Alfred Chircop - Exhibition - 4

Date visited on 7/4/13

This exhibition is done by artist Alfred Chircop where he specelizis in Abstract drawings. There was no given names to the paintings.

The fist abstract drawing was done using black acrylic on white, I think this painting is quite morbid next to his other work also I interpreted this painting as a skull but also it can even be buildings.

This paining I liked the bold use of colours and rough brush strokes. The colours compliment each other well and i see a lot of geometrical shapes which make up the painting. In this painting he uses acrylic and applies a thick layer in crusting the painting in some parts which adds to the effect. 

This painting is one of my favorites in which i saw at the exhibition because of the colours used i think red, green and blue compliment each other very well. We can see again the rough brush strokes and bold colours which are somewhat of a statement in Chircop's work.

This painting is also interesting as the artist first drew onto his canvas we can see a woman underneath and than splashed acrylic onto the piece. There is a lot of vibrant colours and the motion of the lines contrasts with the shapes. 

This piece has vivid colours which corresponding to each other also a lot of geometric shapes are being used to create the painting. The brush strokes are rough and the colours are bold the painting gives me the impression of anger because of the colours used and the layout.

Marco Cremona - Exhibition-3

Date visited on 6/4/13 

This exhibition was at Rabat where there was a studio belonging to Marci Cremona exhibiting his work which are  mostly drawn on ceramic plates. Cremona's work is inspired by maltese boats and buildings   

This piece shows a man on a boar sailing into a fort, the colours used are very neutral and calm. This piece is drawn onto a round plate which is on a stand I think this is a contemporary way to paint on unusual surfaces.

This piece was done on a plate is well I like that there is a white background so the colours of the drawing stand out more. I like the brown and red colours I think they go well together.

A somewhat abstract drawing made up of boats and buildings, made white acrylic paints and pastels. The colours he used are natural blue's, red's and browns.

An other plate whit an abstract design Marco used red and blue colours which I thought correspond well with each other. Also on this painting there is a white background which helps to make the colours stand out.

An abstract design which consists of boats which is painted on a round plate with a white background. The colours used are various tones of blue and brown. I like this one because of the blue tones used.

VEE GEE BEE -Exhibition - 2

Date visited on 6/4/13

This exhibition was held at the VEE GEE BEE shop in Valletta, in the exhibition there where a lot of different paintings by a variety of artists.

This painting is called Hal - Lija Bel Veder Tower and is painted by the artist Joseph Ballucci. This painting is done using oil on canvas and features the tower. The colours used are very natural and the painting is very life like.

This painting is done by artist Alfie Gatt which portrays freedom.  This painting is done using acrylic paints on canvas. The artists uses layers of acrylic to create the desired effect also touches up the painting using graphite. 

This is an other work done by Alfie Gatt called violet voltage. Gatt used acrylic on canvas, there is also a variety of colours which make up the features of the face. It is interesting to see that the face is made up of highlights and shadows. 

This realistic painting is done by the artist Wayne Atwood. The medium used consists of oil on canvas, this helps to put it more detail into the painting.

This painting is done by the artist Philip Agius. The painting is done by using acrylic on canvas. The brush stroke are visible and the colours are vibrant.  

Shades in White - Exhibition - 1

Date visited - 6-4-13

This exhibition was done by Chris Ebejer who is mainly a self taught artist who studied art at an early age but found his calling in 3-D. His works in this exhibition are done with ceramics. His work is quite detailed although i would have liked to see a bit more colour.

Bavaria.
This piece features two children who look like angels with rococo and baroque swirls beneath them. Also the children look like  they are coming out of a black curtain. I really like that he joined the children and baroque swirls together, I think that they give the sculpture a very baroque feel. 

The swan lake series 

The three pieces that I am reviewing now are a series of swans which i found to be very elegant also he continues with the theme of baroque. The swans are shown in some kind of movement making the sculptures look alive also the artists level of detail is quite impressive.

 The swan lake series

The swan lake series 

Metamorphosis.

