Laocoön and His Sons

Laocoön, thought to be a priest of Poseidon is said to have hurled a spear into the Wooden Horse and paid the consequences when a group of sea serpents engulfs himself long with his own sons.

In looking at this piece the immense scale of Laocoön becomes a clear indicator of his strength and power as he greatly over shadows his much smaller sons. In addition, this piece offers exaggerated and idealized body proportions as a piece of the Hellenistic era.

In considering composition, a triangular shape appears to unite Laocoön and his sons as they struggle to fight off the sea serpents. It is Laocoön's head which is at the top of this triangle which emphasizes his as the focal point of this piece.

In addition, facial expressions reveal fear and frustration as they battle the serpents and the two sons look to their father for aid and guidance in a time of conflict.

These terms are all very helpful in analyzing works of art and in understanding the purpose of the piece as well as its context and influence in history and culture.

Victory Stele of Naram-Sin

The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin of the Akkadian Empire 2254-2218 BCE arises as a crucial piece in Art History as it reflects the importance of scale, focal point and unity in analyzing art what it has to say about its subject.

One important element of the Victory Stele is the hierarchy of scale which the artist uses to emphasize the power and influence Naram-Sin at the moment of victory. Naram-Sin develops as the focal point of this piece as he is clearly much taller than any other figure on the stele. This increased scale reflects his power, influence, and strength as he stands proud among his much smaller enemies.

This central figure's stance also contributes to this sense of power. His body is positioned with his head and feet facing forward in profile to reflect motion and progress while his shoulders are shown as broad to reflect his strength. By contrast, the his troops are much less distinguished, only revealing great repetition to reflect the order and unity of the subordinates as they look to Naram-Sin for guidance.

In addition to composition, cultural elements also bring to light the importance of this central figure. For example, the articles of clothing which he wears as well as his weapon all reflect different element of his influence. For example, his helmet with horns may be interpreted to reflect his divine power. By contrast, his enemies are naked to show their weakness in contrast to the king.

It is also the interactions of the subjects which develop this impression of influence. While the troops all face Naram-Sin, the king himself looks to the heavens for guidance. The suns located at the top of the stele reflect this idea of his divine power to give a sense that his actions are ordained by God and he therefore shows his respect.

By analyzing composition, scale, cultural elements and the interactions of the subject, much can be understood or interpreted of the piece in regards to the culture, society and subjects.











Many of these same techniques are repeated throughout history, as exemplified by Napoleon Crossing the Alps of 1800. Once again, the leader is emphasized as the focal point. Though Napoleon is known for being rather short, he now dominates the scene with a confident attitude and glorious appearance. His clothing reflects his high rank, the color red symbolizes power and control and his horse displays a sense of adventure. At his feet are the names of powerful men, reflecting the figures who have influenced him as well as his influence on the world. In contrast to his dark and tresherous surroundings, Napoleon arises as a light as knowledgeable figure who is ready for the challenge ahead of him.

Cultural and historical figures of importance such as Naram-Sin and Napoleon often relied of these artistic techniques to convey power and control.

Gnaw

One thing that has always impressed me about contemporary art is its ability to shock an audience and communicate ideas to encourage change. Janine Antoni's work titled Gnaw is an excellent example of social critique through a creative medium.

Gnaw consists of 2 cubes of chocolate and lard, each weighing six hundred pounds. In 1992, Janine Antoni gnawed at these blocks creating indentations of her teeth, chin and nose. She then molded the chocolate and lard which she removed from the blocks and sculpted a box of chocolates and lipstick.

This unsettling and even grotesque piece exhibits ideas of human consumption, desire and femininity as expressed not only by the final project but also by the act which she endured to create it. Instead of using industrialized forms of art like many of the time, Janine Antoni was willing to use her own body making it much more personal and shocking to the audience. While the teeth markings reveal brutality, out of the cubes comes lipstick and chocolate, two culturally accepted symbols of love and desire which uphold unrealistic expectations of women.

I find this piece highly interesting and captivating as the artist truly dedicated herself to her work as well as her critical message and took on her responsibility in influencing the society around her through her creativity.

