The Artists Thread

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Welcome to 'The Artists Thread' !

Seeing that Visual Arts doesn't have a specific syllabus like other subjects such as Chemistry, Business Studies and so forth- teachers all across New South Wales are free to teach any case study, artists and artworks in the world. This allows for extreme flexibility in Section 2 of the exam, but as well as choosing artist/s of influence for your body of work. There seem to be a misconception that there's always a "good" artist and/or artwork to analyse. But it really depends- which artists, styles and works you like.

Here in 'The Artists Thread'- I will share artists, their artworks and an analysis of their work in the hopes to help Visual Arts students picking artists for Section 2 or for their body of work. Everyone is welcome to share their favourite artists, artworks and analysis in this thread as well!

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Marcel Duchamp (French)
Fountain (1917)

Movements: DADA, Cubism, conceptual art, modernism, readymade (although- not necessarily associated with DADA groups)

Medium: Readymade

Context: Marcel Duchamp introduces the readymade by submitting a signed urinal, under the alias R. Mutt, to the Society of Independence Exhibition, wanting to comment on the Salon’s traditional selection process of artworks. The artist also wanted to introduce the practice of using ready made objects that was deemed controversial to the Salon whom only perceived works made in the traditional sense can be considered as art.

Analysis of work's meaning: Duchamp wanted to encourage the idea that industrial products such as this untouched and somewhat pathetic urinal can be deemed as art too. Why should artists limit themselves in creating art within the traditional, conventional borders? Furthermore, Duchamp also introduced the idea that the conceptual ideas of an artists and intentioned were more important than the outcome and effort put into their artwork. The banal object of this urinal was definitely a symbol of artistic revolution during Duchamp’s time and certainly inspired later artists.

What do critics have to say about it?: Critic Wood comments ‘He chose it. He created a meaning for the object’, perfectly capturing the essence of Duchamp’s readymade movement and the uprising of the DADA artists during their time.

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Damien Hirst (British)
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991)

Movement: Post-modernism

Medium: installation, found object

Context: This work was seen seen as controversial and glamorised animal cruelty as Hirst commissioned for a dead shark to be caught to serve as apart of his artwork.

Analysis of work's meaning: In this installation artwork ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’ (1991) by the British artist Damien Hirst, it appears to be a dead shark in a glass case. The reality of this deceased shard in immortalised through this art and displays the innate terror of death. Hirst’s comments on the cycle of life and death and plays with society’s fascination with the notion of death. By using a dead animal, Hirst certainly pushes the limits of his thoughts and practice.

What do critics have to say about it? Art critic Hughes expresses that Hirst’s work is certainly a reflection of the cultural obscurity of the contemporary art world (paraphrased)

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ORLAN (French)
The Reincarnation of Saint ORLAN (1990's)

Movement: contemporary, found object, performance art

Medium: time based form (picture above is a still from the artwork)

Context: Performance art allowed for artists and artworks to have an intimate relationship with the audience and invited the viewer to participate in the work.

Analysis of work's meaning: In this performance art ‘The Reincarnation of Saint ORLAN’, it appears to be a documentation of different plastic surgeries on the French artist ORLAN during the 1990’s. ORLAN appropriates carnal art, which is a technique that imitates classical, renaissance art through modern technology, such as plastic surgeries and video and appropriates Renaissance paintings such as Mona Lisa and the Birth of Venus. ORLAN livestreams her plastic surgeries in art galleries around the world, inviting the audience to witness the living artwork to be formed. Through plastic surgery, ORLAN comments on the male gaze that has formed the ideal image of women, yet an unrealistic perspective, presenting the high beauty standards women face in society.

What do art critics have to say about it? Art critic Viola exclaims ‘Real body, imaginary body. Mystical body, social body’, encapsulates the permanent manipulation and possible health risks, displaying ORLAN’s extreme approach to breaking the boundaries of art and her seemingly provocative practice