In this sculpture Ebejer shows a cloth made of ceramics being torn and butterflies flying out of the hole. I am surprised that he manged to create those butterflies in the way he did as I taught one needed more support for the butterflies to stay the way they do.

Mediterranean Legend 

In this sculpture Ebejer shows a torso of a man with a flowing cloth which drapes around his lower body also baroque swirls are included in the design. Also near the torso there is a sea shell which I connects the man to the Mediterranean.  Ebejer goes into detail with the masculine figure I find that it is somehow similar to Michelangelo's work.         

Winter Frost 

This sculpture depicts a woman who symbolizes the winter frost the woman has frost growing on her face and her torso breaks of into rigid forms that interpret frost. I like the idea of the frost growing on and the somewhat bitter expression on her face it gives the piece more character.

Winter Drops
This piece shows a woman which Ebejer interpreted as rain, she is more elegant than the woman in winter frost also the pieces going away from her torso are very fluent almost like water. Also a single tear drop runs down her face which I thought brings more meaning into the sculpture.

Pre Raphaelites

Pre-Raphaelite was a British movement in the mid nineteenth century of artist as well as poets. The secret group’s  aim was to move away from the conventional way of art (“the mechanistic approach”).The group was made up of 7 members: James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens, William Holman Hunt, John Evertt Millais, William MIchael Rossetti, Thomas Wooler and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. They named the brotherhood Pre-Raphaelite as they wanted to remove the influence in the art composition left by Raphael. They were revolting against the art establishment  of the time the British Royal Academy and their formulaic approach to art instruction.They wanted to reform art back to the time where art had a vibrancy in colors, interesting compositions and a very detailed approach.

Although the aim of the group was to stay secret, one every painting they did they left the initials PRB. 

William Holman Hunt  painted a Painting which he named the scapegoat where he depicts  a scene taken from the book of leviticus. He paints a goat with it’s horns wrapped in red cloth representing the sins of humanity on the day of atonement.

John Everett Millais’s “Christ in the house of his parents” is a painting which at the time received a lot of negative critique as it was found to be controversial. Infact it was one of the paintings which pushed the PRB movement from obscurity and into the lime light. Making way to the debate on the “Realism” in art.

Dante's Dream at the Time of the Death of Beatrice was painted in the 1871 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. It was inspired by a poem written by Dante Alighieri name “La Vita Nuova” literally meaning  “The New Life”.The painting shows the beatrice deing and Dante overlooking. An angel is seen in the middle

  

The works of the Pre-Raphaelites  was met with a lot of  opposition to their Stress on the emotional and personal aspects of religion, archaizing compositions,  the realism, the lack of shadows, flat depiction of forms as well as the coloration that they achieved by painting on a wet white ground. The movement however had several important supporters . Notably  was the writer John Ruskin (1819–1900), a passionate supporter of painting from nature and a leading exponent of the Gothic Revival in England. Ruskin particularly admired the Pre-Raphaelites' significant innovations to English landscape painting: their dedication to working en plein air, strict botanical accuracy, and minute detail. Whilst  he did not initially admire the brotherhood's goals, he later wrote that they "may, as they gain experience, lay in our England the foundation of a school of art nobler than the world has seen for three hundred years." Experience, in fact, served less to unify the Brotherhood and promote its founding ideals than to foster individual identities and styles. By the early 1850s, the Brotherhood dissolved, though several of the artists remained close friends and collaborators for the rest of their careers.

Bibliography 

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelite_Brotherhood. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

National Gallery of Art – Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Art and Design, 1848-1900. 2013. National Gallery of Art – Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Art and Design, 1848-1900. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/preraphaelites.shtm. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

The Pre-Raphaelites | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. The Pre-Raphaelites | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/praf/hd_praf.htm. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

What is Pre-Raphaelite Art? | Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood. 2013. What is Pre-Raphaelite Art? | Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood. [ONLINE] Available at:http://preraphaelitesisterhood.com/what-is-pre-raphaelite-art/. [Accessed 09 April 2013]

Dada Conflict

Dada began in Switzerland which began in 1916 ,World war one was quite a shock as all Europe was a war and Dada revolved against it. They rebelled against the system with works of art, they did this by creating havoc in art, the art they created was completely meaningless. Dada was not an art form it was anti-art, it fought art with art. Dada was to represent the opposite of what art meant, Dada destroyed what art stood for but at the same time created a different kind of art. Dada is a no sense word with no meaning behind it dada rejected reason and logic. This movement laid down the foundation for surrealism. Dada had only one rule which was never follow any known rules and dada self destructed when people started to accept it.

