Abstract/Modern art appreciation: HELP?
Check out Italian Futurism, especially Boccioni, Carra, & Severini. Also read the Futurist Manifesto by F.T. Marinetti. The Italian Futurists are interesting as an art phenomenon for several reasons. Reading Marinetti's manifesto, you see their concerns, namely the reproduction of the speed of changes at the turn of the century; their work captures the sense of movement, the feeling of the breathlessness of the modern pace of life. An even more interesting facet of their work is its sinister political implications: The Futurists were instrumental in providing support for Mussolini and his burgeoning Fascist movement. It is one of the few times in history--perhaps the only time--when art has anticipated, influenced, and catalyzed a political movement. This is not to lay responsibility for Fascism at the Futurists' feet, but their anticipation of it and support for it cannot be denied. A similar movement, also right-wing in flavour, was the English Vorticist movement of Wyndham Lewis. Reading the Futurist manifesto, one sees in embryo the ides that would later crystallize into Fascism. A German modern artist, George Grosz, correctly gauged the relationship between the two movements. Grosz is another modern artist worth checking out, his corrosive canvasses a document of the Weimar Republic, a "society without a soul."
How you appreciate an arts or visual arts?
Hi. You sound as if you really know how to be an artist without our help. I can only tell you about European Art and I hope you will not change your own work. I think the best book about art that all art students read when they are in college is " The Story of Art " by Gombricht. That gives you a whole picture of the history and art appreciation, but it is long and if English is not your first language it might be tedious. The very best thing I could think of for you might be to get the series of programmes on Video, CD , DVD. made by Sir Kenneth Clarke called " Civilisation." That gives you everything you could want and you can watch them over and over again. I hope you can get them. Perhaps on Ebay. Good luck with your painting.
How did pop art differ from Abstract Expressionism?
Abstract expressionism was a little earlier that Pop art. Abstract expressionism was defined by two things: 1, there is no representation of any object, person or place. Paint is paint, paint is not a person. For this reason, Abstract expressionists (2) also believed that when you use a medium, yous should create art that can only be done in that medium (i.e. pollocks dripping paint). The final image was up to the viewer to inturpret, not the artist. Pop art was more about consumerism, and mass production. It was a reaction to the Abstract expressionists. Instead of an ambiguos image, pop artists hit you over the head with the idea in a deadpan sort of advertising way. Warhol used the screen printing medium to further accentuate the mass production/consumerism aspect. In fact, his studio was called "the factory," and he did little of the actual printing himself. Roy lichtenstein meticulously painted images to look like printed comic books (which were then in their heyday of printing). So the two in a way, are direct oppositions.
Why do I seem so attracted to Japan (and Asia in general)?
Here's a brief overview about me: I have a Chinese nationality, born in Canada, and currently living in the United States.Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to insult America, but I just don't like being American at all. I feel like we're overrated and known for being fat. Whenever my family and I travel back to China I can just feel how they're looking down on me because I'm an American tourist. I always wish I lived in China or Japan. I'd love to live in a little 30m apartment in a big city. I don't find anyone non-Asian super attractive to me. I have no idea who Leonardo DiCaprio is and when I searched up some pictures on google, I didn't find him that great. The music I listen to is either Japanese or Korean, and I don't like the Disney-style art but I do like manga/manhua. One day at lunch with some friends, I couldn't name a single Caucasian man that was hot to me but I shot out Asian names like a fountain. Actually, I'd prefer Japan over China, and I have no idea why. Everything there, the food, music, entertainment, language, I'd prefer over Chinese. (Maybe because they push more on commercial business) But let me get this clear: I'm not a giant Japanese-wannabe or otaku. Yes, I've read 3 mangas but I'm not totally obsessive. You see, I'm probably over self-conscious and hate being known as one of those people who love anime and think Japan is their heaven because I'm NOT. I do admit, the rual areas are beautiful and I love modern cities and just the way the language sounds. I've always wanted to visit and see what it's really like for myself, but I have no connections there. And I know China and Japan have don't like each other at all... So since I've never experienced anything about Japan and my history clashes so much with it, why do am I attracted to it so much?