250 pieces notes (barron book)

Ryoan-ji - Kyoto, Japan

- garden as a microcosm of nature zen dry garden: - gravel represents water -- gravel is raked in wavy patterns daily by monks - rocks represent mountain ranges - asymmetrical arrangement - the garden is bounded on two sides by a low, yellow wall - fifteen rocks arranged in three groups interpreted as islands in a floating sea, mountain peaks above clouds, constellations in the sky, or a tiger taking her cubs across a stream - meant to be viewed from a veranda in a nearby building, the abbot's residence - from no viewpoints is the entire garden viewable at once - garden served as a focus for meditation -- in a sense, a garden entered by the mind wet garden: - contains a tea house - seemingly arbitrary in placement, the plants are actually placed in a highly organized and structured environment symbolizing the natural world - water symbolizes purification -- used in rituals

Painted elk hide - attributed to Cotsiogo (Cadiz Cody)

- hide paintings mark past events - bison considered to be gifts from the Creator - horses, in common use around 1750, liberated the plains people - teepee = made of hide stretched over poles,, exterior poles reach the spirit world or sky,, fire represents the heart,, the doorway faces east to greet the new day - the sun dance was conducted around a bison head, an was outlawed by the U.S. government -- viewed as a thread to order - the sun dance involved men dancing, singing, preparing for the feast, drumming, and constructing a lodge -- they honored the creator deity for the bounty of the land function: - worn as a robe over the shoulders of the warrior - perhaps a wall hanging - depicts biographical details -- personal accomplishments, heroism, battles - men painted hides to narrate an event - eventually, painted hides were made for European and American markets -- tourist trade - used paint and dyes obtained through trade context:

Aka elephant mask - Cameroon (western grasslands region)

form: - the mask has the features of an elephant -- long trunk, large ears (symbolizing strength and power) - the mask fits over the head and two folds hang down in front (symbolizing the trunk) and behind the body - human face materials: - beadwork on a fabric backing -- beadwork is a symbol of power - lavish use of colored beads and cowrie shells displays the wealth of the members of the men's Kuosi society -- the colors and patterns express the society's cosmic and political functions function: - elite Kuosi masking society owns and wears the masks -- worn on important ceremonial occasions - only important people in society can own and wear an elephant mask context: - performance art -- maskers dance barefoot to a drum and gong -- they have spears and horsetails

Hiapo (tapa) from Niue

technique: - tapa is cloth made from tree bark -- pieces are beaten and pasted together - using stencils, the artists dye the exposed parts of the tapa with paint - after the tapa is dry, designs are sometimes repainted to enhance the effect function: - traditionally worn as clothing before the importation of cotton context: - Hiapo is the word used in Niue for tapa (bark cloth) - tapa takes on a special meaning -- commemorating an event, honoring a chief, noting a series of ancestors - tapa is generally made by women - each set of designs is meant to be interpreted symbolically -- many of the images have a rich history

Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings - Bichitr

content: - Jahangir is the source of all light -- he is surrounded by a halo of the sun and moon - Jahangir is near the end -- seated on an hourglass throne -- sands of time running out - Jahangir wears a single pearl as a devotion to an eleventh century saint - Sufi Sheik is handed a book by Jahangir (or vise versa) -- the book is placed on a cloth so that the sheik does not touch Jahangir - the sheik was the superintendent of the shrine at Ajmer, where Jahangir lived from 1613-1616 - holy men are placed above and rank higher than all others -- the painting is thought to represent the importance of spiritual life over worldly power - the ottoman sultan (not a real portrait) is placed higher than James I, but shows deference to Jahangir - James I of England is in the lower left-hand corner -- less important than Jahangir, as his position implies -- the portrait based on a diplomatic gift probably by artist John de Critz, given by ambassador Sir Thomas Roe - the artist, a Hindu, holds a miniature with two horses and an elephant -- perhaps gifts from his patron - the artist is in lower left-hand corner -- he symbolically signs his name on the footstool beneath Jahangir quotations: - quotations in frame: "though outwardly shahs stand before him, he fixes his gaze in dervishes" - angels with Jahangir a long life by writing on the hourglass, "O shah, may the span of your life be a thousand years" context: - Jahangir had many artists follow him wherever he went -- he wanted everything recorded - he sought to bring together things from distant lands - cross cultural influences from Europe -- a renaissance carpet is in the background,, figures of small cherubs are copied from European paintings,, there is a hall behind Jahangir - great interest in the Mughal court for European allegorical portraits, techniques, and motifs

Pure Land - Mariko Mori

content: - mori herself appears as if in a vision in the guise of the Helen deity, Kichijōten - Kichijōten is the essence of beauty and the harbinger of prosperity and happiness - she holds a wish granting jewel, a nyoi hōju, which has the power to deny evil and fulfill wishes - the jewel symbolizes Buddha's universal mind - animated figures of lighthearted aliens play musical instruments on clouds - a lotus blossom floats on water and symbolizes purity and rebirth into paradise - set in a landscape evoking the Dead Sea, a place of extremely high salinity -- salt seen as an agent of purification context: - Mariko Mori is a japanese artist - her work shows the merging of consumer entertainment and fantasies with traditional japanese imagery - the artist uses a creative interpretation of traditional Japanese art forms

