in different aspect in front of her. The half naked woman is giving a feeling of modesty and observation. She looks like she observing the picture quietly and reflecting what`s going on.

My Wife, Nude, Three Vertebrae of a column, sky and architecture.
Made in 1945

Dali was clearly influenced from ancient Greece period which goes back about 4,000 years ago. The artist used designs from the Greece architecture like Ionic curves.   The Column arches are mostly seen in Gothic Cathedrals so it can be that he got influenced from that time too. The picture over all is surrealistic. Surrealism period began in 1924 In France and was born from earlier period called Dadaism. Surrealism was a movement which explored the mind imagination. The movement Painting represents dreams and other thoughts that pops in mind randomly.  The movement began by a poet from France named Andre Breton. The Word Surrealism stands for above realism.

Dali paintings interest almost every individual because the unrealistic and abnormal things he created in his own work. In my opinion he was an artist who painted with skills coming both from his hands

Ionic architecture design from Ancient Greece period

and mind. He was also one who began the creative thinking in paintings. The painting here is giving me a feeling of tranquility and dreaming. It reminds me of myself when I sit in a quite area and begin to dream about thinks that cannot happen. 

References:

Ducksters (2014).Ducsters. History and artists. surrealism.[online]. Available on: http://www.ducksters.com/history/art/surrealism.php Accessed on 18th April,2014

Beth Gersh-Nesic (2014).About.com Art history. What is sureealism?, [online].Available on: http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/Surrealism-Art-History-101-Basics.htm Accessed on 18th April, 2014

History.com staff (2010). History.com. Ancient Greek. [online]. Available on: http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancient-greek-art Accessed on: 18th April,2014

Paul Chimera (2011). The Salvador society.My wike nude contemplating her own flesh becoming stairs, three vertebra of a column, sky and architecture shows Dali`s absolute perfection. [online]. Available on: http://www.dali.com/blog/my-wife-nude-contemplating-her-own-flesh-becoming-stairs-three-vertebra-of-a-column-sky-and-architecute-shows-dalis-absolute-perfection/ Accessed on: 18th April,2014

Bio (2014). Bio.Salvador Dali biography.[online]. Available on : http://www.biography.com/people/salvador-dal%C3%AD-40389#awesm=~oCxdq0rS20iwsu Accessed on 18th April, 2014

Cubism- Art

Cubism:

Cubism Period was one of the most powerful visual art styles. Cubism period happened in the early 20th Century.  The artist Pablo Picasso had a huge part in cubism in fact he was the one that created the movement. Another artist that had an important role in the cubism movement was the French Painter George Braque which was part of the cubism movement too.  Cubism Period arose in Paris, France in 1907 and ended in 1914. Cubism period were influenced from Primitivism and non-Western. Cubism started to rebel in opposition of the rules of past and present art. In cubism period there was a change in art, music, literature and also in architecture. In the early cubism the artist had an addiction to monochromatic schemes but changed the colour schemes by time. They used to paint people and things that look as n illusion for example a face from a side with two eyes. Normally you will find geometric shapes all around and stiff lines. They also used to stick news papers or any other material like fabric, an Interesting leaf that catches the eyes attention.

Pablo Picasso:

Picture of the artist Pablo Picasso

Picasso was an important Artist for the cubism period. He also took control of Western art. He was Born in Spain in 1881 and produced about 22,000 pieces of art, sculptures and also graphic design works during his live .  He had two important periods named Blue and rose period . The blue period started from the 1901 till 1904 and the rose period took place in 1905 until 1906.  The Blue period were representing poor  in fact most of the painting of that time were done with dull  colours and Blue tones. On the other side the rose period had happier feeling and used to add lighter colours to his paintings.

Blue period Painting from Picasso:

It is called "The Absinthe Drinker"  and was done in 1903

He used Blue tones and can see yellow tones two which are opposit to each other and are complimenting each other. I can see a sense of chiaroscura in the painting because of the dark tones in the background.

Painting from Rose period:

"The girl with a goat" by  Pablo Picasso which was made in  1906.

• It was made with oil on canvas.
• I can see lighter colours with different shades and tones. The artist used Neutral colours with different tones and shades. 

My opinion:

Due to lighter colours this painting gives a feeling of peace and happiness while the other one from blue period gives feeling of sadness and fear of darkness.  I can observe that nudity was getting evoke in rose period. The Artist tried to make the picture realistically while the blue period Painting is less realistic because of the shape of the face which is irregular. 

