Monday, 25 May 2009

Primitivism

Primitivism was huge back in the twentieth century when it first became known, and it still is until today. The artists were trying to make their own style and think outside the box, not just go along with everyone else. For example for primitivism artists they payed attention more on the audience, rather than the main event. The primitivism paintings are ways of illustration of where art began, 'back to basics' with the flat colours in a 2D image, nudity, colours, and nature.


In the world of art being called 'primitivism' is like a racial offence, its's like saying you can't draw nor do you know what the true meaning of art is. But Primitivism is a style of art just like realism, pop art and the rest.


This image is basic and doesn't really make sense but it is a perfect example of primitivism art work. The limited colours being used, the flat image, the nudity of the women, and even the cow doesn't really make sense in why it is there it adds in its own affect to the painting itself.

L'Enlevement d'Europe (The abduction of Europa) , Henri Matisse

1929

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

National Archives of Australia


Commenwealth Avenue Bridge (1946)
This is a photograph of the Commenwealth Avenue Bridge after being re-built from 1925. This photo is a significant part of Canberra's history. It was taken in the early establishment of Canberra, before all the building/parking and extended roads were built off or/and next to it.


Document

"Lest we forget Armistice day 1919 - 45 on the eleventh hour, eleventh day of the eleventh month we shall remember in silence and the heartfelt gratiude the men who fell in the great war." Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, Governor - General, 8 November 1919.

In Australia and allied countries such as, New Zealand, Canada & United Kingdomit became known as Armistic Day, holding a 2minute silence.

After WW2 they renamed it Rememberance Day.

National Portrait Gallery


Glenn Mcgrath - By Sally Robinson (2003)
The best thing about this image is the size of it, its a rahter large canvas which suits the graphic really well. With all the texture of the image really attracts the eye. When looking at the image you can noticed all the lines diagnoaly going different ways in different colours. Its a image of them doing something they love, which shows happiness. Not in the painting itself but the depth of it.






Johnny O'Keefe - By Ivan Durrant (1947)
Johnny O' Keefe, Australias first rock n roll star, nicknamed 'The Wild One'.


I was walkin threw the Portrait Gallery all the paintings looked too similar to one another, but this painting By Ivan Durrant really stood out to the rest. The amount of contrast thats in & around the face is just perfect, to top it all off the red colour filter was introduced which just topped off the perfection of the painting.






HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark - By Jiawei Shen (2005)

This painting really struck me, of course being our Australian born Princess Mary. The image itself is rather dull in terms of colours but your eyes straight away get drawn to her dress, with it being the only real depth of colour throughout the image. Princess Mary really sticks out of the painting, in a way shes glowing. With the Sydney Opera house in the distance threw the window it represents Australia, being her home town. Jiawei Shen did a extremely good job with the textures of the painting.






Monday, 2 March 2009

Australian War Memorial - assignment


Change of Technology

WW1

The Technological aspect of warfare changed dramticaly from World War 1 to World War 2. Even now more then ever they are still working on improving the quipment & uniform, to make life that little more easy when confronted in that situation.


Uniform:
In World War 1, they used a wool fabric for the soldiers unfiorm thinking it would protect the body more because it is thicker then any other fabric. Caciki coloured clothing worn was long jacket, 3/4 pants and like bandages to wrap around the lower leg, with leather boots covering just ontop of the ankle. The helmet that soldiers wore was like a bowl protecting just the top of their heads.


In WW1 they had alot of heavy equipment to carry this is where horses and camels were used for transportation, and a easy way to get injured soldiers out of the battle feild and quickly into the first aid. Big riffles with a dagger attached at the end.



15 years later...



WW2

Uniform:
The soldiers uniform stayed the same colour, the jacket became shorter stopping at the waist to make it easier for them to move around. Helmets were re-designed to cover their whole head and most of the neck. Boots re-designed to reach just under the knee cap. Dog tags were introduced in WW2 to ID the soldiers.


Motorbikes were used as transportation for soldiers and also jeeps/cats with weapons built in. Reducing the size of equipment having to carry, instead of carrying big riffles with dagger attached at the end. They began carrying little pistol guys to reduce the ammount being carried.


Photography:

In WW1 there was imaged photographs of memories in what took place at the war but not actual action shots. The cameras were too heavy and too much equipment to take and attach for them to take action shots. There used to be a minimum of a one minute exposure, meaning all the images that were taking during that time frame are of people standing still and still object. There was no detail in the images, you got to see 'who' was there yes but not 'what' they were doing there.

By the time WW2 came it had improved from BNW photographs to coloured photographs, and images that were taking whilst the battle was taking place. Soldiers loading their quipment, taking people hostage etc. We got to visual see all that threw a photograph, which means more detail then just a couple ppl standing there waiting for the photo to be taken. All the latest technology gets realsed to the military first to be tested and used by them, then introduced to the public.

NGA - assignment

Pop Art Gallery
This image stood out to be, not only because Elvis is a famous part of history, but also the texture & contrast thoughout the painted image is intence. Just by looking at his eyes you see fear and the expression on his face shows the viewer that his not shore about what's happening.


Painted By Andy Warhol (1963)


Further down the wall from Elvis in the NGA 'Pop Art Gallery' there was this image by the same painter. Along with introducing a catch the eye painting with the colours of the electric chair. It interested me how they placed both these images on the same wall. Relating them to one another, not only because the images were both by the same painter, but also because in a way they both represent death. One being with a fire arm n the other being with a electric chair. They fit together perfectly.


Painted By Andy Warhol (1967)



Asian Art Collection
This is a tomb stone cover marker for muslims in South-east Asia.
Writing on it a incription from the Qur'an



Java - Tomb Cover



It reads: 'In the name of god, the all merciful, the all compassionate, say: He is god, the one and only; god the eternal, absolute: he begets not, nor is he begotten; and there is none like unto him.'



Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Some of my photos

These are some of my portfolio images. I love taking pictures of people, taking photos of children in particular. Although you have to take heaps of shots to capture the perfect one its worth it, the natural expression on their face is priceless.