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Xul Solar, Panactivista, watercolor
Art, of course, is about seeing. But it is not always about representing the world as it exists, and sometimes it can allow us to see with more than our eyes. From Aboriginal artists who paint the unseen forces of the universe to Surrealists who looked into the recesses of the unconscious mind for inspiration, people have found many ways to record emotion, mysteries, personal fantasies, and imagination. At the same time, art has been used as a tool to inspire and guide dreams and visions, both secular and spiritual. During this unit, you will create your own artwork that captures your dreams, visions or fantasies with watercolor.
Art, of course, is about seeing. But it is not always about representing the world as it exists, and sometimes it can allow us to see with more than our eyes. From Aboriginal artists who paint the unseen forces of the universe to Surrealists who looked into the recesses of the unconscious mind for inspiration, people have found many ways to record emotion, mysteries, personal fantasies, and imagination. At the same time, art has been used as a tool to inspire and guide dreams and visions, both secular and spiritual. During this unit, you will create your own artwork that captures your dreams, visions or fantasies with watercolor.
Tapping in: Task 1
Tapping in: Task 1
Dream imagery has been a recurring theme in the art of many cultures. From ancient times, dreams and dream-like revelations or visions were interpreted as communications between gods and humans. Watch the video and answer the questions on the document to gain a better understanding of the role of dreams, visions and fantasy in the history of art.
Exploring the evidence: Symbolism or Surrealism
Exploring the evidence: Symbolism or Surrealism
The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali
Son of a man, Rene Magritte
Women and Bird in the Moonlight, Joan Miró
Composition Max Ernst
Figurative surrealism is based on natural forms that are juxtaposed, distorted, or altered beyond real situations. The artists used many elements including tricks of perspective and scale, use of obsessions, scenes of visual absurdity or putting unconnected objects together. In figurative surrealism, several elements were tricks of perspective and scale, use of fetishes and obsessions: scenes of visual absurdity or with apparently unconnected objects. You can see examples of this in Salvador Dali’s work and Rene Magritte’s artwork. They used real objects but either distorted them or put them in unreal or unnatural places
Abstract Surrealism included images without any reference to natural forms and was basically fantasy or visionary art. The artist used elements such as spontaneous line, interaction of abstract lines and colors, use of biomorphic shapes; some artworks were horrific while others are playful and childlike. There also are without reference to natural forms and were basically fantasy or visionary art. You can see examples of this in Max Ernst and Joan Miro’s artwork. These two artist's made artwork about fantasies from their minds.
Abstract Surrealism included images without any reference to natural forms and was basically fantasy or visionary art. The artist used elements such as spontaneous line, interaction of abstract lines and colors, use of biomorphic shapes; some artworks were horrific while others are playful and childlike. There also are without reference to natural forms and were basically fantasy or visionary art. You can see examples of this in Max Ernst and Joan Miro’s artwork. These two artist's made artwork about fantasies from their minds.
Gustav Klimt Death and Life (1908-16)
Odilon RedonProfile of a Woman with a Vase of Flowers c.1895–1905
Dante Gabriel RossettiBeata Beatrix c.1864–70
Gustave Moreau Oedipus and the Sphinx (1864)
1880-1910
Symbolism was an innovative literary and artistic movement which originated in late nineteenth-century France and quickly spread to the rest of Europe. Symbolist artists looked to the world of dreams and the imagination for inspiration, rather than trying to create direct representations of nature.
1924-1966
Surrealism was an international art movement that grew out of the art movement Dada. It became popular during the 1920's. Surrealist paintings were the visualization of the dreams and inner thoughts of the artist.
Surrealist Group, Paris, 1933Behind from left to right: Paul Éluard, Jean Arp, Yves Tanguy, René Crevel. Front left to right: Tristan Tzara, André Breton, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Man Ray.
https://www.widewalls.ch/surrealist-artists/
https://www.widewalls.ch/surrealist-artists/
Arnold Böcklin, Isle of the Dead: Third version, 1883
Symbolist works feature themes of love, fear, anguish, death, sexual awakening, and unrequited desire.
Vladimir Kush, Golden Anniversary, 2008.
Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected, illogical juxtapositions. Often natural forms that are transposed and altered beyond real situations.
Compare: Task 2
Compare: Task 2
For this investigation task, you will compare three selected artworks to see what you can learn about Fantasy and Dreams. Use a venn diagram to organize your thoughts on the poster. Talk out your ideas with your partner looking for both similarities and differences.
Task: Find the similarities and differences of your 3 artworks using the following prompts:
What does the artwork remind you of?
How do your gender, class, age or background (choose 2) influence the way you might respond to this artwork?
What is happening in the scene? Is it fantasy, dream, nightmare, explain.
What does the artist call the work? HOw does the title change the way you see it?
What color scheme did the artist use?
How big is the work? Is scale/size important in this piece?
What sense of space do you see? Is there illusionistic depth or is it flat?
What media/materials does the artist use to make this piece?
When was the piece made? Does the piece respond to any world events?
Where was it made? What does the work tell us about that location?
Requirements:
Aim to use at least 3 different sourcesInclude a picture of each of the three artworksKeep these visual as well as written. Go for a balance of the two. Divide the work fairly with your partner.Include footnotes with your sources like example below.Be creative and have fun!
XUL SOLAR MUSEUM
XUL SOLAR MUSEUM
Learn more about this iconic Argentine artist here. Click on the image below.
Analyze: Task 3
Analyze: Task 3
Start by selecting one of your artworks from task 2 and replicate it using watercolor. Analyze the artwork using a peel the fruit thinking frame. Answer the prompts to determine whether the artwork has more Symbolist or Surrealist formal qualities.
In the first ring, analyze the elements of art
In the second ring, make connections between the formal qualities that lead you to believe the artwork is more Surrealist or Symbolist style.
DP ELEMENTS OF ART vocab.docxelements-of-visual-art.pdfGlossary
Glossary
Abstraction: In visual art, the use of shape, color, and line as elements in and for themselves. The term also refers to artwork which reduces natural appearances to simplified or nonrepresentational forms.
Juxtaposition: An act or instance of placing two or more objects, ideas, or images close together or side by side, especially for comparison and contrast.
Metaphysical: Of or relating to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses, or something that is highly abstract.
Symbolism: The practice of representing something by an image, sign, symbol, convention, or association.
Surrealism: An artistic and literary movement of the 1920s and 30s characterized by a fascination with the bizarre, incongruous, and the irrational. Influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, Surrealism was conceived as a revolutionary mode of thought and action whose purpose was described as a way to resolve the conditions of dream and reality into a super-reality. Some Surrealist artists used dreamlike imagery and unexpected juxtapositions to explore the relationship between the unconscious and the rational mind; others used automatic drawing to create a direct link to the unconscious.
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