www.caroun.com defines conceptual art as:
"Conceptual
Art" is a contemporary form of artistic representation, in which a
specific concept or idea, often personal, complex and inclusive, takes shape in
an abstract, nonconforming manner, based upon a negation of aesthetic
principles.
And The Free Dictionary says it is:
“Art
that is intended to convey an idea or concept to the perceiver and need not involve
the creation or appreciation of a traditional art object such as a painting or
sculpture.”
So conceptual art is art where the
artist is not so interested in the aesthetics as much as the ideas behind it
and the reasons for making the work. I think Kapoor is a conceptual artist
because he is making statements about art. Although there is a visually pleasing
aspect to his work, the emphasis is on the ideas rather than just making
something pretty.
2. Research 3 quite different works by Kapoor from countries outside New Zealand to discuss the ideas behind the work. Include images of each work on your blog.
The Leviathan [2011] is a work Kapoor constructed in the Grand Palais in Paris. It is 38m tall, 100m long and 70m wide. It has been made from ‘dried blood coloured’ red PVC. The building that contains it is in the shape of a cross and the sculpture loosely follows that. In Kapoor’s words, “the building itself dictates the proposition.” The leviathan was traditionally a large dragon that was the most feared animal. Kapoor wanted to capture the oversized feeling of a creature “too big for its own skin.” The sculpture fills the space with awe-inspiring scale. The shape is formless and blob-like adding to the curiosity and strangeness. Visitors can also go inside it where an eerie red glow shines through the PVC. Kapoor wanted the inside to feel like being inside a large animal and I think he captured that perfectly with the shape and colour.
Shooting
into the corner [2009] was a work Kapoor developed with a team of
engineers. He built a pneumatic compression cannon that fires 11kg balls of red
wax at a wall corner. Throughout the exhibition 20 tons of wax was fired. According
to e-flux.com, “Loud aggression on the one hand and silent growth on the other
give the piece tension, sensuality, and compelling power.” With this work he is
challenging the definition of sculpture and the making process by actively having
it make during the exhibiting.
Yellow
[1999] Is 6 square meters of fibreglass painted yellow. At first it appears
flat, but then you realize that it is concave. Monumenta.com says, “The pure
solar colour draws the eye, which basks in it. What seems a flat, yet
mysteriously rounded surface proves to be concave: the eye dizzies and loses
itself in this bottomless bath of colour.” This work is elegant and effective
at confusing the eye and tricking the mind.
3. Discuss the large scale 'site specific' work that has been installed on a private site in New Zealand.
4.
Where is the Kapoor's work in New Zealand? What are its form and materials?
What are the ideas behind the work?
The work simply titled, The Farm is an 84m long steel and fabric
sculpture in rural Kaipara Bay. The fabric is a red PVC-coated polyester made
by Ferrari Textiles and the steel is designed to withstand the strong
North-west winds in that area. It was commissioned by “one of New Zealand’s
wealthiest men and long time patron of the arts, Alan Gibbs.” [Julian
Bickersteth 2009] He relied extensively on the skill of Arup and Bo Hightex for
the fabrication and engineering of the work. There are two oval forms connected by a shaft.
One oval is horizontal and the other is vertical. The fabric is stretched over
the steel frame and flaps in the wind. It has been designed in such a way that
the form fits perfectly into the landscape and complements the natural rolling
hills.
5. Comment on which work by Kapoor is your favourite, and explain why. Are you personally attracted more by the ideas or the aesthetics of the work?
My
favourite work my Kapoor would have to be Leviathan
because of the sheer scale and the idea behind it. Its size is
unimaginable, the people dwarfed by its purple curves. It is the giant filling
the building, taking over it; the elephant in the room, impossible to ignore. I
like how the inside looks like intestines and has the colour of blood making
you feel like you really are inside a large animal, like you’ve been eaten by
the Leviathan. I like how spatial he is, he is a sculptor who really works with
the spaces he put his sculptures into. Rather than place a small sculpture in
any old room, he made a work that fit the building exactly so it almost became
a part of it.
http://www.anishkapoor.com/
Hey Bianca!
ReplyDeleteI also really liked the work Yellow by Kapoor as it caught my eye instantly. I was amazed because at first it does look very flat as if it is just an illusion, but then after seeing a few more pictures I found out that it was actually a concave shape in the middle of the sculpture which dented the wall on the other side. Kapoor’s use of colour in his work is very interesting and makes me wonder why such colours have been chosen for specific works. I think he likes to play with emotion, using strong primary colours to help him get his ideas across. His dominant colours used in installations being yellow, blue and red. From what I gather, yellow may represent the “light” as he often refers to biblical stories such as in the work Ascension where he talks about Moses and the light he sees in the desert. The red in his work depicts humans and human nature often contrasting this with the use in mechanical sculptures such as My Red Homeland. I have not really found out why he uses the pure blue in his sculptures. I enjoyed this blog quite a lot and have added Kapoor to my favourite artists list.