His Most Famous Sculpture (Puppy) - Jeff Koons - by Annette Labedzki

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His Most Famous Sculpture (Puppy) - Jeff Koons

 

Jeff Koons, a widely recognized American sculptor, is celebrated for his loudly colored colossal reproductions of trite objects or balloon animals, essentially made of stainless steel with stupendous mirror finish. He emerged as an icon in the history of art with his groundbreaking sculptors of delicately crafted objects, such as "Puppy." Born in 1955 in Pennsylvania, Koons' earliest works were bulk-produced inflatable flowers and toys positioned warily on mirrors. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

 

His unique focus on the selection, medley, production, and the presentation of commercial products took him to recognition in 1980s. His sculptures and photographs completed during this phase explored current American iconography and the affiliation between accepted 'Kitsch' and 'High Art.' Throughout the 90s, Jeff's curiosity in the timeless perfection of his art had slowly encompassed the corporeal philosophies of ephemerality and circularity. His works repeatedly portrayed an obsession with sensuality and sexuality. His sculptors has been extensively exhibited both in the United States and Europe, including major museum such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1992), ("Puppy") the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain (1997), the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (1992), and at the Sonnabend Gallery, New York (1999).

 

Jeff Koons shot to instant fame for his public sculptures, such as the colossal floral sculptures "Puppy," then displayed at Rockefeller Center, to be later permanently installed at the Guggenheim Bilbao, and "Split-Rocker," displayed at the Papal Palace in Avignon, France. In 2006, "Balloon Flower (Red)" was unveiled at 7 World Trade Center in New York City. 'The Broad Collections' of Koons' works are unsurpassed globally and displayed turning points from each phase of his inimitable and ever changing career. This collection boasts of 24 of his best works.

 

The temporal brilliance of his style was highly accredited in his work "Puppy" (1992). This 43 foot-high dog topiary is fashioned exclusively in a breathtaking cover of thousands of flowering plants. Created for an art exhibition in Bad Arolsen, Germany, this West Highland White Terrier puppy is designed with a variety of flowers on a steel surface. In 1995, it was dismantled and re-installed at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Harbor, on a new stainless steel frame with an inner irrigation system.

 

Later, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation purchased the puppy in 1997 and re-installed it on the terrace outside the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain. It has also been reincarnated in its classic, demountable adaptation at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. In 2000, the work traveled to New York City for an exhibition at Rockefeller Center.

 

He effortlessly ascribed ordinary objects with both artistic merit and an inherent sense of sexuality. His works emphasized on the sensuality hidden in all the angles of everyday life. Jeff's art have always attracted the extremes of enthusiasm and ire, and is amongst the most expensive artifact in the world.

 

 

 

 

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Color Symbolism of Purple: Defining Royalty and Abundance Ideally - by Annette Labedzki

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Color Symbolism of Purple: Defining Royalty and Abundance Ideally

Since the beginning of the human civilization, colors have been used to depict certain elements and thought processes. ‘Color Symbolism’ can be found in the earliest forms of art like ‘Cave Paintings.’ Mostly, the meanings and the linkages of colors have been derived out of their occurrence in nature. Purple color and its shades naturally exist in the form of some most revered and precious flowers, such as violets, lavender, lilac, and orchids. Therefore, it is regarded as the color of royalty and abundance. Purple is an amalgamation of two characteristically opposite forces and this earns it the reputation of the ‘ideal’ color.

Red color is associated with fire, energy, action, and zeal. Blue is symbolic of tranquility, dreaminess, peace, and relaxation. Blended together, these two colors form purple, which carries the underlying qualities of both. One range of qualities it symbolizes, include fiery passion, pride, flamboyance, pelf, and so on. On the other hand, it also stands for romance, mysticism, knowledge, wisdom, spirituality etc. Medieval art with royal themes was dominated by this color, often to depict the robes and the garments of kings and the other members of royal descent.

Fresco paintings by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci and other artistes of that era predominantly featured deep purple. It was more so because this common color could be used for nobility, sacredness, and mysticism alike. Purple has been used in various combinations to bring out different qualities in a scene. Use of this color with earthy tones, such as beige or muddy was often used to emphasize its ‘Symbolism.’ In combination with more vibrant colors or greens, it was used to depict spring season and life. Purple, in its lighter versions, defines delicate love and romanticism. Pink and light purple make up the choicest color scheme in amorous subjects.