Untitled #228 - Cindy Sherman

content: - this image explores the theme of the Old Testament figure Judith decapitating Holofernes - the richness of the costuming and the setting acts as a commentary on late-nineteenth century versions of this subject - richly decorative drapes hang behind the figure - Judith lacks any emotional attachment to the murder that has taken place - Judith uses her sexuality to attract and slay Holofernes - Holofernes appears masklike, alert, and nearly bloodless context: - Cindy Sherman is a New Jersey-born artist - the artist appears as the photographer, subject, costumer, hairdresser, and makeup artist in each work - the artist expresses the artifice of art by revealing the props used in the process - the artist's work comments in gender, identity, society, and class distinction - the artist uses old master paintings as a starting point, but the works are not derivative - this series sheds a modern light in the great masters, in this case, Italian Baroque

Great Serpent Mound - Adams County, southern Ohio

context: - many mounds were enlarged and changed over the years, not built in one campaign - effigy mounds popular in Missippian culture - associated with snakes and crop fertility - there are no burials associated with this mound, though there are burial sites nearby theories: - influenced by comets? astrological phenomenon? head pointed to summer solstice sunset? - theory that it could be a representation of Halley's Comet in 1066 - rattlesnake as a sample in Mississippian iconography -- could this play a role in interpreting this mound?

Petra, Jordan: Treasury and Great Temple - Nabatean Ptolemaic and Roman

context: - petra was a central city of the Nabataeans, a nomadic people, until Roman occupation in 106 C.E. - the city was built along a caravan route - they buried their dead in the tombs cut out of the sandstone cliffs - five hundred royal tombs in the rock, but no human remains found -- burial practices are unknown -- tombs are small - the city is half built, half carved out of rock - the city is protected by a narrow canyon entrance - the Roman emperor Hadrian visited the site and named it after himself -- Hadrian Petra content: - approached through a monumental gateway, called a propylaeum, and a grand staircase that leads to a colonnade terrace in the lower precincts - a second staircase leads to the upper precincts - a third staircase leads to the main temple form: - Nabataean concept and Roman features such as Corinthian columns - monuments carved in traditional Nabataean rock-cut cliff walls - lower story influenced by Greek and Roman temples but with unusual features - columns not proportionately spaced - pediment does not cover all columns, only the central four - upper floor = broken pediment with a central tholos - combination of Roman and indigenous traditions - greek, egyptian, and assyrian gods on the facade - interior = one central chamber with two flanking smaller rooms function: - in reality, it was a tomb, not a "treasury" as the name implies

Preying Mantra - Wangechi Mutu

form and content: - collage female figure composed of human and animal parts, objects, and machine parts - she reclines in a relaxed position - a green snake interlocks with her fingers -- bird feathers appear on the back of her head - her left earlobe has chicken feet, insect legs, and pinchers - she has blotched skin context: - Wangechi Mutu is a kenya-born, new york based artist - art related to afro-futurism - cyborg = a person whose function is aided by a mechanical device or whose powers are enhanced by computer implants - the work is a commentary on the female persona in art history - ironic twist on the praying mantis -- suggests religious rituals... mantis means "prophet" in greek - insects use camouflage, this figure seems camouflaged - her seemingly contradictory roles seem to express "prey" and "preying" at the same time comparisons - female form: - Kneeling statue of Hatshepsut - Peplos Kore - Manet, Olympia

Buddha - Bamiyan, Afghanistan

form and content: - first colossal Buddhas - two huge standing Buddhas, one 175 feet tall, the other 115 feet - smaller Buddha -- Sakyamuni, the historical buddha - larger Buddha -- Vairocana, the universal buddha - niche shaped like a halo — or mandorla — around the body - buddhas originally covered with pigment and gold - cave galleries weave through the cliff face; some contain wall paintings and painted images of the seated Buddha function: - pilgrimage site linked to the Silk Road - pilgrims can walk through the cave galleries into passageways that lead to the level of the Buddha's shoulders - legs are carved in the round -- originally pilgrims were able to circumambulate context: - located near one of the largest branches of the silk road - Bamiyan, situated at the western end of the Silk Road, was a trading and religious center - these Buddhas served as models for later large-scale rock-cut images in China - destroyed by the Taliban in an act of iconoclasm in March 2001

Wall plaque, from Oba's palace - Edo peoples

form and content: - hierarchical proportions -- largest figure is the king - symbols of high rank are emphasized - king is stepping on a fallen leader - emphasis on heads -- bodies are often small and immature - ceremonial scene at court technique: - high relief sculpture - lost-wax process materials: - one of 900 brass plaques produced, each between 16 and 18 inches - metal products are rare in Africa, making these objects extremely valuable - there was an active trade with the Portuguese for brass function: - it decorated the walls of the royal palace in Benin - it was part of a sprawling palace complex -- wooden pillars covered with brass plaques context: - shows aspects of court life in the Benin culture

Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds) - Ai Weiwei

form and content: - installation containing millions of individual handcrafted ceramic pieces resembling sunflower seeds - they synbollically represent an ocean of fathomless depth; each seed is made in Jingdezhen, a city known for irs porcelain production in imperial china - the individual seed is lost among a sea of seeds, represenring the loss of individuality in the modern world - six hundred artisans worked for two years; each seed is handpainted context: - Ai Weiwei is a chinese artist - sundlower seeds were eaten as a source of food during the famine era under Mao Tze-tung - the work reflects the ideology of Chairman Mao: he was the sun, his followers were the seeds - originaly a viewer could walk on the installation, but it raised harmful ceramic dust -- viewing was then limited to the sidelines comparisons -- installations: - Osorio, No Crying Allowed in the Barbershop - Bing, A Book from the Sky - Shonibare, The Swing (after Fragonard)

Staff God

form and content: - large, column-like, wooden core, mounted upright in village common spaces -- the wooden core is wrapped with tapa cloth - the wooden sculpture placed on top features a large carved head with several smaller figures carved below it - the shaft is in the form of an elongated body - the lower end had a carved phallus -- some missionaries removed and destroyed the phalluses, considering them obscene - the soul of the god is represented by polished pearl shells and red feathers, which are placed inside the bark cloth, next to the interior shaft context: - most staff gods were destroyed -- only the top ends were retained as trophies - this is the only surviving example of a staff god - in the contextual image from a book by an English missionary, the staff gods have been thrown down in the village square in front of a European-style church -- it represents the fall of one faith and the adoption of another - the contextual image is the only visual evidence that indicates how these staff gods were used - Reverend John Williams observed that the barkcloth contained red feathers and pieces of pearl shell, known as the manava or the spirit of the god -- he also recorded seeing the islanders carrying the image upright on a litter

Funeral banner of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui) - Han Dynasty

form and content: - painted in three distinct sections: - top = heaven, with the crescent moon at left and the legend of the ten suns at right -- in the center, two seated officers guard the entrance to the heavenly world - middle = Earth, with Lady Dai in the center on a white platform about to make her journey to heaven with the walking stick that was found in her tomb -- mourners and assistants appear by her side -- dragon's bodies are symbolically circled through a bi in a yin and yang exchange - bottom = the underworld -- symbolically low creatures frame the underworld scene: fish, turtles, dragon tails -- tomb guardians protect the body function: - the t-shaped silk banner covered the inner coffin which contained the intact body of Lady Dai in a tomb - it was probably carried in a procession to the tomb, and then placed over the body to speed its journey to the afterlife context: - Lady Dai died in 168 B.C.E. in the Hunan province during the Han Dynasty - the tomb was found with more than 100 objects in 1972 - Yin symbols on the left of the Banner, Yang symbols on the right -- the center mixes the two philosophies (daoist elements)

The Crossing - Bill Viola

form and content: - room dimensions: 16 x 27.5 x 57 feet - these video installations are total environments - two channels of color project video from opposite sides of a large dark gallery onto two large, back to back screens suspended from the ceiling and secured on the floor - four channels of amplified stereo sound come from four speakers - there are two freestanding video screens that show a double-sided projection - fire = flames consumed the figure of a man, beginning at his feet -- a figure approaches from a long distance. as he stops, a small flame appears at his feet and spreads rapidly to engulf him in a roaring fire. when it subsides, the man is gone. - water = a man walks toward the viewer and water falls from above -- similar to the fire scene, when the figure stops, a stream of water begins to pour upon his head. it quickly turns into a raging torrent, inundating the man. when the water slows, the man is gone - the figures walk in extremely slow motion context: - Bill Viola is a Queens, New-York born artist - the artist promotes video as an art form - the work shows actions that repeat again and again - the artist is interested in sense perceptions - there is an implied cycle of purification and destruction - filmed at high speed, but sequences are played back at super slow motion - evokes eastern and western spiritual traditions -- Zen Buddhism, Islamic Sufism, Christian mysticism - requires viewer to remain still and concentrate

The David Vases - Yuan Dynasty, China

form and content: - the blue color was imported from Iran -- chinese expansion into western Asia made the colbalt blue available - the vases were modeled after bronzes of the same type - the necks and feet of the vases contain leaves and flowers - they have elephant-head-shaped handles - central section -- Chinese dragons with traditional long bodies and beards -- dragons have scales and claws, and are set in a sea of clouds function: - made for the altar of a daoist temple along with an incense burner, which has not been found -- a typical altar set - site heavily damaged during the twentieth century materials: - made of Jingdezhen porcelain, the same materials found in Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds context: - one of the most important examples of Chinese blue and white porcelain in existence - a dedication is written on the side of the neck of the vessels -- believed to be the earliest known blue-and-white porcelain dedication - inscription on one of the vases = "a disciple of the Holy Gods, is pleased to offer a set comprising one incense-burner and a pair of flower vases to General Hu Jingyi at the Original Palace in Xingyuan, as a prayer for the protection and blessing of the whole family and for the peace of his sons and daughters. Carefully offered on an auspicious day in the Fourth Month, Eleventh year of the Zhizheng reign." - named after Sir Percival David, a collector of Chinese art

