Thursday, February 7, 2013

Neo-Expressionism: D2 Read & Response



Hello Drawing 2 Students,
Please read the article on Sculptor's and their drawings. Review the essay on Neo-Expressionism. In order to understand this movement in relation to Expressionism, consider researching both. What were the unique qualities of their works? What brought about the cynicism of critics of the Neo-Ex? What aspects of the movement had/have resonance?

After reading, please post your personal response as well as two images, in the same format as the previous posting, that are examples of the ideas expressed in this article.

Thanks,
Brandon

due Tuesday
10 points

7 comments:

  1. So I read the article twice and I did not find it to be informative at all. It didn't really state what Neo-expressionism is or why it was criticized. if it did, I must have missed it. All I got from it was a lot of artists who practice in this genre and many examples of their work. I had to do research outside of the article to understand what the topic actually is since I am unfamiliar with it. From what I understand, it is a more current style of painting that expresses emotion in a rough and almost violent way uses bright colors. I can see how some critics do not like the style, as society usually thinks to the negative when something isn't easily understood right away. Usually when something isn't, for lack of a better phrase, painted out for the viewer in a direct manner, the viewer may not take the time to fully understand it and dismisses it as "bad". Judging by how successful the artists in the article are, however, I think that people today have a better understanding of this newer painting style. even though some may say that painting is dead, I say it just evolves.

    example one:
    artist: Annette Kunow
    piece:GrĂ¼ne Figur
    link: http://en.artoffer.com/Annette-Kunow/Image-Large-View/?imagenr=61837

    example two:
    link: http://mobile.degreeart.com/painting/darren-macpherson/everybody-does-crowns
    piece: everybody does crowns
    artist: Darren MacPherson
    I love his use of color. I really enjoy the expression on the womans face. I'm not sure why, but I really like this piece. if you click on "view all by the artist", Darren MacPherson focuses in neo-expressionism.

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    Replies
    1. Tatiana, it was good to hear that you researched in order to draw some conclusions about Neo-Expressionism. The article does assume some prior knowledge, particularly concerning the motives of the Expressionists artist. You hit it on the head though, neo-ex & expressionists both sought to convey emotions within their work which resulted in a loose and even crude aesthetic at times. The essay is trying to portray the criticism surrounding the need for a resurgence of such a movement, particularly during this time in history. Critics often thought that the movement was commercially driven, an art aesthetic billed as emotionally responsive, colorfully flamboyant and supposed less conceptual and more market driven.

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  2. The chief characteristic of this style of art is the reaction it brings in counterpoint to conceptual and minimal art. This, as well as the 20s and 30s expressionism that helped inspired it, is an area of art where my appreciation has grown as I've seen more and more painted art. The experience of seeing the 30s expressionist works in Berlin, for me, was very moving. They're very emotional arts. Likewise, their more contemporary cousins have grown in appeal for me. I really enjoy raw emotionalism in visual art, and I like the way that this kind of art enables us to experience such a broad range of emotions so fluidly, and at will.

    The article mentioned something about linking this style of art with right-wing political movements... which I'm not seeing at all. Also, referring to something as unintentional kitsch is another way of saying you don't like it. Kitsch can be very subjective.

    Artist: Georg Gaselitze
    Piece: d'Adelante Viento
    Link: http://artedeximena.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/d-adelante-viento-1966-georg-baselitz-0020.jpg?w=975

    Artist: Anselm Kiefer
    Piece Grane
    Link: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/%27Grane%27_by_Anselm_Kiefer._Woodcut_with_paint_and_collage_on_paper_mounted_on_linin%2C_Museum_of_Modern_Art_%28New_York_City%29.jpg

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    Replies
    1. This is a fantastic response. I am glad to hear that you find an appreciation for this work.

      Some clarification concerning the "right-wing" comments that may have been made; I believe they are referring to the view that this type of work, because of its commercial appeal, was capitalistic. The critics frustration was in response to this idea that the Neo-Expressionists were producing with market in mind rather than concept. The idea of trueness is a delicate one in art. Work is both hated and praised for its honesty and its objectivity.

