Art and Politics
Why would artists choose to paint or collage scenes of war, use garbage as material, or attempt to insert art into social and political (rather than artistic) realms? This section focuses on contemporary artists who reject the idea that art is personal, self-expressive, or beautiful. Their artwork instead looks outward to the world in which we live and often using non-traditional media, and focuses our attention on social rather than aesthetic issues. As you review this section, keep these points in mind.
Why would artists choose to paint or collage scenes of war, use garbage as material, or attempt to insert art into social and political (rather than artistic) realms? Now that you have reviewed the Unit and the artists there, choose a different artist (it must be from the last 20 years) that the ones discussed and describe how the work you choose is a good example of a political aesthetic in art. (DO NOT CHOSE BANSKY.. TOO OBVIOUS)
Read/View
Bruce Conner, CHILD, 1959-60:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP8yC_-ghqo
other resources if needed
Peter Saul, Typical Saigon, 1968 (David McCarthy, “Dirty Freaks and High School Punks Peter Saul’s Critique of the Vietnam War,” Download David McCarthy, “Dirty Freaks and High School Punks Peter Saul’s Critique of the Vietnam War,” (-long essay but important!!)
Martha Rosler, House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, series 1967-72 (Laura Cottingham, “The War is Always Home”Links to an external site.)
Leon Golub, Interrogation I, 1981(Anne Lafond and Sally English, “Pessimism and the History Painter: Leon Golub,” World Socialist Web SiteLinks to an external site., The Independent great works seriesLinks to an external site.)
Doris Salcedo, Atrabiliarios, 1992-2004(New South Wales art galleryLinks to an external site.)
Fernando Botero, Abu Ghraib series, 2005 (Kenneth Baker, SF Chronicle review)Links to an external site.
Anselm Kiefer, Wayland’s Song (With Wing), 1982 (Royal Academy exhibition textLinks to an external site., The Guardian reviewLinks to an external site., GagosianLinks to an external site.)
Gerhardt Richter, Man Shot Down, from the series October 18, 1977, 1988 (Richter’s websiteLinks to an external site., Slate.comLinks to an external site.)
Andres Serrano, Piss Christ, 1989Links to an external site.
Vik Muniz, Pictures of Garbage, 2008, (Scott Lucas, “Talking Trash”Links to an external site.) documentary film Waste Land 2010 ( available through Amazon prime or elsewhere, please watch if you can)
Vik Muniz, The Sugar Children Series, 1996 (Christie’sLinks to an external site., click “Lot Notes” tab below the image)
Enrique Chagoya, Mindful Savage’s Guide to Reverse Modernism, 2016 (Brian Karl, Art PracticalLinks to an external site.)
Funk Art (Roula Seikaly, Art PracticalLinks to an external site.)