Rebellious Silence - Shirin Neshat

form and content: - the poem written in the face is in Farsi, the persian language -- the poem expresses piety - the poem is by an Iranian woman who writes poetry on gender issues - the gun divides the body into a darker and a lighter side - gun adds a note of ominous tension in the work - the work express the artist's duality as both Iranian and American materials: - black and white photograph context: - Shirin Neshat is an Iranian born artist, raised in the United States - chador = a type of outer garment, like a cloak, that allows only the face and hands of Iranian women to be seen - the chador keeps women's bodies from being seen as sexual objects - westerners could view the work as an expression of female oppression - Iranians could view the work as an image of an obedient, right-minded woman who is ready to die defending her faith and customs - the work contrasts with stereotypical Western depictions of exotic female nudes in opulent surroundings

En la Barberia no se Llora (No Crying Allowed in the Barbershop) - Pepon Osorio

form and content: - this is a large installation recreating the center of Latino male culture - the barbershop - the interior of a barbershop in which "no crying is allowed" -- a masculine attribute - photos of latino men on the walls - video screens on the headrests depict men playing, a baby being circumcised, and men crying - appropriately tacky and grimy setting context: - Pepon Osorio is a puerto rican born artist living in New York - kitsch items are used everywhere as symbols of consumer culture - originally a temporary work constructed in a neighborhood building, not in a museum - this work challenges the viewer to question issues of identity, masculinity, culture, and attitudes

Travelers among Mountains and Streams - Fan Kuan

form and content: - very complex landscape - different brushstrokes describe different kinds of trees -- coniferous, deciduous, etc. - the long waterfall on the right is balanced by a mountain on the left -- the waterfall accents the height of the mountain, embodying the essence of a place rather than likeness - not a pure landscape -- donkeys laden with firewood are driven by two men -- a small temple appears in the forest -- people seen as small and insignificant in a vast natural world - mists, created by ink washes, silhouette the roof of the temple function: - hanging scroll -- meant to be studied and appreciated, not hung permanently context: - the artist isolated himself away from civilization to be with nature and to study it for his landscapes -- this reflects a Daoist philosophy - the work contains elements of Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism - this might be the artist's only surviving work -- his signature is hidden in the bushes on the lower right

Nan Madol

form: - 92 small artificial islands connected by canals, about 170 acres in total - built out into the water on a lagoon -- similar to Venice, Italy - seawalls 15 feet high and 35 feet thick acted as breakwaters - canals were flushed clean with the tides - islands were arranged southwest to northeast to take advantage of the trade winds - walls were made of prismatic basalt -- roofs were thatched function: - ancient city that acted as the capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty of Micronesia context: - city built to separate the upper classes from the lower classes - king arranged for the upper classes to live close to him, to keep an eye on them - curved outer walls point upward at edges, giving the complex a symbolic boat-like appearance

Chairman Mao en Route to Anyuan - artist unknown; based on an oil painting by Liu Chunhua

form: - Mao rises above a landscape that contains a power line as a symbol of Industrialization - iconic representation of the great leader's career - poster-like -- vivid colors, dramatic, obvious political message function: - done as propaganda -- Mao appears youthful, heroic, and idealized - may be the most reproduced image ever made -- 900,000,000 copies were generated context: - painted during the cultural revolution of 1966-1976 -- high art was dismissed as feudal or bourgeois -- art was created to be of service to the state - based on an oil painting by Liu Chunhua, which first appeared at the Beijing Museum of the Revolution in 1967 - this type of art was done anonymously -- individual artistic fame was seen as countercultural in a collectivist society - a moment in the 1920s -- Mao is on his way to Anyuan to lead a miners strike - mao worked for reforms for miners -- supported a local strike for better wages, working conditions, and education - for many people, this action formed a permanent bond with the communist party

Spiral Jetty - Robert Smithson

form: - a coil of rock placed in a part of the Great Salt Lake that is in an extremely remote and inaccessible area - the artist liked the site because of the blood-red color of the water, which is due to the presence of bacteria and algae that live in the high-salt content material: - the artist used a tractor to move basalt from the adjacent hillside to create the jetty context: - upon walking on the jetty, the twisting and curling path changes the viewer's view from every angle - a jetty is usually a pier extending into the water -- here it is transformed into a curl of rocks sitting silently in a vast, empty wilderness - the coil is an image seen in North American earthworks -- Great Serpent Mound, as well as in petroglyphs and Anasazi pottery - the work reflects emerging views of the environmental movement -- Earth Day was inaugurated in 1970 - Smithson wanted nature to have its effect on the jetty (sometimes it is submerged, sometimes it is visible)

Night Attack in the Sanjô Palace - Kamakura Period, Japan

form: - a narrative work that is read from right to left as the scroll is unrolled - point of view = one looks down from above onto the scene, which takes place in Kyoto - strong diagonals emphasize movement and action - swift, active brushstrokes - depersonalized figures -- many with only one stroke for the eyes, ears, and mouth - tangled mass of forms accentuated by Japanese armor - final scene = lone archer leads the escape from the burning palace with the Japanese commander behind him function: - hand scroll, meant to be read and studied, not meant to be placed on permanent display context: - military rule in Japan from 1185 on had an interest in the code of the Warrior -- reflected in the large quantity of war-related literature and paintings - scroll depicts a coup staged in 1159 as Emperor Go-Shirakawa is taken prisoner - burning of the imperial palace at Sanjô in Kyoto as rebel forces try to seize power by capturing a retired emperor - imperial palace in flames -- rebels force the emperor to board a cart waiting to take him into captivity - rebels kill those opposed and place their heads of sticks and parade them as trophies - painted a hundred years after the civil war depicted in the scene - unrolls like a film sequence -- as one unrolls, time advances

