Draft of capstone class final project. Includes file of images and wall labels for DRAFT of the exhibition. Includes prints from the UC art collection from the 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, and 20th century.
The representation of architecture within art is a main theme for artists of all time periods. Within the UC Art Collection, prints display different stylistic approaches from abstract to realistic when portraying architecture. This exhibit will display five prints that compare and contrast the idea of stylistic approach. By viewing these artworks, there is the question as to why artists chose to portray the two types differently. Does the style dictate the importance or function of the architecture? Through exploration, one could say that there is a correlation between the type of architecture and its stylistic rendering. When viewing the examples of the collection, architecture that is considered monumental, such as cathedrals or government buildings, seem to be portrayed with realistic detailing and perspective, leaving no room for artistic expression in the portrayal. On the other hand, common architecture is portrayed with more abstraction but allows more freedom of expression from the artist to interpret the structure. Is one better than the other or do these two separate approaches give their subjects individualized attention to their charms?
This essay investigates the complex subject matter and the significance of Félix Bracquemond’s etching Le Haut d’un battant de porte (The Top of a Door) through a biographical approach, visual analysis, and examination of the artist’s creative process and intentions. The investigation demonstrates that this etching is not only unusual for its clarity, but also for its ambiguity. The seemingly contradictory yet complementary characteristics – clarity and ambiguity – coexist in this work. It is the coexistence and interaction of clarity and ambiguity that makes this work more significant and intriguing.
UC SCHOOL OF ART MFA GRADUATING SHOW 2015 — TEXTS AND PROJECTS
This collection of texts and images brings together the work of graduate students and faculty in art history, art education, and fine arts at the University of Cincinnati in the spring of 2015. We invited students in art education and art history to write accompanying texts for the final projects of their peers in the fine arts graduate program – projects encompassing everything from multimedia installation, abstract painting, video animation, fiber-based sculptural assemblages, photography, and drawing. The students’ projects were presented at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, as part of the School of Art’s MFA Thesis Exhibition, which ran from April 1 and April 25, 2015. A process of looking, talking, looking again, writing, reading, and re-writing unfolded. Shorter versions of the texts were shown at the CAC alongside the artworks at the CAC. The process created a working space for artists and writers in dialogue, giving rise to new ideas and projects in turn.
Morgan Thomas
Vittoria Daiello
[from Foreword]
Design: Sso-Rha Kang