Summer Project

Sarah Morris

Sarah Morris- Rings(1952)-2006

Sarah Morris- Still from film Chicago-2010

Sarah Morris has recently been featured in September addition of Art Review for a review of her latest film "Rio". This is the latest in a series of films in a series of films based in cities all over the world such as Miami, Munich and Beijing (1). Morris wants to express a wider picture of what's happening in the city, Rio was shot during the famous carnival which is obvious at the end (1). She also wants to make it more obvious that she values the history of the city, particularly the architecture and the story that creates (2). Morris links different elements of the film throughout for a reason that is unknown, until the end where you realise that it is the carnival (1). The film also seems to be a form of tribute to the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (1) who has been one of Morris' main inspirations throughout her work. I think that she is also trying to show that the importance of our past and to show that we shouldn't stray so far from our traditions unlike so societies.

It is obvious that Morris has been inspired by a modernism style, but it is also suggested that she has been inspired by the inside of hospitals and scenes for the film Gattaca (1997) (1). Morris practises in other materials such as household gloss paint on canvas (2). This gives Morris a wider range, these painting are made up off very bold block colours an example of this is "Weasel" (2007) I really like the superbly clean cut lines in the paint it gives the painting such clarity and boldness. The painting also speak of this almost obsession Morris has with making her work look clean. Her works all seem to have a clinical cleanliness to them, because of the white spaces between the blocks of colour (2). Obviously this is no accident; it was an intention, which I believe is very successful.

Morris isn't one to give that many interviews so her views don't necessarily get herd she prefers her art to speak for themselves. However in June 2011 there was a claim that her work "Origami" had been copied from six different artists (3) she said when she created the work the origami was a sign of change (3) in a rare interview. There are very few other articles that have surfaced about Morris. I think that personally she just doesn't want to be a part of the media. The review on the film "Rio" was very positive and also they didn't judge her and they respected her ideas.

I think that the way that way Morris presents her work is very intentional because of the ideas behind the work, like I have said before there is almost the OCD with the cleanness and she presents them in a almost hospital setting, its all white. Her work does remind me of Beatrice Milhaze simply because of the colours and Piet Mondrian because of the composition.

(1)- Art review September 2013 edition pages 124-126

(2)- Art Now volume 3 Sarah Morris

(3)- http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/05/tate-artist-sarah-martin-origami-lawsuit

(4)- http://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/P/P78/P78601_10.jpg

(5)- http://bauhaus-online.de/files/imagecache/480h/magazin-bilder/6_Sarah_Morris.jpg

Tino Sehgal

Tino Sehgal- These Associations- 2012

Tino Sehgal has been shortlisted for the turner prize for his two recent projects "This Variation" and "These Associations" (1). He entertains the idea "what is progress?" throughout his work, but concentrating on this in "these Associations" at the Tate Modern in London (2). Sehgal wants to evoke feelings and powerful thoughts throughout his art (2). However the art has no Fabrication or physical objects, it disappears as soon as its over (2).

Tino Sehgal- These Associations- 2012

 Which I think personally that this leaves more of a lasting impression of the work in your mind. It makes you repeatedly think about it after, it leaves its stamp on your mind. Sehgal's work isn't a performance, he is very specific on this; he wants it to be seen as some sort of sculptor. It was once reported as "a set off choreographed gestures and instructions" (2). Sehgal thinks that this will evoke the largest reaction. He wants it to be happy "like a museum of dance" (2) therefore from my point off view the reason of the art is to evoke some sort of pleasure from the viewer.

 He often also has a unique way displaying his work, there seems to be no one else who produces similar work. Sehgal's exhibitions aren't quite like your standard exhibition, there is no setting up its there or it isn't; the same as an official opening it is simply more of a surprise. They are live encounters between people (1). In the Tate Exhibition the performers ranged in age from child to elderly to produce the most thought provoking (2). The exhibition at the Tate in the summer 2012 at the same time as the Olympic games  and as the part of the exhibition the performers shaped the bodies in forms to reflect the games and what was happening in the city at the time(2).

Sehgal's work has often been in Art journals and papers; there has also been quite a lot of controversy over his work (2). There have been quite a lot of arguments over the fact that Sehgal is making a good living over something that is as substantial as air (2). Which I suppose when you look at the facts it is true, however it's the same when you go and see any show really. It is also hard to get Sehgal's view on this because he rarely gives interviews (3).

Sehgal has been influenced by growing up in many different parts of Germany, but mainly for his great interest in market and political economy from a young age (4). Other influences are Tim Jackson the writer of "prosperity without growth" Sehgal has reflected his ideas in the past exhibition "selling out" in 2002 (4).

(1)- http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibitionseries/turner-prize/2013-nominations

(2)- http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/welcome-his-situation

(3)- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18957938

(4)- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10041272/Tino-Sehgal-Invisible-art-worth-100k.html

(5)- http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2013/06/03/03-venice-biennale.o.jpg/a_560x375.jpg

(6)-http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article7965507.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/We-will-be-holding.jpg

Michelangelo Pistoletto

The Triple Loop at the Louvre (4)

I first came across Pistoletto's work when I went to his latest exhibition at the Louvre in the summer of 2013. It was a very large scale exhibition which included his work, but also performances and activities in the Tuileries Gardens (1). Pistoletto works in a range of fields, including performance, painting and sculpture. He learnt about performance art and performing with the Zoo group which he joined in the late 1960's (2).

Venus of the rags at the Louvre (4)

When I was looking at his work they were not all together like you would expect in another exhibition they where dotted all in different places around the Louvre. It created almost a treasure hunt feel to the exhibition. It was also very interesting because the works that were like mirrors such as "from one to a many" pictured; where next to the great classics. This added a playful element to the museum. Personally I think that it almost seemed to make fun of the other paintings by being there. It was also confusing because the other painting that where there in permanent exhibition are painted in a photo realistic way that they are like a mirror image to the person in the picture, by putting an actual mirror in the gallery it was very confusing to the eye.

Pistoletto also put his famous sculpture "Venus of rags" in with the rest of the sculptures which again seemed to look like he was playing with the classic arts. This almost seems to be a dig at them, intentional or not. I should imagine that Pistoletto was actually inspired by the people that he was exhibiting with today, even more so when you consider that his first profession was a painting restorer with his father until 1958 (2).

He likes to engage the viewer and make them feel as if they are a part of the art, whether its appearing in a mirror or stranding under one of his sculptures. The images that are photo silkscreened onto the mirrors are supposed to evoke the viewer to question reality and representation (2). The triple loop that seems to be the signature of Pistoletto represents the ongoing revolution. He likes to use everyday materials the triple loop that was suspended above the Tuileries Gardens was covered in all different types of materials and so was "Venus of the rags", this suggests that he is trying to promote recycling and also diversity (2).

Pistoletto's work does remind me of the great classics in both paint and sculpture, they are very similar to the works of Michelangelo because of the photorealism in the work (2). There isn't a great deal of articles about Pistoletto he seems to stay quite out of the lime like and just concentrate on making art which is something really special. He doesn't seem to do that many exhibitions as well.

(1)- http://www.louvre.fr/en/exhibitions/pistoletto-year1-earthly-paradise

(2)- http://www.all-art.org/art_20th_century/Pistoletto1.html

(3)- http://images.vogue.it/imgs/galleries/peole-are-talking-about/art-photo-design/018855/gc-pistoletto-louvre-14-3360200_0x440.jpg

(4)- http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9338471798_18dbc0af6b_z.jpg