Paintings from cubism:

This picture was the first one painted from the cubism period which started in 1907

It was named "les demoiselles d'avignon"

• It is also made by Pablo Picasso.
• It was made with oil painting on Canvas

What I can observe:

I can see 5 women naked with un proportional bodies and faces. The faces looks weird because of the over un realistic shapes and large eyes and noses. The Lips are just a line in a lot of faces. I can see implied lines most of them triangular. Some outlines are white while others are black. I can see shades and tones in the bodies but not blended while the background is blended.

Other painting from cubism period:

"Factory Horte de Ebbo" by Picasso in 1919

• Were made with oil on canvas

Paintings influenced from Cubism period paintings:

Les Demoiselles d''Alabama made  1985 by Robert Colescott

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon vues de derrière made in 1999 by Patrick Caulfield

"Bones" By Oskar Schlemmer   which were made in 1932

Differences From Th original and "Bones" by Oskar Schlemmer:

I can observe that the one made by Oskar has brighter and more different colours. The Curves of the scenetons and smoother and with curves while the other one the bodies are full of stiff lines.

What they have in common:

The fruits in the bottom centre are presented in the two paintings. There is five people presented in the two of them . The poses are common. The background is the same but the modern one is with brighter colours.

References:

Sharon Fitzgerald (2014). Arthur Roger." Robert Colescott rosck the boat", Amrican visions. [online]. Available on http://arthurrogergallery.com/1997/06/robert-colescott-rocks-the-boat-american-visions/ Accessed on: 4rd. Aprrin,2014

Rewald, Sabine. (2000). "cubism".  Heilbunn timline of art history. [online].Available on: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cube/hd_cube.htm Accessed on: 4rd April, 2014

Pablo Picasso Painting, quotes , biography 2009. Pablo Picasso.Pablo Picasso and his paintings. [online]. Available on: http://www.pablopicasso.org/index.jsp Accessed on:4rd April,2014

The Barnes Foundation (2014). Barnes.Pablo Picasso.[online]. Available on: http://www.barnesfoundation.org/collections/art-collection/object/5452/girl-with-a-goat-la-jeune-fille-a-la-chevre Accessed on : 4rd April,2014

Futurism-design

Futurism-  Filippo Tommaso Marinetti

Introduction:

On 20th February,1909 Filippo Tommaso Marinetti announced a written manifesto which describes  the aims, moralities and opinions of himself. The manifesto was also written to employ other members to share their ideas. Marinetti ideas were supported by other famous artists like Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla and others. In his Manifesto he wrote "We want to glorify war, the only cure for the world" because it was an aggressive art movement and war was a capitalist for the futurist interruption.  All of the artists of that time wanted the movement to be transformed to art which shows properties of space and movement. Futurism started in Milan, Italy and completed to be published abroad. In futurism arts you will find geometric shapes but still a chaos with vast of colour, you will also find different shades. It was a campaign which uncovered not just some aspects of usual antiquity, but everything that was not quite new. Futurists used to use allot of dots and geometric shapes which was called divisionism movement. This particular movement managed to influence modern art of the 20th century which influenced the advance of graphic design. Futurism manuscripts, philosophies and aesthetics were very influential for designers in both that time and long time ago. Futurists absorbed from complications that represent modern experience and do their best to show feelings and memories when producing a painting, sculpture, and poetry, architecture and graphical design.  These feelings and memories the artists make were not always visible to the eye so it takes observation to understand the message they try to send to the audience.  Futurists were able to bring out the noise, heat and sometimes even the smell of a capital city. Futurism is hard to be recognized by its style easily because futurists steeled from other styles such as Symbolism and divisionism.  Cubism style came from influences of futurism.     Futurists were tempted about graphic technology such as chrono photography, animation and cinema which were produced with a sequence of photos to be transformed as a film. In this movement period it was produced a car with good price and everyone was exposed to transport. They used to read and write allot to explore machines even better. Marinetti wanted to explore machines to enlarge commodity in our lives.  The movement ended in 1944 but completed to influence the other movements after it such as cubism. 

 It is made by Filippo Tommaso  Marinetti and it was called Zang  Tumb Tuuum in 1912. This is when the digital visual communication started. It was introduces for a book in Milan. Marinetti used the words "tuuumb  tuuum tuuum tuuum" to represent the drumbeat of war. He made use of typography which completed to be used till now. It was a big deal for that time that he used variety of sized in typography, separated the words with columns and made them look slanted both horizontally and vertically.