Like other significant colors, purple also carries different connotation in different parts of the world – some even negative. Thai people associate it with death and lamentation. Widows in Thailand don this color to portray mourning and sadness. Opposite is true in other cultures. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra’s favorite color, purple, is associated with kingdoms and dynasties. The Americans treat it as a representative of patriotism and valor. Its ‘Purple Heart’ is a high level of military honor bestowed upon brave soldiers. Precious stone Amethyst is deep purple in color and is believed to have therapeutic properties. Therefore, the Native Americans also treat it as a color healing. In all its forms and variants, purple is one of those colors that find the greatest presence globally.

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How to Draw like Leonardo da Vinci: Bones and Muscles of Thigh - by Annette Labedzki

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How to Draw like Leonardo da Vinci: Bones and Muscles of Thigh

The years 1510 and 1511, in the career of the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci, were dedicated to the detailed drawings of human anatomy. In association with Dr. Marcantonio Della Torre, he covered body appendages and vital organs in equal measures. These pen and ink sketches differed significantly from his earlier tryst with mythological temperas and frescos. These scientific works in anatomical topography were biological diagrams of remarkable accuracy, derived out of first hand eyewitness understanding. Unverified accounts suggest that Leonardo da Vinci dissected almost 20 male and female dead bodies for his drawings. Therefore, a great deal of diligence and astute observation goes behind any attempt to replicate these sketches. The following guide is designed to help you draw human thighs like Leonardo da Vinci. Modern terminology is used for easy understanding.

• Reference. Do not try to rely on your understanding or memory for creating the bones and muscles of thighs. Medical works by Da Vinci were precision sketches that must be replicated without any ‘tweaking.’ Obtain reference images from books, journals, or the internet.
• Style. Da Vinci executed his works in series, where views included details and completeness varied. The idea was to give as many details as possible. There are longitudinal sectional drawings, complete muscular topographies, standalone bones, skeleton, and so on. Choose beforehand, the type of work you wish to recreate.
• Bones. Drawing the thigh skeleton is among the simplest of all. Each human thigh has only one bone, Femur. It is the longest and most powerful of long bones in the body. The upper end consists of ball joint head on the inner side and the trochanters (greater and lesser) on the posterior side. The lower extremity of femur appears like two small, adjacent balls. Da Vinci’s recreations of femur from different angles are particularly known for their accuracy.
• Muscles. Da Vinci noted that upon reaching knee, the thigh muscles take form of tendons and eventually that of cartilage, which is attached to the knee joint. Keeping this in mind, he made several comprehensive structures, demarcating each type of muscles distinctly. In such designs, the muscle mass immediately below skin and a part of femur are visible. The frontal, back, and side views are depicted through separate drawings. The anterior end of a thigh consists of Sartorius (the longest muscle in human beings) and quadriceps (vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, & rectus femoris). The middle muscles are gracilis and adductors. The posterior compartment is made up of biceps femoris (hamstrings muscle), semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Da Vinci’s works portrayed the anterior and posterior muscles in detail.

Once you are through with the sketching part, add some shading effects. Remember that these strokes are used to demarcate different muscles and not for adding any aesthetic value.

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Near Eastern Art � Vehicle Art: The Story of Mobile Creativity - by Annette Labedzki

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Near Eastern Art – Vehicle Art: The Story of Mobile Creativity

Vehicle Art – Introduction & History

Among the mobile creative forms in Pakistan the heavy-load vehicles art is the most prominent one. Interestingly, in a nation with the per capita income of less than $2,000, an average transporter’s ‘decoration’ expenditure is $3,000-5,000 per vehicle! The penetration of this genre is reflected by the fact that the drivers/owners consider an unornamented heavy vehicle ‘unacceptable.’ In the due course, oil/water tankers and rickshaws were also roped in for artistry. However, small surface area here inhibits creativity and flamboyant imagery. Unverified accounts indicate 19^th century as the starting point of this style, yet the expert opinion on the actual dates remains divided. The early nineteenth century traders, farmers, and other citizens decorated their bullock carts & horse carriages in vibrant patterns, which graduated eventually into vehicle art.

