Galaxy of art and design.
- Harshita Sood
- Feb 7, 2021
- 13 min read
Updated: Mar 24, 2021
PHASE -1
PRE - TASK
Favorite works of Art
- DOGS PLAYING POKER by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge
I loved this painting because we all like to offer others false loyalty because we all want more and have greed for something. This painting basically conveys truth of life.
- WANDERER ABOVE THE SEA OF FOG by Casper David Friedrich
I would love this painting because we often get lost in details of our everyday life and we forget that its important to have a overlook of a situation , like a higher perspective.
- ALMOND BLOSSOM
The almond blossom is a symbol of bravery and courage, purity, hope and love. Whenever I look at this painting it gives a sense of hope and peace in mind.
- TWILIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS.
I loved this painting because this painting conveys Feeling of belongingness, I feel like nature is where we belong and its the prime source of beauty.
Ways of Seeing
WAYS OF SEEING -
According to me each and every single person is skilled in some way or has a talent , we can even say in a way that every single person out their is an artist. ARTIST is not only in a way where one have the skills but sometimes skills could be easily learned with time and practice , where one is creative and has passion in what he/she is doing.
PLANNING AND INFORMATION COLLECTION .
Norms followed by the group-
Checking and giving feedback on each other work at the end of day.
Equal division of work.
Update each other at 3pm and then 9pm.
Try to discuss and draw insights in our second meet
Brief:
Study of prominent practices/styles/practitioners/ and artifacts, environment and surroundings of the time period assigned to us.
Note if there was any significant event or development which occurred globally or locally which affected people.
Figure out how the various factors lead to the thinking of that design or idea.
decoding of the context of that time with the help of the gathered information
Use as many visual references as possible or draw them.
Cover as much geographical area as much possible of our time period.
Collective Research
Individual research
Visual Organizer
TITLE
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MESOAMERICA
Mesoamerica is basically the region in north America which is known for its cultural history and many different empires or civilization which were carried out in ancient times. Many civilizations inhabited and developed there also played a very important role in the history of Mesoamerica.
Civilizations like Olmec, Zapotec, Mayan and Aztecs were four main civilizations that starting ruling from 2500 B.C.
Here, history was basically divided into four parts i.e. Pre-classic period or formative period (2500 BCE -250 CE), Classic Period (250–900 CE), Postclassic Period (900– 1521 CE). Before these civilization Paleo-Indian period existed from 10000-3500 BCE. It was that period of time when humans existence was first noticed. During that time, people practices agriculture and pottery .
During 300 BC, the main city here was Tikal. Tikal began from around 300 BCE it was built by, first clearing away areas in the jungle and then their monumental architecture was built in the period up to 100 CE. Here , architecture played a crucial role. It basically consisted of nine different plazas and courts which were connected by causeways and ramps and had about 3,000 structures. The structure of mainly divided into 3 parts, which were-NORTH ACROPOLIS –
It was also an architectural complex, which was basically built around 250 BCE and later, modified over several times. It is also one of the oldest structures at Tikal. Here, the temples were mainly built on two rectangular platforms, which was also the oldest and had the largest measure of about 100 meters. They were majorly used as mausoleums by the early Tikal kings. CENTRAL ACROPOLIS -
This was Facing the Great Plaza which is location of Tikal's fives Torey royal palace. The presence of four huge hearths suggests meals were prepared for a large number of resident scribes and administrators. The courtyards would have been used for important ceremonies, including animal sacrifices which were practiced during that time.
MUNDO PERIDIDO COMPLEX-
The Mundo Perdido or 'Lost World' complex is dominated by a huge pyramid, where one side consisted of a row of small temples. It had three plantrooms on the eastern part and single on the western. It is not only famous for its but was also once much more than an archaeological and tourist site.
Teotihuacan was brought up during 100 BCE and was continued up to 250 CE. Teotihuacan was basically a multi-ethnic city, with distinct quarters occupied by Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya and Nahua peoples.
It had the five-level Pyramid of the Sun which was actually built over a much earlier sacred tunnel-cave and natural spring. The structure was constructed in 100 CE and is now one of the biggest structures ever built in the ancient America.
Teotihuacan was called the dominant city in the northern highlands of central America. Teotihuacan’s basically practiced human sacrifice. They believed that the people who offered human sacrifices as part of a dedication when buildings were expanded or constructed will have key to the spiritual world. The victims were probably enemy warriors who were captured in battle and brought to the city to perform the ritual sacrifices to ensure the city could prosper. The Great Goddess of Teotihuacan appears to be the most prominent of these deities, and she was likely to represented the underworld, war, creation, water, and the earth.
The city's prosperity was based on exploitation of natural resources such as cedar wood, dye from brazil wood, copal resin, flint, and cultivating maize in cleared areas of rainforest and fertile swamp areas.
