In depth, comprehensive summaries of all the artworks relevant to the Conceptual Art section of the IEB Visual Art examination. This includes, Robert Smithson - "Spiral Jetty", Christo - "Running Fence", Damian Hirst - "The Physical Impossibility Of Death In The Mind Of Someone Living", Tracey Emin...
WALTER DE MARIA
“The Lighting Field”
- 400 polished steel poles installed in a grid array in western new mexico known for its electrical
storms measuring 1 by 1 km spaced equal distances apart
NELE AZEVEDO
“Minimum Monument” and “Melting Men”
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, CONCEPTUAL ART: LAND ART
ROBERT SMITHSON
“SPIRAL JETTY” (1970)
DESCRIPTION:
Black basalt, limestone rocks and earth. 4.5 m wide x 457.2 m long . Great Salt lake, Utah, USA (extremely remote location)
INFLUENCE:
Symbolic associations to pre-historic structures. Minimalism – simple/ basic. Growing Environmental awareness.
Surrealism/ Dada – irony and absurd
INTERPRETATION:
Paradox / ironic - jetty does not “function” therefore aesthetic and symbolic associations outweigh functionless structure.
Entropy – quiet workings of nature as she reclaims the Jetty. Ancient primordial feel - Fibonacci sequence – the design of all life.
HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY & BEHAVIOUR:
Meditative & reflective. Remote space – pilgrimage to visit – can take on a spiritual significance.
ART AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY -- SOCIAL/ POLITICAL/ HISTORICAL/ ECONOMICAL / GENDER/ GLOBALISATION:
Urbanisation and disconnection from the earth – relevant themes emerging in the 1970's of greater environmental awareness. The
site is stark and contains discarded industrial elements- comments on man’s role in shaping the surface of the earth. – but
ultimately how nature dominates human activity as the entire jetty is continually eroded and subjected to the forces of nature.
Rejects art as a commodity.
TECHNOLOGY / NEW MEDIA + MEANING IN MEDIA:
Massive scale. Construction company hired to build this work - Earth moving equipment/ bulldozers/ trucks. Art moves out of the
traditional gallery space. Can only be fully viewed and appreciated from the air. (Photography and video document construction
process and serve as the only view for most people – this is sold to galleries and collectors)
ART AS IDEA:
So many more themes are relevant to this work – beyond the simple spiral shape (we can all draw a spiral). Media use makes this
work significant. Archetypal themes. Not culturally specific – transcends cultural barriers. Journey to the site becomes significant
(Journey / pilgrimage to remote spiritually significant places).
Site – specific location – due to remoteness/ colour of earth and tides
Smithson comes up with the idea but is not hands-on in constructing the work. This is outsourced to engineers and machinery.
Due to the remote location – predominantly exists in film and photography – making it intangible. Cannot be viewed in entirety
except form the air – new viewer experience of art.
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