The Details

Some schools of thought refuse to acknowledge the genre as a formal dimension. However, the bright colors, bold patterns, intricate designs, and popular themes have helped it proliferate much farther than any other style. This style is popularly called ‘Moving Art,’ where the base metal structure of the automobile takes place of a stationary canvas frame. Apart from the standard paint medium, external embellishments, like shells or corals are also employed. In most cases, structural adornment similar to ’shaped canvasses’ is done right above the frontal windshield of the vehicle. This is either prepared over metal designs or as woodcarvings. Other additions can be string lights, fixed neon lights, bells, chains, and mirror work to name some.

Karachi is considered the hub of professional vehicle decoration trade. Nevertheless, various representational forms carry their unique regional flavors. The trucks from Baluchistan and Peshawar flaunt heavy wood trims, while those from Rawalpindi and Islamabad use prominent plastic artifacts. Camel bones adorn the trucks in the Sind region.

The subjects often revolve around beautiful spiritual messages and holy verses, set in ornate Arabic, Urdu, or Hindi dialects. The ornamental literature in the form of calligraphy, praises the Lord for the wonderful world. Some of such works are carried out with a touché of Romanticism to idealize peasantry, flora & fauna, and women. The unorthodox themes include the replication of Indian movie posters or the portraits of Indian stars, a rage among the Pakistanis.

The Artists

Cornered as informal and raw, Pakistani Vehicle Art could not fetch fame and identity for its artists. These people are commoners carrying goods from one place to another to earn a modest living. They lead nameless lives, while spreading creative joy to their customers.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to judge the importance of Pakistani Vehicle Art as several vehicle owners are found taking personal interest in themes, tools, and techniques involved in decorating their vehicles. These artworks travel everywhere and are often symbolic of the owners’ religious, social, and political views along with their general outlook towards life.

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Image: Aesthetic, Functional, and Valuable - by Annette Labedzki

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Image: Aesthetic, Functional, and Valuable

Image – The Concept

The word ‘image’ comes from the Latin word ‘imago.’ It refers to a picture that resembles an object, a living entity, or a scene. Broadly speaking, images may be created both, manually and digitally (with the use of latest computer based technology). Most of the manually created images include carvings, drawings, and paintings. On the computer, images can be generated using input devices and various creative software programs. The three most commonly used image file formats for scanning, internet, and printing use are JPG, GIF, and TIF.

Types of Images

Images can be two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D). While 2-D images include screen displays, photographs, maps, graphs, and even abstract paintings, 3-D ones have an ‘illusion’ of depth in them. Applicable in videos, photos, and statues mostly, this effect is created by presenting a slightly different image to each eye. There are special software available in the market to create 3-D images. The various types of images include:

• Fixed – Also called as hard copy, it refers to a type of image, processed digitally, or photographed, and transferred on fabric or on paper.
• Volatile – This type of image has a temporary existence. It could be something as simple as a mirror reflection of an object or their display on a cathode ray tube.
• Moving – This refers to movies, videos, and animated display. Moving images are created with the help of a video camera that takes a series of photographs rapidly in the strips of film.
• Still – Referring to a non-moving, static image, this term implies the ‘non-mobile’ ones. Photographs are an excellent example of this type, where the images are captured through a device called camera. The medium of recording in a camera can be either a photographic film or digital memory. Digital images can be stored electronically and can be reproduced on paper as well.
• Mental – This type of image exists in the mind of an individual as either memory or imagination. It refers to the perception of an object, scene, or event not actually present for the senses. The subject in question may not even be real and may exist simply as an abstract concept. Sigmund Freud’s theories on human behavior are based on mental images.

Conclusion

Images have come a long way with the developments in technology. Graphic designing is now a full-fledged career option with scope in almost every field. Medicine, entertainment, engineering, designing, and animation – today images play an invaluable role everywhere, facilitating a fertile, growth-oriented future.

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His Most Famous Assemblage (Canyon) � Robert Rauschenberg - by Annette Labedzki

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His Most Famous Assemblage (Canyon) -   Robert Rauschenberg

Born into a family of Fundamentalist Christians on October 22, 1925, Milton Ernst Rauschenberg or Robert Rauschenberg was one of America’s most prolific and significant artists. He got his art training from the Kansas City Art Institute and at New York’s Art Students League. Robert Rauschenberg hands worked at various creative mediums and styles, such as photography, printmaking, papermaking, performance, and dance. He gained fame in the 1950s for his atypical transition of ‘Abstract Expressionism’ to ‘Pop Art.’ Robert Rauschenberg is well known for his “Combines,” especially “Canyon,” an innovative and somewhat chaotic compilation of painting and sculpture, using eclectic everyday provisions and items.