Hannah Hoch-  Cut with the Kitchen Knife Through the First Epoch of the Weimar Beer-Belly Culture, Germany          

                  

Collages where very popular in the Dada movement the meaning of the image is subverted and the artists becomes a constructor. 

Bibliography

Dada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Dada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Dada - Art History Basics on the Dada Movement - 1916-1923. 2013. Dada - Art History Basics on the Dada Movement - 1916-1923. [ONLINE] Available at: http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/dada.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Japonisme

Japanese ports opened to trade with the west in 1853, L'exposition Universelle introduced Japanese arts and crafts culture to the west. A French critic gave the name Japonisme to the fascination with Japanese style. Wood cut prints by masters of the ukiyo-e school where being imported, there was an exchange of culture. Wood block prints date back to the early eighteenth century in Japan, they were simple, transitory with every day non heroic subjects.  The main purpose of the prints was to distribute texts, especially Buddhists scriptures.  Siegfried Bing who was a Parisian art dealer helped introduce Japanese artworks and founded the journal Le Japon Artistique in 1888, his aim was to raise the level of crafts in the west and show that in Japan there was little difference between art and applied art, he created awareness throughout Europe.Transformed impressionists and post impressionists art resulted in exoticism in the decorative arts.  Oriental bric a brac was going on and  fans, kimonos, lacquers, bronzes and silks where now being traded to the west. Christopher Dresser traveled to Japan and brought goods for resale in a shop called Liberty of London which opened in 1875. Japonisme resulted in decoration being used as means of artistc expression. The Herte Brothers, Van Gogh  and Dega where all inspired by Japanese prints.

May Belfort, 1895 – Henri de Toulouse

He made use of the Kabuki theatre prints and adopted the exaggerated colours, contours and facial expressions to create his eye catching poster.

Vase with cover 1888-98- William De Morgan.

In this vase we can see that Morgan was inspired by Japanese shapes but there was also a western design.

Compagnie des Chocolats et des Thes  by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec –Confetti

This poster is very simple but still the artist uses bold lines which defines the white dress and light colours.  This work advertises new paper confetti which is inspired by the Japanese woodblock prints.

Bibliography. 

 Compagnie des Chocolats et des Thes Posters by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen at AllPosters.com. 2013. Compagnie des Chocolats et des Thes Posters by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen at AllPosters.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Compagnie-des-Chocolats-et-des-Thes-Posters_i6327766_.htm. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

File:Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec May Belfort poster 1895.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. 

2013. File:Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec May Belfort poster 1895.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. [ONLINE] Available at:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec_May_Belfort_poster_1895.jpg. [Accessed 09 April 2013]

William De Morgan: Vase with cover (23.163.2ab) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. William De Morgan: Vase with cover (23.163.2ab) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/23.163.2ab. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Confetti - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - WikiPaintings.org. 2013. Confetti - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - WikiPaintings.org. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/confetti-1894. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Impressionism

The seeds of impressionism started in the early 1860’s by Monet, he was trained in the academic manner but he broke away from traditions, he was an important figure to bring about change in art. At that time Japan opened there borders and began to influence Europe, Monet was mostly struck by the Japanese prints. Monet was also known for his series, he used to paint the same thing in different light he also used to prepare sketches from before.   Impressionism began in France where a group of friends which included Monet, Pissarro, Sisley and Degas. They exhibited together in a studio of a photographer of the time named Nadar where a total of eight exhibitions took place. Impressionists where interested in the play of light on the object, at the time studies on light where being made which they responded to, because of the light the impressionists painted en plein-air which means that they needed to go outside to paint. Paintings were normally small to allow completion on the spot. Impressionist artists made brush strokes visible and where criticized for the unfinished look there paintings had.  There subject matter centered on the life around them which where landscapes, pastimes and chores. They where criticized for meaningless paintings. Impressionism was strongly influenced by the realists who had moved away from themes of academic art. They were also strongly influenced by simple and bold Japanese wood block prints which had bright colours, imprecise treatment of space and lack of modeling, one of the most famous wood block prints is The Wave by Hakusai.  Development in photography also influenced the impressionists. Early photography had long exposures which meant having light on both walls. Photography changed people’s lives in the 19 century.  In 1839 the photograph was made public but was 50 years in the making still the camera obscura and other drawing aids had existed for several years.

