Power + Control
If this global pandemic has highlighted anything for me, it’s that sometimes things are out of my control! This made me think a little bit about what areas of my life I feel like I have power over, and which ones I don’t. I want to challenge you all to think about this idea some too, and make some art about it.
I think there are a lot of different ways you could look at this, but just as a jumping off point, here are some areas I considered, in relation to art and art making, and some examples of artists who I feel addressed the concept in their work:
PERSONAL POWER:
Artists: Frieda Kahlo, Cindy Sherman
Frieda owned her own narrative from her first painting on, and she made her incredibly personal expression something we can all look at and relate to. She proved not only that a woman could hold her own in what was then a definitively male dominated world, but that something very personal could be very powerful. Cindy Sherman, on the other hand, used herself to represent someone else, expressing how limiting gender typing is by dressing up as stereotypical roles available to women. Both of these artists made person expression a powerful statement about something bigger.
I think there are a lot of different ways you could look at this, but just as a jumping off point, here are some areas I considered, in relation to art and art making, and some examples of artists who I feel addressed the concept in their work:
PERSONAL POWER:
Artists: Frieda Kahlo, Cindy Sherman
Frieda owned her own narrative from her first painting on, and she made her incredibly personal expression something we can all look at and relate to. She proved not only that a woman could hold her own in what was then a definitively male dominated world, but that something very personal could be very powerful. Cindy Sherman, on the other hand, used herself to represent someone else, expressing how limiting gender typing is by dressing up as stereotypical roles available to women. Both of these artists made person expression a powerful statement about something bigger.
SOCIETAL POWER:
Artists: Banksy, Diego Rivera
Murals and street art are one art form that I think has had a profound impact. Representation is power, and artists have used powerful images to shape art and society at the time during which they were creating, and long after. Banksy has changed the narrative about what art is, and what an artist can do.
Artists: Banksy, Diego Rivera
Murals and street art are one art form that I think has had a profound impact. Representation is power, and artists have used powerful images to shape art and society at the time during which they were creating, and long after. Banksy has changed the narrative about what art is, and what an artist can do.
REPRESENTATIONAL POWER:
Artists: Andy Warhol, Yao Kusama
Sometimes purposefully, like Warhol, sometimes just as a byproduct of what they are creating - aesthetics have power to shape our cultural reality. Both of these artists have helped define the aesthetics of their times, and have changed in profound ways how art is made and conceived of afterwards.
Artists: Andy Warhol, Yao Kusama
Sometimes purposefully, like Warhol, sometimes just as a byproduct of what they are creating - aesthetics have power to shape our cultural reality. Both of these artists have helped define the aesthetics of their times, and have changed in profound ways how art is made and conceived of afterwards.
ASSIGNMENT:
Think about areas of your life where you feel like you have power and/or control, and areas where maybe, like me, you’re feeling a lack of power and control in our current circumstances. Pick one aspect, and using whatever you have access to for materials, make an art piece reflecting on why you feel that way, or what it looks like to you.
If you want to stay personal: What makes you feel powerful, or powerless? Or if you want to think more broadly about social impact: What statement would you make to the world right now, if you were able to leave your house? This could be a drawing, painting, found object sculpture, collage, performance art piece, or anything else you can find to work with.
I’m looking for:
You guys are troopers!! These are crazy times, and I so appreciate the work you are putting in to this class!
Think about areas of your life where you feel like you have power and/or control, and areas where maybe, like me, you’re feeling a lack of power and control in our current circumstances. Pick one aspect, and using whatever you have access to for materials, make an art piece reflecting on why you feel that way, or what it looks like to you.
If you want to stay personal: What makes you feel powerful, or powerless? Or if you want to think more broadly about social impact: What statement would you make to the world right now, if you were able to leave your house? This could be a drawing, painting, found object sculpture, collage, performance art piece, or anything else you can find to work with.
I’m looking for:
- An expression of how you are feeling, or a statement you want to make
- Effort put into creating the piece
You guys are troopers!! These are crazy times, and I so appreciate the work you are putting in to this class!