White and Red Plum Blossoms - Ogata Korin

form: - a stream cuts rhythmically through the scene -- swirls in the paint surface indicate water currents - white plum blossoms on left -- red on right - the artist worked in vivid colors or ink monochrome on gold ground - this work has more abstracted and simplified forms than the compositions of Ogata's predecessors - old tree on left is balanced by new tree on right function: - japanese screen, usually used to separate spaces in a room context: - Japanese rinpa style named for Ogata - the work is influenced by yamato-e style of painting - tarashikomi technique, in which paint is applied to a surface that has not already dried from a previous application -- creates a dripping effect, useful in depicting streams or flowers - the artist was a member of a kyoto family of textile merchants that serviced samurai, a few nobility, and city dwellers

Todai-ji - Nara, Japan - various artists, including sculptors Unkei and Keikei, as well as the Kei School

form: - a two-story building with long, graceful eaves, hanging over the edges -- the eaves protect the interior from the sun and rain - seven external bays on the façade function: - this is the original center of the Buddhist faith in Japan, from which ancillary temples around the country were served - the building expresses an imperial and political authority combined with religious overtones - it served as a center for the training of scholar monks, who studied Buddhist doctrines context: - the name great eastern temple refers to its location on the eastern edge of the city of Nara, Japan - the temple is noted for its colossal sculpture of seated Vairocana Buddha - the temple and Buddha have been razed several times during military unrest - the Buddha is influenced by monumental Chinese sculptures Great Buddha, base 8th century, upper portion including head 12th century, bronze: - largest metal statue of the Buddha in the world - monumental feat of casting - emperor Shōmu embraced Buddhism and erected sculpture as a way of stabilizing Japanese population during a time of economic crisis - Mudra: right hand means "do not fear",, left hand means "welcome" Nio guardian figures, c. 1203, wood, by Unkei: - they are placed on either side of the Todai-ji south gate - the sculptures are a series of completely joined woodblock pieces - masculine, frightening figures that protect the Buddha derived from Chinese guardian figures such as those at Luoyang - fierce, forbidding looks and gestures - intricate and swirling drapery Great South Gate, 1181-1203, wood with ceramic tile roofing: - this is the main gate of Todai-ji - nandaimon -- great south gate, with five bays -- three central bays for passing and two outer bays that are closed - the two stories are the same size -- unusual in Japanese architecture (usually the upper s

Terra cotta warriors from mausoleum of the first Qin emperor of Chine - Qin Dynasty

form: - about 8,000 terra cotta warriors, 100 wooden chariots, 2 bronze chariots, and 30,000 weapons - soldiers are 6-feet tall -- taller than the average person of the time -- some are fierce, some proud, some confident -- actually held metal weapons - originally colorfully painted - tomb oriented north-south - the tomb has a rectangular double-walled enclosure function: - tomb of Emperor Shi Huangdi, founder of the first unified Chinese empire context: - the work represents a Chinese army marching into the next world - each soldiers face is unique and expresses the army's ethnic diversity - daoism is seen in the individualization of each soldier despite their numbers - this is an early form of mass production, alluding to the power of the state - discovered in 1974

Power figure (Nkisi n'kondi) - Kongo peoples

form: - alert pose - rigid frontality - arms akimbo, in an aggressive stance - wears a headdress worn by chiefs or priests - nails are pounded into the figure function and context: - spirits are embedded in the images - spirits can be called upon to bless or harm others, cause death or give life - in order to prod the image into action, nails and blades are often inserted into the work or removed from it - medical properties are inserted into the body cavity, thought to be a person's life or soul - the figure has a role as a witness and enforcer of community affairs - the figure also cautions people on the consequences of actions contrary to community norms

Black-on-black ceramic vessel - Maria Martínez and Julian Martínez

form: - black-on-black vessel - highly polished surface - contrasting shiny black and matte black finished - exceptional symmetry -- walls of even thickness,, surfaces free of imperfections function: - comes from the thousand-year-old tradition of pottery making in the southwest - Maria Martínez preferred making pots using a new technique that rendered a vessel lightweight, less hard, and not watertight, as traditional pots were -- this kind of vessel reflected the market shift away from utilitarian vessels to decorative objects technique: - used a mixture of clay and volcanic ash - the surface was scraped to a smooth finish with a gourd tool and then polished with a stone - Julian Martínez painted designs with a liquid clay that yielded a matte finish in contrast with the high shine of the pot itself context: - at the time of production, pueblos were in decline -- modern life was replacing traditional life - artists work sparked a revival of pueblo techniques - Maria Martínez, the potter, developed and invented new shapes beyond the traditional pueblo forms - Julian, the painter of the pots, revived the use of ancient mythic figures and designs in the pots - reflects an influence of Art Deco designs popular at the time