The geographical layout of Teotihuacan was also a very good example of the Mesoamerican tradition of planning cities, settlements, and buildings as a reflection of the Universe. The Mayans who ruled over many years, adopted the idea of a hierarchical society ruled by nobles and kings . They always showed a special respect for the dead and also placed funerary offerings, which they considered useful for the dead in the afterlife.
The earliest inscriptions can be easily found in the Maya scripts during 300–200 BC, in the Petén Basin , which also became an important ceremonial center with the construction of major pyramids and temples.
The Classic Mayas built many of their temples and palaces in a stepped pyramid shape, decorating them with the reliefs and inscriptions. The earliest known solar calendars carved in stones were majorly in use among the Maya. The Mayans practiced the religion Polytheist, and they worshiped more than 165 Gods.
The Gods were human-like. The Gods were born, grew up and then died. Gods would do other human like activity that was even called as acceptable behavior.
This included: creating, planting and harvesting maize, performing divination, conducting business, fighting wars, forming alliances and intermarrying. This behavior led to the Gods having interrelated jobs within their hierarchy.
Cuicuilco was devastated by a lava flow from the nearby Xitli volcano at the end of the pre-Classic period, perhaps around 200 BCE. There were also many artefacts and sculptures that were found during this time.
One of them ChupÃcuaro, Guanajuato which was built during 400-100 BC ChupÃcuaro was a major site in the Formative Period in Guanajuato which was in the northwest Mexico basically known for its ceramic styles . Not only this they also had influenced later cultural and ceramic tradition which were followed by the later west Mexico. This female figurine has a red and cream slip, with inlaid teeth . This figure was known for its lifelike structure of humans and animals. Ceramic artists mainly sculpted many animals .
Another great sculpture that was found in here during this period of time was Colima which was made from 300 BC-AD 400. It was basically a Dog with red-orange burnished slip. Dogs were like all time favorite subject of Colima ceramic artists, and believed to be a guide to heaven .
The last but not the least, Zapotec Mosaic mask (mask of bat God) which was made in 100 BC till 200 AD. Mask was discovered by archeologists while excavating a tomb in the ruins of the ancient city of Monte Alban which was once the heart of the powerful Zapotec civilization. It’s made out of 25 pieces of jade, a green stone which was highly valued by Mesoamerican civilization during that time, with yellow, piercing eyes made from shell fragments.
The Zapotec bat god was mainly related to the sacred world of the dead and the spirit ancestors that roamed the underworld.
Not only this but Mayans made a major impact on the world. The Mayans were very skilled weavers and potters. They also cleared routes through jungles and swamps to create trade routes. This allowed them to sell and trade the goods they had made for goods they needed.
The city of Teotihuacan was founded and for centuries is the cultural, religious and trading center of Mesoamerica. Since corn was dominated as an agricultural produce, corn was likely traded with other neighboring trading centers, which influenced even their food and culture.
After all this today when we look , TIKAL is named as one of the UNESCO world heritage site , which was found in the rainforest of Guatemala.
MAP OF MESOAMERICA-
ARCHITECTURE DURING THAT TIME-
HUMAN SACRIFISES PRACTICES DURING THAT PERIOD.
PHASE -2
PRE - WORK
ZAPOTEC MOSAIC MASK ( Mask of bat god)
9'4 inch high
EOD & POD (Analyze)
Recreation (process)-
Final outcomes-
ABSTRACT VISUAL COMPOSITION (Interpretation)
THEMATIC ANNOTATION-
This mask represents two main themes of that time i.e. civilization and religion. This is the mask of Bat god which was related to the sacred world of dead and the spirit ancestors that roamed the underworld.
Bat were highly symbolized to Zapotec civilization. It is made out of 25 pieces of jade, a green stone highly valued to Mesoamerican civilization.
It basically portrays a vampire bat.
This mask was made in the time of Zapotec civilization and it portrays how much they used to believe in this.
The nocturnal behavior of these animals strengthens the significance, as nightfall was symbolic of death and spirits.
The technique used in the making of mask is carving on green stone. People of Mesoamerica, were keen observers of the natural world that surrounded them and upon which they relied for survival.
Visual Language-
In this mask, there is representation of Zapotec mosaic god i.e., Bat.
I noticed here, that the holes in the ears are catching the attention straight a way which basically creates emphasis towards picture.
It is perfectly carved with the sharp lines on nose and the eyes.
It looks more like a human figure and also an animal when we take look at its teeth and ears i.e., having ears of both animal and a human. by just looking at it you will get an idea of it being a vampire that rules the underworld.
The colors and contrast used creates a very terrifying aura. Features of the mask seems to convey some sense of domination during that period.
In my abstract art, I tried making curvy lines denoting the dominance of one another similar to how I felt looking at it.
I found figure as heptagon as a whole while connecting the dots.
The colors I used are the shades of black, because I resembles it with the bat most and not only this but also because black is basically symbolic for mystery, power and strength- all those things that the mask conveys.
