Final Project

Link to Final Project can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ooq0KDG9UdYW9TRTEtR3JJcXM/view?usp=sharing

Event 4: Getty Museum's Reinventing Photography: Light, Paper, Process

I have been to Getty Museum once before, and I never walked into the Photography exhibit located a little deeper on the premise. I had the choice of looking at the art history collection to find any mathematical sequencing that artists focused on in the past, or to take a look at something a little more modern. Thankfully, the current exhibit right now is Reinventing Photography, which was a great opportunity for me to learn about the different developments and inventions that are going on in this field.

I love taking photos, but I have never studied photography, so I only know the basics of good lighting and settings. The art that I saw today really opened by eyes to how far photography can really go -- it's not just a snapshot of a moment in time. It could be a series of photos taken in the most abnormal and creative ways. Most of these artists, I learned, are multimedia artist who use several different techniques to arrive at their masterpiece.

My favorite piece in this exhibit was Lisa Oppenheim's Lunagrams #1-13. She picked up glass plate negatives of the moon which were made way back in 1850 by astronomer, John Williams Draper. After creating an enlarged copy negatives, she exposed sheets of photographic paper to moonlight at the same phases of a lunar cycle depicted in the negatives. She then toned the prints with silver to capture the magical ethereal qualities that prints from the original negatives must have conveyed when first presented a century a half ago. She wanted to bring nostalgia to when the pioneers of Astronomy first made these discoveries. To create the glow effect of what it must have felt like -- both surreal and disbelief, yet optimistic with the limitless wonders of the World.

Another artist, Matthew Brandt, surprised me with how he utilitized the labor intensive heliograph process, where metal plates are coated with sticky tar like substance that gardens with exposure to sunlight. After photographing exhibits of prehistoric animals in the page museum, Brandt wanted to make large scale heliographs or sun picture in sheets of aluminum using tar gathered from nearby La Brea tar pits. It's interesting how he literally used parts of history (tar pits) to create a modernized piece. This conveys a sense of loss for creatures and buildings that no longer exist. He wanted to use the preserved the memories of fossilized skeletons and photographs to depict their void today. 

After this exhibit, I have developed a new love for photography. It's not as simple as what meets the eye. There are several ways to transform it and develop new technologies to "reinvent" photography. This medium has been around for a while, but with greater access to digital media now in this generation, it makes being a multimedia artist both fun and inventive. 

Event 3: Fowler Museum's Making Strange

It was very exciting to learn that Vivian Sundaram put together this entire exhibit -- which kind of seemed like a little fashion collection when you first walk in. Making Strange has a very obvious theme -- to remake garments with recyclable materials. However, there is a deeper message being communicated. 

Making Strange explores the idea that clothing and the human body are inseparable. Sundaram captures the tension between beauty and illness, pleasure and pain, life and death. This effect is generated through modernist avant-garde aesthetic strategies, high fashion, recycled materials, and pop cultural references. As you can see, the garment she designed is stuck onto a mannequin. It is made out of old hose material. This type of "haute" couture is "strange" yet highly inventive and may strike you to think... what do I decorate my body with?

Sundaram not only explores one type of culture, but chooses to expand throughout the entire world. If there is one thing every race can connect to is our clothing. The mannequin below -- her attire is made from old hospital masks. Could her life have been dedicated towards nursing? Is Vivian indicating that this "uniform" has simply just become a part of her?

One of my favorite pieces in this exhibit, is the one pictured below. It shows the concept of life and death. The mannequin is watching herself on her death bed. Also, the bed seems to be formed by two convex shapes, which reminded me of the Jesus fish. Is this a representation of someone "saving" themselves?

Event 2: Hammer Museum's Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studio

This is one of my favorite exhibits of all time. I have been to several different museums of modern art (LACMA, SFMOMA, MoMA) and I've never been more intrigued. Every single piece had a purpose that I could relate to, and see it's impact fully in today's society.

The main theme of this exhibit is -- to answer a question.

I realized that Heatherwick is an amazing inventor, not only because he finds the most creative solutions, but because of his ability to pose the most explorative questions.

Heatherwick doesn't just have eye for aesthetics and contemporary design (later I found that he is a designer for Longchamp). His unique ability to blend both technology and art together is what truly makes his work stand out beyond his peers. For example, a trending photo opportunity in the LA area right now on Facebook and Instagram is his spun chairs. After going through the studio, I learned exactly why he invented something like this. He wanted to know if it was possible to rotate while sitting down. Thus he created an art piece that people can enjoy "riding."

This is a place to go to if you're searching for inspiration. Heatherwick is very well known for being a concept artist for bridges. If you see the paintings, you'll notice that the new forms of architecture are both environmentally sustainable and efficient for metropolitan areas.

He even digs into a revolution for furniture by bringing his creations back in the wood shop to create everyday, simple products such as the cabinet, and transforming it into something cooler. He uses hinges to help expand, hide, and save space. I truly can't wait for these to hit the market!

Event 1: Hammer Museum's Lauren Bon & Metabolic Studio

This was such an interesting experience because when I first walked into the room, everything was completely dark except for moving light shadows peeking behind the curtain. I walked behind to see what was creating the ripple effect. I noticed that there was something pulsing inside a glass bowl containing water and a lightbulb inside.

At first, I couldn't really tell what was going on. However, after examining exactly what the different components were in this art piece, I learned that the ripples were being created from sound waves, generated by a speaker.

What was the message that the artist is sending me?

Here is my thought process:

1. Lauren Bon wanted to incorporate water into her piece, but to make it come alive.

2. Therefore she needed something to make the water "flow." Bring movement to this still liquid form.

Then I asked, but WHY?

3. Thinking back to the title of this presentation, "Metabolic Studio." hm? consume. breakdown. energy.

4. Using my schema and background knowledge... we are in LA, currently in a drought, could it be her vision to spread awareness?

Then I read the pamphlet.

"The Metabolic Studio practices on physical and social brownfields—places that are incapable of supporting life."

I think this is an amazing piece that helps to portray the lack of water in places far from access to big bodies of water. The pulsing effect generates a force to help push water to those cities who don't have this access. The light, water, and sound waves, come together to create this feeling that interprets Lauren Bon's message. In places like Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, water is pumped into these desertlands. It makes me think... wow how are some of the nation's biggest cities sustainable in the middle of the desert?