Robert Rauschenberg’s “Canyon” (1959), a mural ‘Combine,’ is an assemblage of buttons, photographs, a stuffed bald eagle, carrying a rope attached to a pillow that is perched from the main panel and tied to a string. The 87″ x 70″ x 24″ mural is promptly pulled down to the ground with an assured gentle landing. “Canyon” is a soft insinuation towards Rembrandt’s ‘The Rape of Ganymede’ (1635). To maintain a relentless rapport amongst the pictorial subjects in “Canyon,” Rauschenberg delved greatly to bring out new items such as, sheet metal and enamel on wood. The artist once said, “I think a painting is more like the real world if it’s made out of the real world.”

Art that was appealing and interesting, created out of the banal, formed the core & the emphasis of Robert’s creation over beauty, a fact well corroborated through his “Canyon.” The ‘Combine’ employed a broad spectrum of elements, such as oil, house & tube paints, pencil, paper, metal, photographs, fabric, wood on canvas, buttons, mirror, stuffed eagle, cardboard box, pillow, and nails. This diverse work of multiple connotations, unifies just one creative philosophy, that of free & independent randomness. To clear his understanding of art, Robert once commented, “It is neither Art for Art, nor Art against Art. I am for Art, but for Art that has nothing to do with Art. Art has everything to do with life, but it has nothing to do with Art.”

All through his artistic journey, Robert Rauschenberg urged to communicate to the audience through objects and items that played as representational aids, giving American contemporary art and sculpture a new meaning and aspect. Robert Rauschenberg’s other famous assemblages, other than “Canyon” are ‘Gloria’ (1956), ‘Summer Rental III’ (1960), and the famous ‘Monogram’ (1959). The master of creative experimentation, Robert Rauschenberg, died on May 12, 2008 due to heart failure in Captiva Island, Florida. His ‘Contemporary Art’ piece “Canyon” presently graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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Western Art � Electronic Art: The Crossroads of Technology & Creativity - by Annette Labedzki

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Western Art – Electronic Art: The Crossroads of Technology & Creativity

Electronic Art – The Concept

Originated in west, Western Art dominates most parts of the world. It is of course one of the oldest in the history, dating back to approximately 3000 B.C., with a very clear line up of creative competence. Creative improvements and widening were witnessed in the form of carvings, paintings, standing stones, and other sculptures. Presently, Western Art is more a high-tech zone, involving the use of electronic media and equipment for the development of creative – a horizon known as Electronic Art. Owing to its immensely accurate, intricate, and creative output with tremendous efficiency, this technical genre is considered the strongest pillar of the art history.

The Details

Creatively, Electronic Art can be divided in the following elements:

• Information
• Media
• Video
• Digital
• Interactive
• Internet
• Electronic Music

Of these, Media Art is the one involving creativity in the most fundamental sense such as painting. A mix of Conceptual and Systems Art, the designing part in Electronic Art is done with the help of electronic devices. High precision cameras capable of producing some effects help capture the shots, which are then digitally processed and improved on computer to get the desired artworks. Owing to global technology proliferation and quick & accurate turnaround, Electronic Art is fast gaining a lot of popularity. Digital paintings are given the perfect touch with the help of modeling software, some digital cards, and often robotics too. Digital colors in huge variation of shades well compensate for ‘messy to many’ water or oil colors.

The Pre-requisites & Scope

The only pre-requisite with Electronic Art is that you need to have the advanced digital skills. The artist needs to learn to use the graphics software to attain the required result. Once adept, the range of creativity can be encashed through general artistic exhibitions, architecture, civil engineering, movies & animations, digital outdoor advertising, stage designing, web designing, video games. The artists may project themselves through their websites or subscribing to various online art supporting organizations. Therefore, apart from satiating the creative senses, Electronic Art is one of the most rewarding careers.

The Artists

Roy Ascott (British – 1934), Maurice Benayoun (Algerian – 1957), Angie Bonino (Peru – 1974), Heiko Daxl (German – 1957), David Em (American – 1952), Ken Feingold (American – 1952), Ingeborg Fulepp (Croatian – 1952), Perry Hoberman (American – 1954), and Eduardo Kac (American – 1962), are some of the key Electronic Artists.

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