Reliquary figure (byeri) - Fang peoples (southern Cameroon)

form: - feet dangling over the rim, a gesture of protecting the contents - prominent belly button and genitals emphasize life -- the prayerful gesture and somber look emphasize death - emphasis on the head and the tubular nature of the body function: - such figures were placed on top of cylinder-like containers made of bark that held skulls and other bones of important clan leaders - the reliquary figure guards the head box against the gaze of women or young boys context: - the surfaces were ritually rubbed with oils to add luster and protect against insects - byeri figures are composed of characteristics the Fang people place a high value on -- tranquility, introspection, and vitality - the Fang people were nomadic -- these figures were made to be portable - the abstraction of the human body is an attraction for the early-twentieth-century

City of Machu Picchu - Central highlands, Peru

form: - buildings built of stone with perfectly carved rock rendered in precise shapes and grooved together -- thatched roofs - outward faces of the stones were smoothed and grooved - two hundred buildings, mostly houses -- some temples, palaces, and baths, and even an astronomical observatory -- most in a basic trapezoidal shape - entryways and windows are trapezoidal - people farmed on terraces function: - originally functioned as a royal retreat - the estate of 15th-century Inkan rulers - so remote that it was probably not used for administrative purposes in the inkan world - peaceful center -- many bones were uncovered, but none of them indicate war-like behavior observatory: form: - ashlar masonry - highest point at machu picchu function: - used to chart the sun's movements -- also known as the Temple of the Sun - left window = sun shines through on the morning of the winter solstice - right window = sun shines through in the morning of the summer solstice - devoted to the sun god Intihuatana Stone: - Intihuatana means "hitching post of the sun" -- aligns with the sun as at the spring and the autumn equinoxes, when the sun stands directly over the pillar and thus creates no shadow - inkan ceremonies held in concert with this event

Lukasa (memory board) - Mbudye Society

form: - carved from wood in an hourglass shape and adorned with beads, shells, or metal - black, expressed by Luba people as the "outside", resembles the shell of a turtle function: - court historian who serves as reader of the memory board holds the lukasa in his left hand and gently touches the beads that he will discuss with his right index finger - ability to read the board is limited to a few people - memory board helps the user remember key elements in a story -- for example: court ceremonies, migrations, heroes, kinship, genealogy, lists of kings context: - each board's design is unique and represents the divine revelations of a spirit medium expressed in sculptural for, - memory boards are controlled by the Mbudye, a council of men and women who interpret the politics, and historical aspects of Luba society - zoomorphic elements represented by the turtle, an animal that lives on both land and water -- the dual nature of the turtle is a metaphor for the Luba people's political organization as founded by two distinctly opposed embodiments of power -- Kongolo Mwamba, avatar of all excess and tyranny, and Mbidi Kiluwe, sophisticated cultural hero who introduced royal culture to the Luba people - reading example: one colored bead can stand for an individual -- large beads surrounded by smaller beads can signify a ruler and his court -- lines of beads are journeys or paths, migrations or genealogies

Navigation Chart

form: - chart is made of wood, therefore it is waterproof and buoyant - small shells indicate the position of the islands on the chart - horizontal and vertical sticks support the chart - diagonal lines indicate wind and water currents - charts indicate patterns of ocean swells and currents function: - charts meant to be memorized prior to a voyage -- not necessarily used during a voyage - charts enabled navigators to guide boats through the many islands to get to a destination - charts were individualized to their makers -- others cannot read the chart context: - Marshall Islands are low lying and hard to see from a distance or from sea level - charts are called wapepe in the Marshall Islands

Ndop (portrait figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul - Kuba peoples

form: - cross-legged pose - sits on a base - epicene body - face seems uninvolved, above mortal affairs - a peace knife in his left hand - royal regalia = brackets, arm bands, belts, headdress function: - Ndop sculptures are commemorative portraits of Kuba rulers, presented in an ideal state - not an actual representation of a deceased king but of his spirit - made after the death of the king context: - each king is commemorated by symbols on the base of the figure -- this king has a sword in his left hand in a nonaggressive pose, handle facing out - one of the earliest existing African wood sculptures -- oldest ndop in existence - rubbed with oil to protect it from insects - acted as a surrogate for the king in his absence - kept in the king's shrine with other works called a set of "royal charms"

Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem, Islamic

form: - domed wooden octagon - influence by centrally planned buildings (i.e. Santa Costanza and the Pantheon) - columns are spoila taken from Roman monuments function: - pilgrimage site for the faithful - not a mosque -- it's original function has been debated context: - this building houses several sacred sites - the place where Adam was born - the site in which Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac - the place where Muhammad ascended to heaven (as described in the quran) - the place where the Temple of Jerusalem was located - meant to rival the Christian church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, although it was inspired by its domed rotunda - arabic calligraphy on the mosaic decoration urges muslims to embrace Allah as the one god and indicates that the Christian notion of the Trinity is an aspect of polytheism - oldest surviving quran verdes -- first use of quran verses in architecture -- one of the oldest Muslim buildings - erected by Abd al-Malik, caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty

Female (Pwo) mask - Chokwe peoples

form: - enlarged eye sockets - pushed-in chin - slender nose - high forehead - balanced features - almost-closed eyes content: - marks around the eyes may suggest tears -- scarification marks including cosmogram on forehead - white powder around eyes connect the figure to a spiritual realm function: - these are female masks used by men in ritual dances - male dancers are covered with their identities masked -- they are dressed as women with braided hair - during the ritual, men move like women - depicts female ancestors context: - chokwe, a matriarchal society - the mask is discarded when not in use and can be buried with the dancer

Golden Stool (sika dwa kofi) - Ashanti peoples

form: - entire surface inlaid with gold - bells hang from the side to warn the king of danger - replicas often used in ceremonies, but each replica is different function: - symbol of the Ashanti nation, in Ghana - contains the soul of the nation - never actually used as a stool -- never allowed to touch the ground -- it is placed on a stool of its own - according to Ashanti tradition, it was brought down from heaven by a priest and fell into the lap of the Ashanti king, Osei Tutu - it became the repository of the spirit of the nations -- it is the symbol of the mystical bond among all Ashanti context: - a new king is raised over the stool - the stool is carried to the king on a pillow -- he alone is allowed to touch it - taken out on special occasions - war of the Golden Stool: March - September 1900 -> conflict over british sovereignty in Ghana (formerly the gold coast) -> a british representative who tried to sit on the stool caused an uproar and a subsequent rebellion -> the war ended with british annexation and Ashanti de facto independence

Horn Players - Jean-Michel Basquiat

form: - flattened, darkened background -- flat patches of color, thick lines, and text - heads seem to float over outlined bodies and dissolve as the eye goes down the body - the focus is on contrast and juxtaposition, no on balance or scale - some traditional art forms -- triptych, canvas, oil paint content: - the painting glorifies African-American musicians -- in flanking wings there is a salute to jazz musicians Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie - the words painted onto the canvas are those attributed to the musicians (ornithology misspelled = reference to Charlie "the Bird" Parker) - gillespie used meaningless words "DOH SHOO DE OBEE" in improvisational, or scat, singing context: - Jean-Michel Basquiat was an artist born in Brooklyn, New York, of Puerto Rican and Haitian Parents - the artist rebelled against his middle-class upbringing - the artist was influenced by graffiti art and street poetry, and in turn he influenced these art forms

Portrait of Sin Sukju (1417-1475) - Imperial Bureau of Painting

form: - hanging scroll function: - may have served as a focus for ancestral rituals after death - may have hung in a private setting in a family shrine -- hence the emphasis in the rank badge - served as a reminder to his descendent of Sin Sukju's status in Korean society materials: - painting on silk was a highly desired and greatly esteemed product context: - korean prime minister (1461-1464 and 1471-1475) -- scholar and soldier involved in created the modern korean alphabet - the portrait was made when he was a second-grade civil officer -- insignia, or rank badge, designed with clouds and a wild goose - korean portraits emphasize how the subject made a great contribution to the country and how the loyalty to king and country was valued by confucian philosophy - repainted over the years, especially in 1475, when Sin Sukju died, as an act of reverence for a departed ancestor

Bundu mask - Sande society, Mende Peoples

form: - idealized female beauty, both physically and morally - elaborate hairstyle symbolizes wealth -- worn by women of status - high forehead indicates wisdom - small eyes in the shape of slits -- she should be demure - tight-lipped mouth, symbolizing secrets not revealed - small ears -- avoids gossip - rings around the neck symbolize concentric waves from which the water spirit, Sowei, breaks through the surface -- also symbolizes the fat associated with a pregnant body - small horizontal features function: - used for initiation rites to adulthood - used by the elder women of the Sande society, a group of women who prepare girls for adulthood and their role in society - masks rests on woman's head -- head is not placed inside the mask - mask is coated with palm oil for a lustrous effect -- it has a shiny black surface - black color symbolizes water, coolness, and humanity context: - only african wooden masks that are worn by women - costumed women wear a black gown made of a raffia that hides the body - costumed as a Sowei, the female water spirit - female ancestor spirits - symbolic of the chrysalis of a butterfly -- young women entering puberty - individuality of each mask is stressed

City of Cusco, including Qorikancha (Inka main temple), Santo Domingo (Spanish colonial convent), and Walls at Saqsa Waman (Sacsayhuaman) - Central highlands, Peru

form: - in the shape of the puma -- a royal animal - modern plaza is in the place where the puma's belly would be - head, a fortress -- heart, a central square function: - historic capital of the Inka Empire Qorikancha main temple: form: - ashlar masonry -- carefully grooved and beveled edges of the stone fit together in a puzzle-like formation - slight spacing among stones allows movement during earthquakes - walls taper upward -- examples of Inkan trapezoidal architecture - temple displays Inkan use of interlocking stonework of great precision - original exterior walls of the temple were decorated in gold to symbolize sunshine - spanish chroniclers insist that the walls and floors of the temple were covered in gold function: - Qorikancha = golden enclosure -- once was the most important temple in the Inkan world - once was an observatory for priests to chart the skies context: - the location is important -- placed at the convergence of the four main highways and connected to the four districts of the empire -- the temple cemented the symbolic importance of religion, uniting the divergent cultural practices that were observed in the vast territory controlled by the Inkas - remains of the Ikan Temple of the Sun form the base of the Sanyo Domingo convent built in top Walls at Saqsa Waman: form: - ashlar masonry - ramparts contain stones weighing up to seventy tons, brought from a quarry two miles away context: - complex outside of the city of Cusco, Peru, at the head of the puma-shaped planed of the city

