"Exploring the Ancient World of Sculptures" (Egypt, Africa, South America, Roman, Greece)

        Since I've been always fascinated by ancient history, for my curator project I’ve decided to pick 10 artworks from Metropolitan Museum of Art which reflect that time and it's cultures.  All the sculptures I picked from MET collection are of ancient time, besides the African artwork. Each of them holds some sort of meaning behind and/or symbolizes something. As we all know, ancient art was always highly symbolic and intended to keep history alive. Some of the sculptures represent man, while others represent the culture of the place people lived in or the way they looked like. 

I find the different techniques used in all those countries to create these sculptures very interesting and fascinating. I would even say that some of them seem to be created in such a way, that they give me an idea on how art influenced their cultures. I feel my breath being taken away as I look at life size sculptures. Imagine the original Sphinx which you can see only if you go to Giza, the sculptural abilities of Egyptian artists have no limits. 

        I found Roman and Greece sculptures very look alike. The same techniques have been used by the artists who created them. The way they’re made is just astounding. Figures of people are almost “coming out” of the stone. 

        I’ve also found similarities among South American and African Sculptures. Although the “bench figure” is made of ceramic, it looks like it was made of wood, just like African wood sculpture, because of the color it was painted with. Both figures wear earrings. The kind of red they chose for the earrings makes me wonder. Is it possible that the colors they chose have some sort of correspondence with the climate? 

       I absolutely loved all of them because it's very interesting to analyze these sculptures and find what similarities they share. Even though all of these artworks were created in different sides of the world, we’re still capable of finding some kind of connection amongst them. 

       As I said before, I'm in love with ancient history and I think that art plays a big part in the development of every culture and its country. When I see immense sculptures like those I found in Metropolitan Museum of Art, I start longing to go to those countries and explore their mysterious ancient worlds and their cultures. 

       Metal-implements and wood paintings are approximately of the same time and from the same countries I mentioned above have lots of similarities too, but they also have differences that make them unique to the places they are coming from. I found a connection among them as well and the techniques that were used to create them seem to be very similar which again shows how cultures influence and interact with one another.

"Sphinx of Hatshepsut"
Granite, paint; stone sculpture
ca. 1473–1458 B.C.
"Egyptian Art" Section
 

"Marble sarcophagus with the                           Triumph of Dionysos and the Seasons"                      Marble, stone sculpture                                        ca. A.D. 260–270                                         "Greek and Roman Art" Sec.

 

 

"Ten marble fragments of                                                             the Great Eleusinian Relief"                                                          ca. 27 B.C.–A.D. 14                                                                 Marble, stone sculpture                                                                "Greek and Roman Art" Section

 

                     

"Bench Figure" 
1st century BCE–4th century CE
Ceramics-Sculpture
"Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas" Section 

"Commemorative Mother and Child Figure"
19th–20th century
Wood-Sculpture
 "Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas" Section

Dagger handle (with 22.3.75a)
ca. 1580–1479 B.C.
Wood
“Egyptian Art” Section

Ceremonial Knife (Tumi)
9th–11th century
Metal-implements
"Arts of Africa, Oceania and
the Americas" Sec.

     Ceremonial Knife
     19th–20th century
     Metal-implements
     "Arts of Africa, Oceania and
     the Americas" Sec.









  
                                             


Portrait of the Boy Eutyches
A.D. 100–150
Encaustic on wood, paint
"Egyptian Art" Section 


 










Portrait of a thin-faced, bearded man        
A.D. 160–180                                   
Encaustic, limewood                          
"Egyptian Art" Section                         

“LES Galleries Reaction”