Impressionists Paintings.

Impression Sunrise 1872- Claude Monet

 The name was given by a critique who said that the painting was just an impression of a sunrise.  The brush strokes are rough and the colours vivid showing the new style.

The flooding at port marly 1872 – Alfred Sisley

Sisley painted more than one canvas of the flooding,  he painted the flood in an almost peaceful way as if it was part of the town.

Portrait of Mary Cassatt - Edgar Degas, c.1880-c.1884

The Orchestra at the Opera House. c.1870- Edgar Degas

This was the time where photography was popular and at that time it became commercial. At the time you had to pose for a photo and be very rigid and serious for the photo to be clear but these photos were very un-artistic. So portraits which were painted had to be different as photography would steal away the business. They simplified what they saw and used short broken brush strokes but they were still influenced by photography and did not fit everything in their paintings making them change the composition in there paintings.

Bibliography.

Portrait of Miss Cassatt, holding the cards - Mary Cassatt - WikiPaintings.org. 2013. Portrait of Miss Cassatt, holding the cards - Mary Cassatt - WikiPaintings.org. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/mary-cassatt/portrait-of-miss-cassatt-holding-the-cards. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

 Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise | Incite. 2013. Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise | Incite. [ONLINE] Available at:http://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet%E2%80%99s-impression-sunrise/. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Flood at Port-Marly. 2013. Flood at Port-Marly. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg87/gg87-66436.html. [Accessed 09 April 2013].

Arts and Crafts Movement

The arts and crafts movement was renowned for its simplicity of form and plain linear shapes; there are two phases of this movement. There is Morris’s phase where the art made is inspired by plants and nature and then there is Mackmurdo’s phase where the art is more geometric and abstract, still the work done by both phases are always handcrafted. The arts and crafts movement also brought back the cottage industry, which is an industry where there is the creation of home- based products which are then sold to people.  There were at a slight disadvantage mainly because the products which were being done where hand-made meaning that they had to take longer than the factory-based companies which also meant that they were more expensive and being sold to the very wealthy. All this was being done because of the rejection of industrialization but was an important influence for the Modernists.  Also guilds for different crafts where being formed like Medieval times, these attempted to guarantee the standards among crafts. The first guild formed was under the influence of William Morris by Mackmurdo this guild was founded in 1882 in which they used the craft of printing .

Jane Morris

The Kelmscott Press

The guild influenced Morris to form the Kelmscott press which was named after a village. The Kelmscott Press produced hand printed books with handmade illustrations made by the Pre-Raphaelite artist named Edward Burne-Jones. The books done where high quality books which were also printed on handmade paper. Morris designed and made the typefaces, borders and title pages which where all handmade and based on medieval style. The kelmscott Press had financial problems as the hand crafted books where to expensive and only the rich could buy them.

          Kelmscott Press Logo

               

 The Nature of Gothic', Kelmscott Press 1892

(Title Page from 'The Stones of Venice' by John Ruskin)

This is a page from a book called The Nature of Gothic written by John Ruskin, Morris was greatly inspired by Ruskin and made the preface of the book.

Bibliography 

The Arts & Crafts Movement - Victoria and Albert Museum. 2013. The Arts & Crafts Movement - Victoria and Albert Museum. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Arts and Crafts movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Arts and Crafts movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_Crafts_movement. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

The Arts and Crafts Movement. 2013. The Arts and Crafts Movement. [ONLINE] Available at: http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/decart/artcraft/artcraft.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].