Shoot

November 19, 1971, the white F Space gallery in Santa Ana, California

"At 7:45pm I was shot in the left arm by a friend. The bullet was copper jacket .22 long-rifle. My friend was standing about 15 feet away from me. " -Chris Burden

Chris Burden emerged with performance pieces which tackled the social and political issues such as the Vietnam War and a growing disillusionment of government. His most well-known act from this time is the performance piece “Shoot” in which he asked his assistant to shoot him in the arm in front of an audience. His work reveals a great appreciation of fleeting moments and human experience.

“Shoot” brings into light the reality that any human being and moreover, any American can be shot at any time, most likely by someone they personally know. Violence is no longer an abstract image associated with war; instead it becomes vividly personal and close to home. Most importantly, “Shoot” revealed the passivity of the American society in the event of violence. In this way, the artwork is not only the actions of Burden and his assistant, but also the actions of the audience members. Not a single individual stopped to question the violence or intervene. Instead, in the tension of the event they simply sat back as spectators and watched with horror and fascination. Further, he emphasizes the tension between preventing violence and the stigma against touching art.

“Shoot” is a critique of the atmosphere in which it was created which consists of war, violence and pain in a society of spectators. His work reveals the importance of playing an active role in society to benefit the lives of others. Burden's piece is successful because he was willing to do whatever he felt necessary to make a statement without compromise.

Credit in Critique

Critique is a crucial element of learning about and developing design. Though it is often seen as intimidating, painful and daunting, the fact remains that it is through critique that we grow and learn as designers. Through productive critique a designer can receive feedback, gain an understanding of their audience and have the chance to look at their creation in a new light with the opportunity to reevaluate and rework their design.

An article by Kevin Cornell titled "Taking Critique" presented many helpful and interesting methods of making this process less painful and more productive but in the end we must simply be open and ready to face challenges, difficult opinions and even our own flaws. Most importantly we must be open minded in considering other options. To ignore critique is to ignore the way in which others may interpret and receive your work. Further, it is to ignore your work's place in society and its full potential in influencing the world around it.

There are great resources and events available to receive critique of your work. National Portfolio Day, for instance, is a great opportunity for high school students to present their portfolios to design schools to receive critique. Though it may be terrifying at first, in the end it is extremely helpful, interesting and beneficial to your current portfolio and your future works.

Comics

In reading Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, the author points out that comics are "usually crude, poorly-drawn, semi-literate, cheap..." and it is because of this that society often perceives comics poorly, perhaps as immature or less admirable (McCloud 3). But as he continues to argue comics rightful place among well accepted artists, he encourages his reader to question art as a whole. What is art and in what way does it exist in society?

One artist who came to mind was the American Pop Artist, Roy Lichtenstein. His works are largely influenced by comics and advertising, two highly industrial forms of art. His technique, which mimics the appearance of commercial printing along with his use of onomatopoeia, dialogue and panels all resemble the style of a comic yet his work which faces challenges of mass media and social critique has elevated this aesthetic to one of admiration and surprise. It is this simple style which makes his content more acceptable to the public and creates the question of what art can look like. Liechtenstein's work wasn't always as well accepted as today, he shares with McCloud an understanding "that the potential of comics is limitless and exciting" and further, art can exist in a range of form (3).

The Creative Process

The creative process, it's a collaboration of adding and subtracting, of celebration and disappointment, or even confidence and uncertainty In the end, one hopes to have created something new and hopefully interesting and worthwhile, if not, at least at the end of the day, we know we have learned something new. Sure, sometimes frustration with materials or ideas can make our heads spin but we choose to continue because the creative process, though often challenging, is always rewarding.

One artist who embodies this creative process is Andy Goldsworthy, an artist who develops site-specific works through the use of natural materials. Goldsworthy has achieved a great appreciation for the experience of creating and viewing art. In the documentary Rivers and Tides, for example, when during creation, a piece crumbles to his feet (22:00), he explains that though he is frustrated, he does recognize that "each time [he] got to know the stone a little bit more" and it is this understanding which is one of the goals of his work (25:34). He realizes that though we often place more importance on the final produced piece of art, it is in the process that we gain the most understanding and accomplish the most.