       After having visited many different galleries in the Lower East Side, I would like to compare three of the ones I liked the most to the galleries I attended in Chelsea. As I began thinking about it, I realized it wouldn’t be easy comparing the Lower East Side galleries to Chelsea galleries, since both locations represent a wide variety of amazing artworks. Although both areas have a lot of similarities, LES galleries offer a wider variety of modern style “edgy” artworks than the ones in Chelsea. Most of Chelsea's galleries represent old cultures which are opposite to what you can find in LES galleries. Displaying such modern art, LES attracts a different, younger crowd of contemporary art lovers. There I found some galleries which contained provocative, and maybe some would say very challenging, works of art. I also found galleries like Tatyana Murray’s, (“In the Woods”) that contains amazing artworks you won’t find in Chelsea. I don't think I've ever seen boxes with images that are illuminated by LED which give them a ghostly effect. I was amazed by this exhibition. I was also quite impressed by the work at the “Strange Loop” and “Untitled” galleries. These galleries seemed to match my personality with such precision, that they instantaneously engaged my attention. All of them were influenced by pop culture and/or contain some elements found in pop culture, which makes them different from what is shown in Chelsea. I wouldn't say that they cater to the same type of art collectors, but I think that Chelsea's collectors would definitely find interest in the LES galleries seeing as how some of them do have similar artworks. Here, just like in Chelsea, they can find a wide selection of visual art consisting of prints, paintings, sculptures, photography, video, etc. The level of their interest may vary because of the contemporary subject or provoking context they would find in some of LES's artworks. The surrounding area definitely affected the way I viewed and built my opinion on the artworks I found there. I find it more interesting to walk around and learn about artworks and the artists who created them, in small galleries that look like shops or book stores as opposed to big, officially looking galleries like in Chelsea.

Galleries:

1. "Strange Loop Gallery" 
2. "UNTITLED" Gallery
3. Tatyana Murray "In the Woods" 

“Public Art Reaction”

Public art is a gift to all of us from amazing talented artists who doesn't mind to share it for free. The greatest thing about public art is that it's accessible to all. New York is filled with beautiful artworks that you cannot just pass by. One of my favorite works of art in a public places is the “LOVE” sculpture on 6^th ave in Manhattan. I remember the first time I saw it I instantly “fell in love with it”.

The idea of this public artwork is very simple and deep at the same time. I think that Robert Indiana, the American artists who created this beautiful masterpiece just wanted to remind people that love is very powerful. I think that he also wanted to say that we can make each other happier by spreading free love and positive warming emotions that we experience when we love. Love can be different and what I like about this particular artwork is that it always reminds me of love being the key to everything! “LOVE” sculpture perfectly interacts with it's surroundings, especially in the center of Manhattan. The territory it's placed on has a plenty of space so people can even take group pictures with the giant sculpture. Every time I'm in that area I see people smiling and taking photographs with“LOVE”. Just a thought of how powerful this sculpture is in a sense of emotions it evokes in people makes it very unique and effective. I find this artwork to be a benefit to it's surroundings since I always looked at Manhattan as at business area that mostly has skyscrapers. This particular artwork brings only positive energy to that area and makes it even more popular and attractive to tourists and passers by. The “LOVE” sculpture could fit anywhere in the city. You can't go wrong with this artwork, it would benefit any area of New York by making people smile and enjoying taking pictures with it. We don't need more words to understand what this public artwork is about, each of us can find his own connection with it. We all need some free love in such a tough and sometimes even cold big city like New York and I would be honored to thank Robert Indiana personally for sharing such an amazing artwork with us.

Artist: Robert Indiana

Title: "LOVE" (Sculpture)

Medium: COR-TEN steel

Year: c 1970

“Chelsea Galleries Reaction”

Sometimes we look at a work of art and realize that we definitely want to have it in our apartment or house. For example when I'm walking through a museum and see a painting that I like I can even imagine it hanging in my living room or in a hallway of my house. This is when I decide that this particular artwork has a value, worth my investment and has to be in my artwork collection.

This time I would like talk about four different art works that I picked from Chelsea Galleries and look at them as if I were an art collector. The first two items I would like to talk about have their own interesting and unique style, and that's why they immediately caught my attention.

The color photograph "Perchten" from Yossi Milo Gallery's series “Wilder Mann” is a very fascinating piece of art. The reason why I would love to have it in my art collection is the idea and style of this artwork. A full-length portrait of a person wearing an animal skin makes this artwork very powerful. The massive figure of a beast or something that looks more like half animal and half human, reminds me of a character from some fantasy movie that I loved to watch when I was a child. Charles Fréger's work is definitely a good investment because of it's unique style and the interesting story behind it that you can create in your own imagination.

