Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Research Paper
WORK: Camo-Outgrowth (Winter), 2005ARTIST: Thomas Hirschhorn, Swiss (born 1957)
[Hirschhorn was about 58 years when he made this piece]MATERIALS: Wood, cardboard, brown adhesive tape, 119 globes, printed matterSIZE: 11 feet 5 inches x 20 feet x 12 inches
Hirschhorn began his art career by working as a graphic artist in Paris. He was primarily making works concerned with the current politics and culture. Sometime after though, he found his true passion of working with installations. He is noted for using universal items that can be found in everyday culture anywhere. It is from this he finds ways to derive him political meaning through further. All of the pieces he creates have an inner meaning to be interpreted. He has been quoted for saying that he is truly interested in the hardcore reality of things and presenting this within his works.
When approaching the piece in person, the great size is undeniable; the piece covering most the wall it is inhabiting. The closer the viewer comes, the more true detail can be spotted. The installation elements extended not just along the four directional points of the wall (up, down, left, right), but it also extends outward. This outward extension leads the work into the space of the audience. The play between the space for the work and the space for the audience allows for the piece to be even more approachable. When looking upon the piece, it is undoubtedly obvious the amount of camouflage actually scattered throughout the piece. The repetition of the pattern allows for the audiences eyes to move with ease in and out of the peace. (That is not to say that the emotions invoked by the piece can be described as at ease.)
For me, I do truly like the piece. I think it has a many versatile elements that can send the audience into multiple moods. When looking at the characters in the photographs, they range from soldiers to average citizens to celebrities. The reasoning behind the attire of the camouflage can change depending on the model. When looking at the soldiers, one can sense an inner sorrow within themselves when realizing that this choice of pattern on their uniform is meant to help keep them alive during times of war; the idea of relying on clothing to help save your life. When looking at the citizens and celebrities sporting the fashion of camouflage, one can sense a feeling of inner empowerment; the idea that a simple pattern can give people strength and the notion that nothing can stand in their way. When the two elements are added together throughout the piece, an eerie feeling can come over the viewer. One does not know whether to celebrate certain feelings or to pay respects.
I think that pieces like this remind us about what is going on within the world, especially the underlining meanings we so easily forget. It is a piece that can strike much personal reflection upon one's political standpoint and own ideology.
The materials used speak aloud for themselves; the globes, showing a thread between one person to another, how we are all part of one much larger aspect. The camouflage is the topic that is clearly in question. The use of people can help in allowing the viewer to put themselves into the piece, analyzing from a more personal standpoint. Even the layout of the piece, in such straight parallel order can speak about the typical thought that is expected and how things deviated from that can be wrong.
[Hirschhorn was about 58 years when he made this piece]MATERIALS: Wood, cardboard, brown adhesive tape, 119 globes, printed matterSIZE: 11 feet 5 inches x 20 feet x 12 inches
"This is something essential to art: reception is never its goal. What counts for me is that my work provides material to reflect upon. Reflection is an activity." - Thomas Hirschhorn
Hirschhorn began his art career by working as a graphic artist in Paris. He was primarily making works concerned with the current politics and culture. Sometime after though, he found his true passion of working with installations. He is noted for using universal items that can be found in everyday culture anywhere. It is from this he finds ways to derive him political meaning through further. All of the pieces he creates have an inner meaning to be interpreted. He has been quoted for saying that he is truly interested in the hardcore reality of things and presenting this within his works.
When approaching the piece in person, the great size is undeniable; the piece covering most the wall it is inhabiting. The closer the viewer comes, the more true detail can be spotted. The installation elements extended not just along the four directional points of the wall (up, down, left, right), but it also extends outward. This outward extension leads the work into the space of the audience. The play between the space for the work and the space for the audience allows for the piece to be even more approachable. When looking upon the piece, it is undoubtedly obvious the amount of camouflage actually scattered throughout the piece. The repetition of the pattern allows for the audiences eyes to move with ease in and out of the peace. (That is not to say that the emotions invoked by the piece can be described as at ease.)
For me, I do truly like the piece. I think it has a many versatile elements that can send the audience into multiple moods. When looking at the characters in the photographs, they range from soldiers to average citizens to celebrities. The reasoning behind the attire of the camouflage can change depending on the model. When looking at the soldiers, one can sense an inner sorrow within themselves when realizing that this choice of pattern on their uniform is meant to help keep them alive during times of war; the idea of relying on clothing to help save your life. When looking at the citizens and celebrities sporting the fashion of camouflage, one can sense a feeling of inner empowerment; the idea that a simple pattern can give people strength and the notion that nothing can stand in their way. When the two elements are added together throughout the piece, an eerie feeling can come over the viewer. One does not know whether to celebrate certain feelings or to pay respects.
I think that pieces like this remind us about what is going on within the world, especially the underlining meanings we so easily forget. It is a piece that can strike much personal reflection upon one's political standpoint and own ideology.
The materials used speak aloud for themselves; the globes, showing a thread between one person to another, how we are all part of one much larger aspect. The camouflage is the topic that is clearly in question. The use of people can help in allowing the viewer to put themselves into the piece, analyzing from a more personal standpoint. Even the layout of the piece, in such straight parallel order can speak about the typical thought that is expected and how things deviated from that can be wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)