My opinion: It is just a simple graphical design which was appreciated because of the fact in was new innovation. The artist wanted to emphasis on the typography itself that`s why he used plain background. The typography is all black to be able to be seen clearly. The style of typography is changed from earlier movements because it is no longer serif font. For that time it was a huge difference in style of font when using san serif style. The words "tum tum tum" are representing the violence of that time especially in war. They represent the noises of a weapon and wanted to show the new technology which was a mechanical weapon. "Parole in Liberta" is representing the excitement of freedom of speech at that time. The words of the name of the book are in larger font size than other words. The small words above are telling that the book is about poetry of futurist edition. In my opinion he was raising more aggressiveness to complete the war and for political issues.  From now on the artists completed to get influenced and changed fronts, positions and backgrounds.

It was made in 1914 by Filippo Tomasso marinetti which was called "irredentismo" 

My opinion:

Now I can see the text highlight with black font but with different styles.I think he used Berlin sans FB  font style , arial black and aharoni  font types. there is also serif and sans serif typography.I can observe also typography with ink which are thick and thin  lines which are zig zag and curvy . There are also some dots with ink. In my opinion the white background with slightly print on is there to emphasis on the writing.   The different fonts are there to represent different cities and other names.

It is another work from Fillipo Tomasso Marinetti which was announced in 1919 in France." Les Mots en Liberte futuristes" stands for Futurists words in Liberty which explains that the movement wanted the freedom of speech. It is another edition of poetry and this was the portfolio cover. From Here in 1919 the futurism graphic design began to spread all over the world. 

Another layouts and typography that are in the portfolio :

All the pages are full of typography with different positions, sizes and styles. Some of the typography look like it was written and the artist also choose to draw in some areas with black on white.  Some writing looks digitally written. Some are with wave effect. These are showing that they started to experiment even more with typography. I think they left the background white to emphasis more on the typography styles and the way they are written.  All the pages looks printed. There are a chaos of typography with most of them doesn`t make sense with each other. In some pages there are sounds of violence written and is a particular page there is the word "explosive" written which are representing war and its aggressive actions. I can observe words "guerra tedescofili" and a woman that looks worried near it.

Influences and how it changed by time:

A cover for the last edition of a book called Blast which was made by wyndham Lewis and other persons. It was announced in 1915. There is less typography than the others and started to add more visual layouts. I can see allot of lines which are forming faces, guns and also hands. I can see dot work and other repetetive patterns. The lines and shapes are also forming an action going which a person is holding a gun. The colours are black, white and some off white. In my opinion the person holding the gun is representing a war or aggressive action. The influences are coming from Fillipo Tomasso Marinetti`s work.

It is a good example that the influences completed to spread the word and the artists completed to use Filliop Tomasso Marinetti`s work to transform their own work.

Depero Futurista(1927)

It was binded for the very first time with bolts.

Influences came from machines and also from the futurism itself from earlier stages.

The artists started to experiment with colours by creating oposite colours on each other. Some of the typography is over each other. The title is with capital letters to be clearly seen . The blue colour compliments the typography with each other.

Inside the book:

futurism completed to be an influences for our designers today as we can see here:

By Dada

By Dada McKean

Here he started to get influenced from Futurism and experimented with typography and also depths. I can see pieces of paper on each other which are looking like pieces from magazines or newspapers. Although there is a chaos going on still the typography is the main thin on the print. The typography makes a huge contrast because he used opposite colours under the letters.

Made by Simon Page

Here the designer started to simplify the designs but still catching to the eye.  I can see repetitions of curved lines.

By Christopher Brennan from Manchester

 A huge amount of illustrations and typography shows clearly that was influences from futurism time. By time they completed to make more professional work and bring the best from Filippo Marinetti`s work by changing some positions, layouts and also adding some effects to make it more modern.

References:

Jessica Palmieri(2014). Italian futurism: The founding and manifesto of futurism by F.T Marinetti. New york, Jessica Palmieri. Available from: http://www.italianfuturism.org/manifestos/foundingmanifesto/ [Accessed on 18th April, 2014]

The art story foundation(2014). Futurism: synopsis, Key points and beginnings. New York, The Art story foundation. Available from: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-futurism.htm [Accessed on 18th April,2014]

Danger Dan (2009). Design is history: futurism. Danger Dan. Available on: http://www.designishistory.com/1850/futurism/ [accessed on 18th April]

Annenberg Foundation(2013). Annenberg learner: Book cover for Zang Tumb Tumb. Washington,Annenberg Foundation. Available on: http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/192/index.html [Accessed on 18th April,2014]

Rochester Institute of Technology (2010). Cary graphics arts collection: Les mots en liberte futuristes. New York, Rochester institute of Technology. Available on: http://library.rit.edu/cary/les-mots-en-libert%C3%A9-futuristes-futurist-words-freedom [Accessed on 18th April,2014)