By: Nermeen Hegazy

*Inspired by Nature

PART 2 – A THEMATIC APPROACH: LOOKING AT MODERN ART THROUGH VARIOUS THEMES

Part of looking at modern and contemporary art is exploring a variety of common themes that are seen through art in the 20th and 21st century. These themes reflect current lifestyles and concerns in our society. Consider other artworks that we have already studied this year and how they may reflect these themes.  IMPORTANT: Note the art movement that each of these art pieces are from because the way they show the theme is often impacted by the time period it is from.

Throughout the history of art, one of artists’ main influences has been the natural world around them. The following are some modern and contemporary examples of artists whose works are inextricably linked with nature, in a variety of media. This source of inspiration has become increasingly prevalent in artwork with the environmental movement over the past 30 years.

INSPIRED BY NATURE

Art Nouveau style – focuses on organic shapes and avoiding the use of straight lines

Roof features scale-like tiles, structures remind people of human bones, flowers and other abstracted natural forms (both familiar and strange)

Made for a family who were trying to outdo their neighbors attached to them

Antonio Gaudi

49. Antoni Gaudi. Casa Batllo. (1905-1907 AD) Barcelona, Spain.

Roof features scale-like tiles, structures remind people of human bones, flowers and other abstracted natural forms (both familiar and strange)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOPdddnLCc

Tom Thompson

Thompson was the pre-cursor and inspiration for the precursor for the Group of Seven, considered to be the some of the best Canadian artists we’ve ever had.

50. Tom Thompson. Jack Pine. (1916) Oil on canvas.

Inspired by the landscape northern Ontario in particular – this type of tree (the Jack Pine) is often seen in the Algonquin Park area

The style is referred to as Canadian Impressionism – loosely based on the interest in capturing colour and light by French Impressionists to achieve a sense of place in the landscape rather than being an exact replica of real life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsPKsA1-WtI

Bateman was born and grew up in the Toronto area, now lives in British Columbia

He is and continues to be an avid environmentalist – believes that bringing appreciation of nature to people through his art with aid with wildlife conservation efforts.

Robert Bateman

51. Robert Bateman. Clear Night – Wolves. (1981) Oil on canvas.

Very popular among average Canadians for his highly detailed and realistic images of animals in their natural habitats

Snowy Nap - Tiger

On The Wing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE2ZMF1C7ZA

Andy Goldsworthy

British artist known for creating temporary (ephemeral) artwork out of found natural objects – these are recorded photographically and allowed to decay on site

Goldsworthy is known to use ice, leaves, rocks, sand, sticks and many other materials

He sees his artwork as a form of dialogue / relationship with the natural world

This piece was created in Derwent Water, in the English lake district Knotweed stalks were woven together and stuck into the lake bottom, allowing the calm water to reflect the pattern to create a circular form

52. Andy Goldsworthy. Early Morning Calm. (1988) Knotweed stalks pushed into lake bottom made complete by their own reflections.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT3lveJmjY8

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist

Was a member of the Sierra Club at age 17 and through his life; later a director of it

 

His photos are the best records of what the parks were like before tourism (Dept. of Interior)

53. Ansel Adams. Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, Califormia. (1941)

Known for his photos of the American west – particularly of Yosemite National Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efHKUxrgC0U

LETS PLAY A GAME!!

I will show you a piece of art work and you shall guess who made it based on its characteristics.

Antonio Gaudi

Tom Thompson

Tom Thompson

Tom Thompson

Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy

Robert Bateman

Ansel Adams