Visual & Material Culture
Similarities and dissimilarities in characteristics of artworks:
All the five have used stones to do carving, even though the material is different but method is still the same.
The depth of lines, are very similar to one another.
Every sculpture has a particular area where carving which is done is sharp .
For e.g.- in some sculpture’s ears, eyes and nose are shape while in some the posture is detailed. Most of them are human or animal figure and in some both of them are combined. Just the difference is in the way of putting detailing and carving the stone.
Emphasis is mainly created on the facial features and even the proportions are long or wide.
The facial features are carved in a way that each one conveys similar kind of emotion i.e. a bit dominant which gave realistic look to the sculpture.
The texture used had balance and some of them even had use of symmetry in some way.
Exploring visual and material culture:
Stone work and carving were main techniques.
Jewelry was given importance.
Farming was important Dressed like tribal
Carving was done to preserve the culture and tradition.
Many different types of tools were used.
Stones used by artist- green and red.
Reflection
According to me during this time of making of masks, stones or sculpture basically represented the ones who were at power during that time. It also represented the things that they used to wear , kind of language they spoke, activities that they used to practices and similarly much more. They used to carve and make very detailed lines on stones mainly of many similar kinds. The kind of stones that they used for carving and making sculpture were mainly red and green. The green stone was highly valued to the Mesoamericans and its production was at a very large scale and even many jewelries were made out of it while the red stones were used majorly used all around. The study even shows artists sculpted many animals in great diversity of motions and dogs were a favorite subject of Colima ceramic artists and were believed to be a guide to the heaven. Not only this there were also many fine works of gold jewelry found during this time which shows that those played a significant role during that time. It even shows that they mainly practiced the crop production of like maize, beans etc. and had trade with other civilizations also at global level which shows farming was main occupation of that time. Hunting, fishing, and gathering of wild foods was even practiced there. Traditional dress for women was a long skirt, long overtunic, and a shawl or wraparound headpiece while male wear a wide and loose trousers; which was paired up with loose shirt and sandals also they wore a wool hat. The architecture showed a vast elaborated geometrical patterns
PHASE-3
REALISATION
GROUP DISCUSSION-1
The visual and material culture of the time period:
MESOAMERICA:
Material & technique- All sculptors are made up of stone and clay.
body & face - Features - detailed facial features(realistic), detailed work on different part of body
Type of line / line quality- Detailed, thin lines quality
Theme / Inspiration / Message- Human sacrifice, importance of god, Rulers
Motifs / Pattern- Detailed work on head crowns, carving on utensils
Emotions being depicted- Neutral
Kind of forms : Realistic, Conical Architecture
Character development
Proportions- are maintained according to face, body.
Symmetry: Architecture
Asymmetry: Human figure and animal forms
INDIA:
body & face - Features & postures-sculpture features realistic
Type of line / line quality- Detailed and thin lines
Theme / Inspiration / Message -Religious themes
Kind of forms (primitive, stylized, realistic, geometric, simplistic, intricate.....)- Realistic
Character development
Symmetry: Architecture symmetrical
GROUP DISCUSSION-2
Meaning Making:
GROUP DISCUSSION-3
Art and design correlation:
Correlating Time and Expression
In the above Visual organizer, I talked about various areas of Mesoamerica like their culture, society, religion, etc.
I also added the information regarding their impact and influence with the world and even with the world.
Because of this visual organizer we can easily understand that period and everything related to it.
For example – When we look at values, norms, ideologies and more, we can see that the Maya adopted the idea of a hierarchical society ruled by nobles and kings.
The basic Mesoamerican diet of maize and beans continued, although agricultural output was improved by the introduction of steel tools. They basically used similar kind of stones for making sculptures and when we look towards the visual language, it can easily be seen that they had similar kind of emotions depicted in the sculptures i.e., sadness, angry faces, neutral somewhere.
They had dominating look on their faces. Their style of carving was even similar to one another. Basically, artwork played a significance role in recording culture and everything.
In the below given visual organizer, I added some information regarding my period to explain it more easily.
Final Group Presentation
Responsive Writing
Art and Design: An ongoing debate
Opinion 1 – link to article https://austinknight.com/writing/design-is-not-art
While design and art do share many overlapping qualities, they are two fundamentally different disciplines. Humble design is a good design. Art is about personal expression.
It has intrinsic and independent value. The purpose and value of art is fully contained within the art itself. But This is not the case with design. Design is about use. Its value is dependent on external factors, namely the purpose that it serves and the user that it serves that purpose for.
Design is contextual and its value depends on the context of its use. Good design is not creative simply for the sake of being creative. It is creative for the sake of serving a purpose or solving a problem.
If a product is functional and aesthetically pleasing, it is most likely to win. (Ex: Spotify) If a product is functional, but not aesthetically pleasing, it may still win. (Ex: Reddit) If a product is aesthetically pleasing, but not functional, it will lose. (Ex: Ello
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