Kevin Tam Reading #2 blog

This chapter of the handbook deals with the meaning of art as well as how an artwork does not have a single meaning. As a work ages, the meaning of the work will change as well as political controversy that the work is surrounded by. The materials used for the artwork also contribute to the meaning. Paint, wood, color, chalk, and pencil each affects the painting in its own way. The three crucifixes is an example of how color and positioning of the crucifix can alter the meaning. The upward motion and lighter color has an emphasis of Jesus while the earthy, closer to the ground does not. Knowing the artists is an important factor in determining its meaning. The idea of nude paintings is an example of how if a male painted it or whether a female painted it. Meaning could change when information about the artists emerges, for example, their previous works would have an impact on the newer works. If an artist is known for creating works dealing with life, one could assume that the meaning of all his works is dealing with life. The signification of an artwork is not simple as well. The art may have a meaning behind it but a person might interpret it differently. A simple installation of a car would have no real significance, but if it were old, damage, or any other form of impact on the car, the significance of the car would change. In a literary sense, certain phrases can have multiple meaning. In addition, an artwork can denote something but connote something different. A light bulb may denote a light bulb, but connotes an idea or technology. A subject matter that overwhelms the normal formal elements will grab a viewer’s attentions. Some may be so overwhelming that having a serious critique is impossible. When an artwork has some emotional and personal meaning behind it, could a person comment on it without any hesitation? I think that a painting that has a major emotional attachment to it is difficult to critique, if the person knows the story. If the story is unknown, commenting on the artwork should be no problem. However, some artworks are very straightforward on the meaning behind it, which makes it difficult to critique without having an emotional conflict with it. Political art is very controversial when critiquing. This reading has got me thinking on how to give my artworks a meaning that I intended it to have. The materials used, the subject matter and the type of person I am will have an impact on how others will see my work. Knowing this, having a focus now and staying with it will evidently impact how others view my work.