Exhibition Statement

Introduction

Have you ever seen a piece of artwork depicting Greek mythology, but were unsure what you were looking at? You are not alone! Identifying whom you are looking at in Greek art can be very difficult. Knowing the attributes can help you identify who is being pictured. Attributes are little objects that help art historians differentiate who is being pictured; it can be anything from a specific animal to a wine cup. The project will highlight the attributes for them to be easier to identify. This will be accomplished through 3 separate paintings depicting the attributes of three specific gods, Artemis, Zeus, and Dionysus.

Literature Review

The pieces that have influenced the project are ancient vase paintings. Often vase paintings do not have authors, but they do have common threads. They all use specific attributes associated with each god. For example, Dionysus is the god of wine, so he is often pictured with wine cups (Atsma, Theoi.com). People tend to learn about Greek mythology through childhood books and movies, for example, the Disney movie Hercules. Hercules is a famous ancient Greek hero. Persephone and Demeter, the Seasons of Time is a children’s book that is an etiological tale about the changing of the seasons (Doherty 9). But as children get older Greek mythology is less and less reinforced so many people forget the intricacies.

Methods

There were two different methods utilized in reaching the artistic end goal. The first method was sketching out the ideas. There were multiple sketches, following Thomas Cians method of sketching. Thomas Cian is a noted Italian artist who always keeps a sketchbook with him. A similar method was used in the development of this project, it also helped with keeping the ideas constantly flowing in the artist’s mind. The second method used was painting with oil-based paint on canvas. It is a good way for the audience to recognize familiar images and connect with them. Archival research was also utilized in obtaining knowledge about the three gods. Hesiod’s Theogony was used as the main source, but ancient plays, poems, and artworks were also used. 

Audience and Impact

The audience is people who may have an interest in ancient mythology but do not have an extensive background in the field. This audience was chosen because Greek mythology is something that a lot of people find interesting but do not have the time or will to further investigate their love for it. This project is meant to ignite people’s interest in Greek mythology by making it more accessible and understandable. The hope is that people see that ancient society still informs our society today, through modern art, sculpture, and culture. Through completing this project, the artist learned how much they value ancient history. They have also learned that creative endeavors can take a lot longer than originally planned and you must be able to rework timelines. 

References

Atsma, Aaron J. “Dionysus - Greek God of Wine & Festivity.” Theoi Greek Mythology, 2017, https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Dionysos.html#Attributes.

Doherty, Lillian. “Gender and the Interpretation of Classical Myth.” Google Books, Bloomsbury Academic, 29 Nov. 2001, https://books.google.com/books/about/Gender_and_the_Interpretation_of_Classic.html?id=g13XAAAAMAAJ.

Hesiod. “Hesiod, Theogony.” Translated by H. G. Evelyn-White, HESIOD, THEOGONY - Theoi Classical Texts Library, 2000, https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html.

Williams, Austin R. “Thomas Cian.” Drawing, vol. 13, no. 50, Summer 2016, pp. 50–51. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aft&AN=116796558&site=ehost-live.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my classmates who really helped me finalize my ideas. I would also like to thank the Art Scholars staff who encouraged and refined my ideas with me along the way.