In addition, his work becomes dynamic and reaches its full potential through the environment in which it exists. It is nature which helps each piece reach its full potential. As the color of the leaves which he works with change, and the materials age or decompose his art adapts with the environment. For example, when working with ice, he notices that as the sun illuminates his work and reaches a new potential which he "could only have dreamt of".

His work is always changing, and will not exist in the same form as it was created. His work encourages society to recognize time and the fact that nothing lasts forever. His work embraces time and experience.

Acknowledging Audience

Though design is often carried out for an individual's own entertainment and joy, it is also crucial to recognize a designer's responsibility to acknowledge and serve the audience of their work.

One example of this which I found particularly interesting and inspiring was Paul Bennett's discussion on Finding Design in the Details on TED.com. His work within the health care system greatly exemplifies the need of awareness and understanding of the needs and experiences of the audience. This is done often, by taking the time to observe and analyze the world and culture around us the meet the needs of society. By momentarily assuming the role of our audience and putting ourselves in their place, we can attempt to gain a greater understanding of how they view their environment and interact with our designs.

Though we may be faced with obstacles and challenges as designers, one thing that we can never lose sight of is the audience and how they can benefit from our work. Through compromise, design loses its strength and influence and no longer meets the needs of the individual or society as a whole.

Inspired to Create

Where does inspiration for design come from? Personally I like to collect images, photos and objects which I find interesting and turn to those for inspiration. But what happens when you have hit the wall and can't seem to develop a new idea? What happens when your work seems too predictable? I find myself curious of how established graphic designers manage to develop such innovative work despite the constant demand and expectations.

Stefan Sagmeister, for example, spoke at TED talks on the topic of The Power of Time Off as one of his forms of inspiration. He looks to a yearlong sabbatical every seven years to develop a new creative outlook and to explore interests and ideas. Sagmeister explains his discovery of the beauty of the environment as a source of inspiration during this time off.

It was in his last trip, September 2008, that he visited Bali and allowed his work to be influenced by the highly "craft oriented society". He points out the enjoyment of taking time off as well as the fact that his work becomes not only more financially successful but also personally fulfilling. Most importantly, the pieces developed over the next seven years following the sabbatical all originated out of his one year off.

What can Design do for you?

Whether it's selling a car, promoting an organization or helping us navigate a new location, design is everywhere and serves a crucial purpose in society. We are constantly exposed to forms of design but often take it for granted as an aspect of our daily lives. Design can be so much more than a manipulative advertisement. It has a responsibility to individuals, the society and the environment to serve as a form of communication and discourse among an audience. Most importantly it is an accessible form of art which has been strongly integrated into the lives of people around the world. Design is a tool in which individuals can share new ideas and challenge current views. It is an opportunity to voice an opinion. It is a chance to collaborate and encourage discussion. Design is a medium of exploration and discovery.

There is more to design than consumerism and market, it is about people, ideas, emotion and curiosity and most of all, a responsibility to contribute to a better world. Through design one can gain a greater sense of self and one's own role in society.

Typographic Exploration in Hangul

One of the joys of a college campus is access to a number of events, performances and galleries which can introduce you to culture and the arts. I recently took advantage of such opportunities by attending the opening reception of an exhibit titled Typographic Exploration in Hangul, an exhibition of works by Hyunju Lee and Phil Choo.

This exhibit exposes typography and language not only as an important and developing aspect of culture but also as an opportunity to create visually stunning pieces of art. Through the manipulation of Hangul, the native script of Korea, the designers develop an expressive and emotional medium which gives insight into the culture of Korea.

These pieces create an accessible illustration of cultural experience. Regardless of a viewer's understanding of the language, the exhibit succeeds in communicating its complex ideas. Through the visual arrangements of type, a universal understanding of the content can be reached through human emotion and experience.

The exhibit proves that typography, arranged through design rather than by language, can be just as (if not more) expressive than paint on a canvas or words on a page.

This exhibit is on display at the UC Davis Design Museum October 4 - December 6, 2009
for more information, please click here.