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  3. Feb. 12, 213,

    Neo-Expressionism

    In this weeks article Neo-Expressionism, I found it to be helpful to define Neo-Expressionism and Expressionism before I even continued to read the article, because I was not able to grasp a clot of impressionable details of the two types of art. So in my searching, I did get a vivid description of the differences and similarities between them. First I found the description of Neo-Expressionism to be "intellectualized, portraying recognizable objects and the human body," says Rafael Labro in the article neo-expressionism.org. He describes ideas about Neo-Expressionisms purpose of aggressive mass media and the intensity of colours. The intensity of the neo-expressionism art like the beautiful Damien Hirst picture of the butterflies called "Soothsayer," has vivid colors but not necessarily bold in the sense of bright. The unique quality of these artists work was that it was familiar and simple. Another example was Labro's "Lona Misa." The picture was obviously supposed to be a take off of the famous "Mona Lisa" masterpiece so it was interesting to compare the two in my mind.

    In contrast, Expressionism art is described as deformative or distorted painting, or in other words abstract art. Not only was it abstract, but the exaggerated shapes were depicting the emotions and state of mind of the artist. Some pictures looked very much like "hallucinating" and maybe strong feelings of anger or confusion. Like Jackson Pollack who was not in our artical this week but was very interesting in my researching. "On the floor I am more at ease, I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around in it, work from the four sides and be literally `in' the painting. "
    -- Jackson Pollock, 1947. The expressionism art is very abstract on a large scale with very vivid colors. I actually love some abstract art because of the unique, bizarre thoughts someone was thinking of and they were able to recreate it to share. They are not afraid to use large areas for their canvas.

    The significance of the two types of art is that I see how they can overlap in the sense that I have seen neo-expressionism on larger scaled canvas' with simple yet extremely vivid colours. I believe exaggerated emotions, in an artists work doesn't always mean it is visually abstract. I think the critics want to protect their "labor intensive signature styles" and do not want other artists to mimic their unique art.



    Artist: Rafael Labro
    Art: Third Eye; Gemini 4; & Lona Misa
    http://neoexpressionism.org/labro/

    Artist: Damien Hirst
    Art: Soothsayer
    http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/artists-on-view-georg-baselitz-damien-hirst


    Artist: Jackson Pollock / Abstract Expressionism
    Art: The Tea Cup
    http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/pollock/pollock.tea-cup.jpg


    By: Beverly

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    Replies
    1. I appreciate the fullness of you definition of Neo-Expressionism. I also think it is interesting how you described abstraction as not necessarily being related to the a scale of literality.

      Your choices in art are also good, drawing parallels between expressionism and abstract expressionism - comparing and contrasting.

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  4. Sonya:

    Neo-expressionism was a return of “individual subjectivity” in art, as opposed to the Death of the Author ideology. It contrasted with Minimalism by bringing what Minimalism considered superfluous back into the limelight. I don’t quite understand Conceptualism, but supposedly Neo-expressionsm was a reaction to this movement, as well. I’m a little confused, because both seem to value the making of the artwork as supremely important. Conceptualism seems to have less direct connection with the artist and with subjective expression. Neo-expressionism surfaced in the late 70s and became internationally famed in the 80s. Some artists were treated as celebrities. Likewise their art became kitsch. I suppose it only makes sense for the artists to gain fame when their works are really a reflection of themselves. If the public sees the artwork through the artist’s eye, then the public not only becomes obsessed with the artwork, but with the artist, viewing him or her as a relatable icon.

    Artist: Sigmar Polke

    Artwork: Samson und Delilah

    Link: http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426242985/536/sigmar-polke-samson-und-delilah.html


    Artist: Georg Baselitz

    Artwork: Fingermalerei-Akt, 1972. (warning, graphic male parts)—So I really feel weird for posting this, but hey we’re in an art class, right? I like Baselitz’s style best of all, just for his use of contrast and colors. This particular painting struck me as interesting because it’s upside-down. Instead of looking like a creepy pornographic self-portrait, it seems more like a strangely deep and true reflection. It’s not really self-deprecating or self-grandeurizing. It’s just real. There’s my disclaimer if you think I’m weird for liking it. Maybe it strikes a humanist chord inside me because he looks like an upside-down Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean the scraggly, starved prisoner, in Les Mis, and I feel sorry for him.

    Link: http://www.georgbaselitz.com/

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