- Home
-
Modules
-
Module 1 - Analog media
-
Module 1 - Looking out
Module 1 - Looking out
View Looking outcomes · Return to Module 1
Research Two Modern Artworks
tl;dr: Critially Review two distinctly different and non-digital contemporary artworks. Document your experience with each. Research the artist and artwork. Compare your initial response to your research and report your discoveries.
Learning Objectives
In addition to the standard looking out objectives, here we specifically hope to:
- To become familiar with the world of art by exploring artists and artworks;
- To experience and recognize your first response to art;
- To develop a receiptivity to art and experiences of artwork; and
- To learn how to read and ‘decode’ an artwork.
“The doing or making is artistic when the perceived result is of such a nature that its qualities as perceived have controlled the question of production… the artist embodies in himself the attitude of the perceiver while he works…”
“Representation may also mean that the work of art tells something to those who enjoy it about the nature of their own experience of the world.” - John Dewey
Sidenote: The video above highlights just how many art movements happened in the 20th century. Before beginning, it’s highly recommended you read a little more about 20th century art and the many many movements involved to get a little context. Start here, then look at the additional articles in the resource section for this module.
Selecting the works
You’re asked to pick two modern artworks (see constraints). There’s a few ways you can slice and dice this:
- Visit an Art Gallery and identify an artwork that you find compelling (hint: you have free access to the Carnegie Art, and many other museums and galleries in Pittsburgh).
- Explore the collections of art galleries online e.g. MOMA, Tate, or online resources like ArtNet.
- Visit the Art collection on the 4th Floor of Hunt Library. There are tonnes of excellent books on older works that you won’t find on the internet.
If you’re stuck focus on abstraction/abstract expressionism and it’s artists (Klee, Kandinsky, Malevich, Pollock, Rothko, De Kooning, Lewis are all good starting points.)
Make sure they’re distinctly different, for example:
- By movement: Representational compositions like Eakins versus non-representational like Kandinsky; or Monet’s Impressionism versus Malevich’s Suprematism;
- By medium: oil on canvas versus mixed media/collage versus silkscreened PopArt.
- By artist: choose an early and a late work from the same artist. For example compare a famed / extremely well known artwork by this artist and which highlights their particular style to an early work which might show the development of that style.
- By place: choose a work from a European versus an Americian artist and compare artwork across cities and cultures.
- etc.
Regardless, it should be an artwork you find personally interesting, appealing, etc and at least one of them you shouldn’t have seen before.
Constraints
- The artwork must be from the 20th century and by a well-known contemporary artist
- The artwork must not be digitial, interactive, sculptural or performative (we’ll deal with these in later modules!) i.e. choose a traditional medium.
Process
- Spend around 10-15 minutes just looking at each work of art (see ‘exploring the artwork’ below)
- Document your experience (first impressions, interactions, what it evokes for you, your emotions, and your response to the work of art, etc.) (hint: you’ll need a journal or pen and paper).
- Then use the framing questions to guide your review of the artwork.
- Check if your inital response is true/accurate: research this artist in depth; and research the process and techniques used to compose this work.
- Compare what you believed to what you discovered through research
- Report on your discoveries
Exploring the artwork:
Initially, let your eye wander over the painting and ‘free associate’ any ideas and impressions that come up as you look at it. Keep a note of them.
After you have looked for a while, take notes on your thoughts and impressions. Try and answer the following:
- What do you see? Describe subjects and objects in the painting; first impressions; colors used; shapes, lines and texture; mood and visual effect. What thoughts come to mind when you look at it? What words would you use when you first see it?
- What is happening? How do the elements of the painting create the mood, message or aesthetic ? How do the composition, color, shapes, spaces, foreground & background relationships etc., enhance the overall effect of each painting?
- What is the meaning? What you think the artist is trying to say through the work of art? What do you think the intention or purpose is? What does it mean to you and why?
Use these prompts and framing questions to help guide your exploration and discussion of the artwork.
What to write up:
Follow the guidelines for posting a looking out to Slack. Include in your post the following:
- Artwork: An image of the artwork
- Credits: Artist’s name, Title of work, year produced
- Artist: Describe the artist you have been selected and in particular their style, themes that they deal with in their work, their contributions, etc. What or who influenced them?
- Work: Describe the work you selected and why? How is it composed (color, tone, form, shape, space, line, surface, proposition, context, symbolism, response, etc.) What or who influenced this work?
- Response: Describe your personal experience of and response to this image.
- Reflection: Reflect on what you learned/discovered? How did your response change after researching the artist/artwork?
Keep it brief! Just write a short critical reflection (about 200 words). Each of these sections should be pretty succinct. But make sure it’s well illustrated (include links, images, etc.)
Learning More
Summarised in: