Explorations in Art: Art 200X Kevin Huo

Art across contexts - is the title of this blog/exhibition. Introduction Non-Western Art is considered by this course anything beyond American or European art. Though, I wonder if art itself transcends boundaries and nationalities? In the case of the artists presented in this exhibition they sure should be. Many artists who have trained formally in European or American art schools but come from a 'non-western' world have combined the best of both worlds into their artistic expressions. As a overview on art there are many considerable avenues for artistic expression ranging from media art, visual art, and even performance art.  The Art Exhibit Begins... Nam June Paik, TV Garden (1974) Source: https://publicdelivery.org/nam-june-paik-tv-garden/ The first artist I begin to share with you here today is Nam June Paik. Paik who is formally trained with a B.A in aesthetics from the University of Tokyo, a graduate studying as a composer at the University of Munich, and then eventual

Introduction The quest for non-traditional art, that is perhaps the most succinct way to describe Postmodern art. Postmodernism is a combination of artistic matters that attempt to reject abstraction. There are similar art styles like Dada or Surrealism as similar formats of this artistic era. Much of postmodernism is ironic, satirical, skeptical, and focused on critiquing the universal truths that people live through day in and day out. Considering the first usage of the term in the 1970s, postmodernism goes against the Modern art era of idealizing humanity and this belief in progress.  Historically speaking the postmodern era met a time of questioning tradition and questioning authority from the Vietnam war protests, Civil Rights movement, Women's movement, and technological expansion through globalization. The postmodern era of art is nonetheless transferable from the 1970s to present. The many upheavals in society of protestation, movements were indicative of a need by society

Heavily Influenced by History the Early Modern Art Era Early Modern Art consists of the time around the early 20th century. The early 19th century has many turning points but in this early modern period, it ranges from World War 1 and 2, the rise of Fascism, the Great Depression, and scientific discoveries. Yet, one of the more notable ones is the Great Depression. The Great Depression which is a severe worldwide economic depression found its beginnings in 1929 in the United States and eventually around the world. In October of 1929, the 'Stock Market Crash' at the New York Stock Exchange sent the economy plummeting. The causes of low wages, the proliferation of debt, the struggling agricultural sector, and excess of bank loans that we're unable to be liquidated formally created one of the biggest societal shifts in the 1930s. It is to say without a doubt that people, places, and of course art changed during this period. The reflections of artists' day-to-day can be vis

Romantic In the Romantic era, ah, we have finally reached the point in time of love, compassion, and joy. But, wait for a second, the 'Romantic era' for which we speak of was not just purely romance?  Beginning approximately around the late 18th century and ending mid-19th century, the world was developing in a variety of ways. With the industrial boom of the 18th century, it was evident that the Romantic era was a time where individuals had improved their lives in being able to wander, explore, and flourish. From the industrial revolution, the 'July Revolution in France, rise in Abolitionism in Europe and America, and growing knowledge of the origins of humanity from Darwin. The Romantic era was an influential period in society-at-large. The widening job market, exploration of faraway places by a means of colonialism, and scientific knowledge all benefited the artists of this time. It can be said that the Romantic era was not a singular style, rather a collection of counte

Introduction The revolution has begun, a sudden change that is instigated by the people, the noises, the expressions, and the thoughts. One can consider the concept itself of the 'classical' being a total opposite of what a revolution creates and yet that is something you will find out in this exhibition of 'revolution' and the 'classical era' of art.  Classical. This term so often refers to in 2021 terminology as that of 'classic' or belonging to a period in the past. Something that is cherished for its value. But, in the case of the 1700s classical was a period that shifted away from the Baroque era and into a new period of artistic, architectural, and musical expression. Forms such as Rococo and Neoclassical art came to the limelight through a shift away from the Baroque period of great drama, contrasting of dark and the light, and intensity into the free-flowing, development of the intellect, and expansion of the spirit as uniquely 'classical'

" The aim of  art  is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle Aristotle is a greek philosopher who will we will shine the limelight on but in the case of the Baroque era is represented here in this painting by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.  Aristotle with a Bust of Homer  (1653 Rembrandt) A brief reflection summarizing the Baroque era: From the renaissance period we receive the naturalistic and idealization of humans and their lives. The classical antiquities worldly divine powers reaching down through the artists and painting it into the canvas, sculptures, and music. The prominence of characteristics such serenity, beauty, and religious distinction is indicative of the divine powers connection to the 'human' experience.  Unlike that of the Renaissance period, the the Baroque period throws out this divine connection and the idealizing of the human experience. The Baroque era is a period of artistic representati