Science and Progress-Tony Oursler- week 5
'Eyes' 1996
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.
His work is awesome. I really enjoyed watching it and I like his works how he represented eyes within the evolution of video. Besides, there is an expectation that his work communicates itself the different identify. Eyes lead the viewer to explore the emotional characteristics of it whatever this is female or male. This also shows the importance of looking at inner feeling of people rather than outward things. Sometime the body is more important part among the people because our inner feelings do not show to other people. It can be just like window or frame. Eyes His work reminds people to think of that.
ReplyDeleteThis work is very creepy. seeing his artwork as a video is much more disturbing than seeing a photo of the work, which i think was the aim of this artwork of course.
ReplyDeleteI think Tony's main aim was to give stationary and lifeless objects "life" and identity. As many of his known themes are life and death as well as religion, beliefs, memories and multiple personality disorders.
I think Tony has sucessfully portrayed the Multiple personality disorder very well, by projecting a a mouth on an object along with another persons eyes.
Hey Cory
ReplyDeleteSo glad I didn't have to research this guy, I wouldn't be able to sleep for a month. His work is so creepy and disturbing haha, yet I'm still drawn to look at it, it's a very weird feeling but masterfully delivered.
I like your interpretation of the eyes projected onto planets, that really relates to the concepts of the enlightenment, with man-kinds heightened knowledge. I've always had a fascination with eyes personally and artistically, so it's a very intriguing work.
I really want to see the reaction a psychologist would have to his work. Aside from shitting himself.
Lots of artists work with videos and new media installation, among them Tony Ourslers did fantastic work. Your interpretation about the work "eyes" and the self-governing planet. Exploration about how the media and technology influence is amazin
ReplyDeleteTony Oursler was born in new york in 1957. He completed a BA in fine arts at the California Institute for the Arts, Valencia, California in 1979. His art covers a range of mediums working with video, sculpture, installation, performance and painting. Oursler's work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions including the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Documenta VIII, IX, Kassel, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Skulptur Projekte, Munster, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, the tate, Liverpool. The artist currently lives and works in New York City
ReplyDeleteHis work like a gene mutation. I like your interpretation about the work "eyes" to self-governing planets to make me more understand the work relate to enlightenment. i think the work can be also relate to science, using the media and technology to impress the audience of difference in each of his work.
ReplyDeleteThe information you have provided in this blog is very informative, I also agree on the points you have made about Tony Ourslers work, I also agree with judy's comment above where the work integrates with science and technology as both ideas are exspressed within his work.
ReplyDeleteHeyy..
ReplyDeleteI think that Ourslers is amazing from the presentation of the work to the intentions of his work.. I also agree with your information you hav given and i also think that his work can also apply to empiricism.. We can see that he has developed a certain style throughout his many years of using media and technology and through his experience and progress he has come this far with his work. I also agree with judy on how it relates to science aswell...