Today we had one lecture in the morning about appropriation and installation art. It was very interesting as these are two more art fields that I am a bit unfamiliar with (With the exception of Barbra Kruger and Felix Gonzalez Torres).
One of the coolest installations that was mentioned was an installation by an artist named Rebecca Horn. The installation consists of a piano that is hung upside down, and after a specific time period (like 15 minutes) all of the keys fall out and make a big sound.
Here is an image:
Another installation artist whose work I really liked was Vito Acconci. It's called Bad Dream House, and there are several different ones. I could not find an image of the one that was built inside of a gallery space, but here is an image of one outdoors that sort of has a similar vibe:
Also here is a work by Boetti, "88 Maps Embroidery." It's a really interesting piece, and I'm sorry I don't have a better image of it.
Here is a work by Tracy Emin, it's entitled "Everyone I have Ever Slept With 1963-1995." The piece is both an environment and an installation, which is cool when the two intersect.
After our lecture we went to the Tate Modern. We decided to walk there from Bloomsbury by way of Somerset house (so the other ladies could see the Ai Weiwei heads). It took a while, and of course we got caught in the pouring rain, so from the waist down we were all soaking wet. When we finally arrived at the Tate Modern we only spent an hour there (so I am going back again on Friday and maybe even once more after that). We split into two groups, and I was with the group that also had my professor. We walked into several of the galleries and looked at works in comparison, had discussions about curatorial choices that were made in certain spaces, and then we were also shown works we had to study. After we had looked at many works like this, my teacher took us to see the new re-installation of the Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds, "Just for Alyssa," he said. Then when we got there he asked me to talk about the Artist and the work, and so I did. I mean I was quite proud of myself, but I didn't want to stay on my high horse for too long, so I just smiled when I was done for quite some time.
When we were done at the Tate Modern, we took the Tate Boat (which goes from Tate to Tate). It's about a 15 minute ride, and then we arrived at the Tate Britain. There we saw an environment piece entitled "Coral Reef" by Mike Nelson. The piece made me extremely uncomfortable. It was a series of bunker-like spaces that were behind several doors (it was very much like being in a maze where almost every door opened and there was not really a clearly marked exit). In each of the rooms there were weird artifacts like clown masks, playboy magazines, communist manifestos, semi-automatic guns, muslim prayers. It was a very odd space and I felt extremely uncomfortable, so I left. It was kind of like being in a horror movie where you knew there was nothing that could pop out at you, but you didn't know what you would find next either. Not my thing. Most of the people in my class loved it, however, but I was willing to be honest. I think it's an incredible installation, but only for that, I don't like it beyond having respect for the artist's work.
After that, one of the ladies in my group introduced us to a British friend of hers, and he showed us around the area. We had a nice sit in the park, and it was very relaxing.
Then I went home and made yummy pesto with Gnocchi, and celebrated Ai Weiwei's newfound freedom (YES! He was released on bail today!!!!!!).
Tomorrow is all lectures and no play, but then I am going to have drinks with a woman that my parents know, so we'll see!
After our lecture we went to the Tate Modern. We decided to walk there from Bloomsbury by way of Somerset house (so the other ladies could see the Ai Weiwei heads). It took a while, and of course we got caught in the pouring rain, so from the waist down we were all soaking wet. When we finally arrived at the Tate Modern we only spent an hour there (so I am going back again on Friday and maybe even once more after that). We split into two groups, and I was with the group that also had my professor. We walked into several of the galleries and looked at works in comparison, had discussions about curatorial choices that were made in certain spaces, and then we were also shown works we had to study. After we had looked at many works like this, my teacher took us to see the new re-installation of the Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds, "Just for Alyssa," he said. Then when we got there he asked me to talk about the Artist and the work, and so I did. I mean I was quite proud of myself, but I didn't want to stay on my high horse for too long, so I just smiled when I was done for quite some time.
When we were done at the Tate Modern, we took the Tate Boat (which goes from Tate to Tate). It's about a 15 minute ride, and then we arrived at the Tate Britain. There we saw an environment piece entitled "Coral Reef" by Mike Nelson. The piece made me extremely uncomfortable. It was a series of bunker-like spaces that were behind several doors (it was very much like being in a maze where almost every door opened and there was not really a clearly marked exit). In each of the rooms there were weird artifacts like clown masks, playboy magazines, communist manifestos, semi-automatic guns, muslim prayers. It was a very odd space and I felt extremely uncomfortable, so I left. It was kind of like being in a horror movie where you knew there was nothing that could pop out at you, but you didn't know what you would find next either. Not my thing. Most of the people in my class loved it, however, but I was willing to be honest. I think it's an incredible installation, but only for that, I don't like it beyond having respect for the artist's work.
After that, one of the ladies in my group introduced us to a British friend of hers, and he showed us around the area. We had a nice sit in the park, and it was very relaxing.
Then I went home and made yummy pesto with Gnocchi, and celebrated Ai Weiwei's newfound freedom (YES! He was released on bail today!!!!!!).
Tomorrow is all lectures and no play, but then I am going to have drinks with a woman that my parents know, so we'll see!
