Science and Progress - Week 5

Science and Progress-Tony Oursler- week 5

New York 1996
'Eyes' 1996

Research Tony Oursler's projection sculpture to identify some of the ideas and methods he uses in his work.

How do you think the Enlightenment concepts of Science, progress, reason, individualism, empiricism, universalism, freedom and secularism can be applied to Oursler's work?

'The Enlightenment' can be described as influencing the current way of thinking. Tony Oursler is well-known for his video and installation work around the world and have been making works since 1981. He integrates sound, performance, moving images and scuplture in his videos and projects them onto unconventional objects such as dolls, balls, buildings, trees and even steam. "It has said to be that the artist has freed the video image from the "box"." - (http://tonyoursler.com/individual_work_slideshow.php?navItem=work&workId=8&startDateStr=Feb.%206,%202010&subSection=Installations&allTextFlg=true&title=Number%207,%20Plus%20or%20Minus%202)

In my opinion through Oursler's concepts and ideas linked to his works, we can easily apply the elements of ‘The Enlightenment’. Take for example ‘Eyes’ (1996), the piece is of large blinking eyeballs that are projected onto spheres making them look like self-governing planets in our solar system. The spheres are placed in different areas of the room to display the light-reflecting ring that planets show in the path of the sun.

(http://www.tonyoursler.com/images/banner_image/faurschou_10_banner.jpg )

The work plays on our reasoning as human beings, it represents 'an anatomical analogue of our desire for escapism through technology'. (http://tonyoursler.com/individual_work_slideshow.php?navItem=work&workId=8&startDateStr=Feb.%206,%202010&subSection=Installations&allTextFlg=true&title=Number%207,%20Plus%20or%20Minus%202).

'It's what I call mimetic technology, in that it mimics in a way, almost like psychedelic drugs mimic certain thought patterns'. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-s4xzB5D2Q&feature=PlayList&p=348B00449CD8F2F7&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index =6 - 1:49- 2:01). With his video projections he creates that experimental feeling.

This composition also opens the mind to possibilities. As a result this will make people think about issues relating to the work, thus expanding social and intellectual progression. In conclusion there are many ways to tie the elements of ‘The Enlightenment’ to Tony Oursler’s work. It is because Tony’s work can be widely interpreted, it becomes more relatable on a viewers level, which makes his works popular.

Refer to pages 96 and 97 in the ALVC handbook for the full list of key ideas of the Enlightenment. Also use Youtube, the internet and the library to research Oursler's work.

Week 4- Damien Hirst and the diamond skull.

Week 4- Damien Hirst and the diamond skull.

As we will be at Noho Marae at Awataha in week 4, this blog question is for week 4 and week 5.
Research the art work of Damien Hirst, in particular his work 'For the love of God'(2008), a diamond encrusted skull.

Discuss how Hirst's persona and work relate to the Renaissance concepts of Mercantillism and the (increased) status of the artist.

Damien Hirst is a famous English artist known for contemporary art. With Hirst's creations solely based on the theme of death, he's created some of Britain's most famous works, e.g. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, a 14-foot (4.3 m) tiger shark immersed in formaldehyde in a vitrine became the iconic work of British art in the 1990s. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Hirst - 2nd para). His most recent work is a diamond-incrusted skull entitled ‘For the love of God’, inspired by this mother. The skull is of an actual man that lived around 1720 -1810 from Europe. His teeth are still showing, but the rest of him is covered with 8,601 diamonds. (http://www.artnewsblog.com/2007/06/diamond-skull-by-damien-hirst.htm - 2nd para).

Mercantilism in the Renaissance era was wealth measured by the possession of precious metal e.g. gold and silver. Hirst’s latest work is the most expensive piece of contemporary art to date selling for around 100 million dollars, which in return has elevated Hirst’s status along with his diamond-incrusted skull.

“Work of art? He is not an artist. It's all commercial value to him. Is this just another way for rich people to deal with their time and excess of money. If Paris Hilton or Ali G say they did it, instead of Hirst, would you call that art? or just another publicity stunt?”

(http://www.artnewsblog.com/2007/06/diamond-skull-by-damien-hirst.htm 13 comment.)

“Hirst, who financed the piece himself, watched for months as the price of international diamonds rose while the Bond Street gem dealer Bentley & Skinner tried to corner the market for the artist’s benefit. Given the ongoing controversy over blood diamonds from Africa, “For the Love of God” now has the potential to be about death in a more literal way.

“That’s when you stop laughing,” Hirst says. “You might have created something that people might die because of. I guess I felt like Oppenheimer or something. What have I done? Because it’s going to need high security all its life.”

(http://boingboing.net/2007/06/02/damien_hirsts_diamon.html Last 2 para)

Without Hirst’s status as a contemporary artist, the artwork itself would not have been completed with funding/benefits out the window. It would also not be viewed in the same light as other art in its genre.

http://www.jamesallen.com/_uploads/news/hirst-diamond-skull.jpg