The second artwork that I chose for my art collection is "Persian Miniature"painting of a Romanian artist Adrian Ghenie from Pace Gallery. I fell in love with it's complex and abstract style which makes this artwork look even more realistic. The first time I saw it, it looked like a print work to me with an effect of layered, spilled paint. The way it was painted and the colors that were used on it made it look very pleasant to the eye. I would definitely hang this painting in my house right above the fireplace. It's a good investment in artwork that will make your room look cozy and comfortable.

The last two artworks unfortunately will never be able to get in my art collection since they evoked some unpleasant emotions the first time I saw them. They are simply don't worth me making any investments in because I couldn't find anything about them that I like.

Zhang Xiaogang's exhibition attracted my attention but it left me feeling a little unpleasant inside. The real size

sculpture of a baby painted in red made me think of a dead infant that was mummified. I doubt that I'll ever be able to understand the idea of this sculpture. The emotions I felt after seeing it wouldn't let me invest any money in it or keep it in my art collection.

I had the same reaction when I saw a sculpture “Cupid” by Richard Hughes in Anton Kern Gallery. I 'm not even sure if I can call it a sculpture since it looks like a little piece that was left from an original artwork. I would never buy this work of art. If I were to get it as a gift I would keep in my basement because It doesn't evoke any aesthetic emotions that real art is suppose to evoke within a viewer.

1. Yossi Milo Gallery

Charles Fréger

"Perchten,Werfen,Austria"

2010-2011

2. Pace Gallery

Adrian Ghenie

"Persian Miniature"

2013

3. Pace Gallery

Zhang Xiaogang
"Baby #1"
2013

4. Anton Kern Gallery

Richard Hughes

“Cupid”

2013

My first hand made Quilling Heart

Lib 110 Project. Imitation

         Pablo Picasso is one of my favorite artists. It was very hard to pick a certain work of art to paint an imitation of because there are too many that I like. Finally I decided to stop on two of his artworks that inspired me in some way and led me to draw my painting. Picasso's works like "Self Portrait" and "Woman in a Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse”, helped me create the image in my head and gave me an idea for my own artwork.

          My painting has a similar style and elements from these two particular works of art because I used similar lines, shapes and colors to create my imitation. From those two paintings I borrowed the style of drawing eyes, nose, ears and lips. I also mixed bright and warm colors together and made some parts of the face bigger or smaller.

         I tried to focus more on the painting of the woman instead because bright colors and abstract style immediately attracted my attention. This is the way I saw the imitation of that painting in my head. I decided to add a little bit of imagination to my artwork to make it more unique. I think It didn't change the point of imitation

“Illustrate a Story” "Project 3”

Every girl is dreaming of the true love. Time is changing and if many years ago real feelings, friendship and strong relationships were valued, nowadays it's a little different. People are trying to stay away from drama and obligations. It also happens because people are afraid to get hurt. Most relationships fall apart in our time, but there are still beautiful love stories out there that I was able to discover today.
While listening to the story of MaryAnn and Jim Fletcher could feel how strong their feelings are. I found this story very touching and unique. Both met when they were in first grade. They were in relationships for a long time after that and nine years later they decided to go their separate ways.
My favorite part of the story was when twenty two years later they met again. At this time they realized that they are just meant to be together and that they always loved each other through the years, even when they were not together. I call it a true love. This is one of the sweetest stories I've ever heard.
In my illustration I painted their love story from the very beginning of the relationship to the very end. It's a sequence of events that happened to them. On the top left I painted both of them as kids from the first time they met and continue counter clockwise. I then drew their relationships when they were teenagers. Then there was a break up that hurt them both and made them go their own ways. The next picture is of MaryAnn receiving a text message from Jim Fletcher twenty two years later. Then I painted them meeting each other after so many years and the last picture shows that they are together and love each other as they always did.
You can see the heart on the top of my painting. It represents a real big love. It started when they were little and on the right side of the heart they are grown ups and are living happily ever after.

http://storycorps.org/listen/jim-fletcher-and-his-wife-maryann/