Post-Modernism, Ai Weiwei and Banksy

1. Define Post-Modernism using 8-10 bullet points that include short quotes.

- Post modernism does not deny modernism, however it is in a whole different sense that is trying to revive more traditional ideas.

- It is the philosophical movement that was trying to get away from modernism

- It says that all of our realities are nothing more than ideas created by social movements and groups and so forth

- It is "having rejected the past many years ago and now the future is no longer the goal of artistic effort.." Witcombe (2000)

- Post modernism is a hugely important theory behind all sorts of creations such as the theatre, books, cinema, journalism etc..

- Post modernism is merely a different perspective on modernism

- The progress of these two movements grew from the Enlightenment

- Post modernism rejects the ideas of 'subjectivity' and 'objectivity'

- The social constructs that are of the time and our ideas can be changed at any time depending on what the people who concern it see fit

2. Use a quote by Witcombe (2000) to define the Post-Modern artist.

"The name given to this new period is Post modernism. The Term post modernism is used in a confusing variety of ways. For some it means anti-modern; for others the revision of modernist premises" Witcombe (2000) pg. 18

3. Use the grid on pages 42 and 43 to summarize the list of the features of Post-
Modernity.

- Social and cultural

- Play of surfaces, no concern for depth

- Hyper-reality

- High culture in regards to popular culture and then combining the two

- Art not only how it is but also the process, performance and production.

- It's work is hugely ironic

5. Research Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994)
in order to say what features of the work are Post-Modern.

The reason for why Ai Weiwei's work is considered post-modern is because of how it combines two different ideas in a very ironic manner. In the images below we see a monumental urn, obviously priceless, and the artist has proceeded to print on to it the 'coca cola' symbol. Here we can judge that Ai Weiwei is an artist of the post-modern era for combing these two very different ideas. The next image is of him dropping the priceless urn, all for the sake of art. Post-modernism makes us believe that for the sake of any kind of art, nothing material really matters that much, because it is constantly interchangeable and mailable.

Han Dynasty With Coca Cola Label (1994) Ai Wei Wei

Ai Wei Wei Dropping Han Dynasty Urn


6. Research British artist Banksy's street art, and analyze the following two works by the artist
to discuss how each work can be defined at Post-Modern.(Use your list from point 6.)

Street artist Bansky is primarily know for two reason. One of the reasons is that he stealthily does works of graffiti around major cities and in doing so has made himself infamous all over the world. The second reason is because no-one actually knows who Banksy is. There is a huge amount of speculation in to this and many thoughts as to who or what he is, some say that Banksy is not one person, but actually a collective of people and while others say he is actually one person parading around behind a monkey mask whilst he has a personal assistant handling the other side of things, the way Banksy operates in a post-modern act in itself, for it is rejecting the modern ways. His works too, are clearly that of post-modern workings, because they reject the tradtional mediums of art, and all of his work belongs to the people who see it, because it is on public buildings in public and such.

Flower Riot Banksy

Los Angeles (2008) Banksy

References

Banksy., (2007) Wall and Piece: Random House, UK

Weiwei, A., (2006-2009) Ai Wei Wei's Blog: The MIT Press

Butler, C., (2003) Post Modernism : A Very Short Introduction: Oxford University Press, USA

Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'.

It's The Mother (2008) Nathalie Djurberg

Nesessity of Loss (2006) Nathalie Djurberg


1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

Claymation is a form of art in which the artist builds minature (or otherwise) models of clay figurines, and whilst filming this moves the figurines into position so that they create a motion picture of 'claymation.' However, claymation does not have to be it for motion purposes, it can also just be the figures by themselves.

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? and 'all that is natural goes awry'?

The term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden' in my opinion from the research I have found, means a perfect sanctum, perhaps that is so perfect, it seems surreal, meaning that it is not real in any sense of the word, and makes us feel uneasy because this place can just not be so. The term 'all that is natural goes awry' meaning that the nautral order of something has become so entirely disjointed so it is no longer what it is meant to be and instead mayhem exsists in it's place.

3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

Djurberg confronts us with the knowledge that the human emotion is a difficult thing in bring together or pin down. They are so complex that they hold many secrets aswell as many different layers of being, in Djuberg's work we see images of great destress aswell as that of great joy. She combines all these different emotions in to one emotion and this is where we can see the ''complexity of emotions."

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

As claymation is often a medium used to create work for children, we can therefore note the child-like ideas she has brought in to it. The characters (some of them) hold a child-like simplicity and also the ideas that they have are that of those children would sometimes have. Although for the main part I would think that while, yes, there is the childish thought there, it is very minor compared to the vulgar and tainted ideas of the real world.

5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?

I think the reason for this is because, for the very simple reason that they can. Artists are forever pushing the boundaires of what is politically correct and what is not. The idea that we can turn something that is meant for children into something pornographic is just further proof that the world is becoming twisted and our minds are completely desensitized where as a few decades ago something like this would be completely frowned upon. This type of work is just physical proof that the world is changing and growing, fast.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?

Because in its own right it is very beautiful and moving. Djuberg clearing has talent and flair for the kind of work she does, and it is very different and controversial to many other things that are being produced. People, as a whole, love to see things that disgust them and push their imaginations further. This is why I believe she won the Silver Lion, because her work showed much promise to push the ideas of the surreal onwards.

7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work.

Although I think she is very talented and I have enjoyed looking at her work aswell as researching her, I do not care very much for what she is doing. It is not the kind of thing I enjoy. Not so much the ideas she is portraying because I think it is very courageous for a young girl to be creating such things, I just don't care much for claymation.


References;
Nathalie Djurberg, Kaput Art Magazine (2006) http://www.meatspaceart.org/meatspacesite/kaput02/02/sansone.htm

Nathalie Djurberg, RFC Muesum (2008)http://www.rfc.museum/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350&Itemid=552

Venice Biennale: Nathalie Djurberg (2009) http://we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2009/10/nathalie-djurberg-who-won-the.php