Intro to Art Sculpture

Ernesto Neto

Most art is too valuable, precious, or protected by glass or chains. The saying “You can look but can’t touch” fits artwork perfectly. I was really amazed that an artist would make something that the public can step into and experience from the inside out. Neto’s Navedenga art work was a new experience for me and made me think of how I would want my artwork to be observed by the viewers. The stocking structure was made of polyamide stretch fabric, sand, Styrofoam, cloves, cord, and ribbon. When I walked in and looked up, the Styrofoam above me looked like rain. I felt like a baby inside the structure that was soft, stable and fragile at the same time. Even though the audience could not touch the sculpture, it was a great occurrence to be a part, swallowed inside an art work.

William Kentridge

When I stepped into William Kentridge’s exhibit, I was overwhelmed with different sound and music that was intertwining. After watching all the shows I saw a repetition of images like the cat, man, telephone, and rhinoceros. I wondered if these had any special meanings to the artist; does he have a cat? Does the cat represent something negative? Is the rhino an indication of Africa or money? Another thing that struck me was the use of black and white mostly with charcoal. Charcoal alone is a dark and heavy substance and Kentridge probably used it because it was easy to manipulate and gives age to work. The artist also used one additional color in some of the videos such as blue for river/water and red for blood.

Most of the Kentridge videos had some sort of narrative-personal and historic. In one room there were a few videos playing at the same time, showing how the artist created his work. The first videos at the beginning of the Kentridge exhibit were more historic and showed the history of slavery, prejudice and lynching. The artist used real videos footages in Uba tells Truth with his own images to show the struggle and nature of his work. In the ‘theater room’ there were two stage sets that had collage, images, video, music and technology working together that trap and pull you to the stage. I was amazed at the technique and technology that was used, like the ‘man running’ a moving tube, playing music in the Preparing the Flute. The music was louder and faster tone when the robotic figure was running and dramatic when the other woman-like figure was walking and bending. Majority of Kentridge videos had a rhythm, sound, voice, African music in them that made them distinct from one another and have a connection as well. I really enjoyed Kentridge’s show and it inspired me to think outside the box, made me want to make things move.

Yin Xiuzhen

As I stepped into Xiuzhen’s room there was only one thing to see, a huge minivan covered in clothing. Project 92 was something very odd to see but makes a lot of sense because of the time we are in. The van could transport a lot of people and since China has a huge population it could be economical and efficient to use. The mini wan was placed in its own small room away from all the other galleries and noise. Inside the van there was music playing, which you would usually never hear in a museum if you are looking at artworks. I loved the idea that you could walk into something, sit and even relax and enjoy a new relaxed atmosphere. I also loved that the artist used garments that people have already worn and she said that the fabric gives “traces of human experience”. There is history and a story in every shirt that makes the viewer wonder with questions like who wore it, when, was there an occasion for it and so forth. I love to reuse things and even make my own frames from the leftover of my laminate floor. Today we have to salvage up scraps and make everything last because it can be used in many forms and ways and become a useful and artistic piece.