The Gates - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

form: - installation of 7503 "gates" of free-hanging saffron-colored fabric panels - the installation framed all the pathways in Central Park in New York City, a nineteenth-century park originally designed by Olmsted and Vaux - the work was mount in the winter so the colors would have maximum impact -- the trees were bare and the gates were easily visible - the 16-foot-tall gates formed a continuous river of color - the work covered 23 miles of footpaths context: - Christo is Bulgarian-born -- Jean-Claude was of French descent, born in Morocco - the work was put on hold for many years, but installed a few years after 9/11 - temporary installation: 16 days - after the exhibition closed, the materials were recycled - spectators walked through the gates to see ever-changing views of the park

MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts - Zaha Hadid

form: - internal spaces are covered by a glass roof -- natural light is admitted into the interior, filtered by louvered blinds - walls flow and melt into one another, creating new and dynamic interior spaces - constantly changing interior and exterior views - the transparent roof modulates natural light - subtle modulations of color -- grays, silvers, and whites contrast with blacks function: - two museums, a library, an auditorium, and a cafeteria - the complex specializes in art of the twenty-first century - the flowing form encourages various paths to understanding history rather than a single narrative context: - Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-born, British-based artist - the work referenced Roman concrete construction

Ruler's feather headdress (probably of Motecuhzoma II) - Mexica (Aztec)

form: - made from 400 long green feathers the tails if the sacred quetzal birds -- male birds produce only two such feathers each - the number 400 symbolized eternity function: - ceremonial headdress of a ruler - part of an elaborate costume context: - only known Aztec feather headdress in the world - feathers indicate trading across the Aztec Empire - headdress possibly part of a collection of artifacts given by Montecuhzoma to Cortez for Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire - current dispute over ownership of the headdress -- today it is housed in the Museum of Ethnology in Vienna, Austria

Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) - Isfahan, Iran

form: - large central rectangular courtyard surrounded by a two-story arcade - typical of muslim architecture is to have one large arch flanked by two stories of smaller arches (Taj Mahal) - the qibla iwan is the largest and most decorative -- its size indicates the direction to Mecca - southern iwan is an entry for a private space used by the sultan and his retinue -- its dome is adorned by decorative tiles -- this contains the main mihrab of the mosque - muqurnes -- an ornamental and intricate vaulting placed on the underside of arches - elaborately decorated mihrab on the interior points the direction to Mecca -- the elaborateness reflects the fact that this is the holiest section of the shrine function: - muslim mosque - each side of the courtyard, or sahn, has a centrally placed iwan -- may be the first mosque to have this feature - iwans have different roles, reflecting their size and ornamentation context: - iwans were originally seen in palace architecture -- used here for the first time to emphasize the sanctuary - this mosque is nestled in an urban center -- many gates give access - the mosque's outside walls share support with other buildings

The Court of Gayumars, folio from Shah Tahmasp's Shahnama - Sultan Muhammad

form: - large painted surface area -- calligraphy diminished - harmony between man and landscape - minute details do not overwhelm the harmony of the scene - very richly and decoratively painted with vibrant colors - minute scale suggest the use of fine brushes, perhaps of squirrel hairs content: - this excerpt shows the first king of Iran, Gayumars, enthroned before his community, ruling from a mountaintop - during his reign, men learned how to prepare food and prepare leopard skins as clothing -- wild animals are shown as meek and submissive - on left, his son Siyamak -- on right, his grandson Hushang - his court appears in a semicircle below him -- court attire includes the wearing of leopard skins - the angel Surush tells Gayumars that his son will be murdered by the Black Div, son of the demon Ahriman -- his death will be avenged by Hushang, who will rescue the Iranian throne context: - persian manuscript - the original story by Firdawsi was written around 1010 - folio from the text called the Great Il'khanid Shahnama or the Book of Kings, a Persian epic - produced for the Safavid ruler of Iran, Shah Tahmasp I, who saw himself as part of a proud tradition of Persian kings - whole book contains 258 illustrated pages

Bahrum Gur Fights the Karg, folio from the Great Il-Khanid Shahnama - Islamic, Persian

form: - large painted surface area -- calligraphy on the top and bottom frame the image - areas of flat color - spatial recession indicated by the overlapping planes - atmospheric perspective seen in the light-bluish background content: - Bahrum Gur was an ancient Iranian king from the Sassanian dynasty - he represents the ideal king -- wears a crown and a golden halo - mongol artists of Persia sought to link themselves to great ancient Persian heroes shown as Mongol horsemen - a karg is a kind of unicorn or horned wolf he fought during his trip to India - cross-cultural influences = Bahram Gur wears a garment of European fabric -- Chinese landscape can be seen in the background -- these aspects connect the painting with trade along the silk road context: - because of its lavish production, it is assumed to have been commissioned by a high-ranking member of the Il'khanid court and produced at the court of scriptorium as a chronicle of great Persian kings - a high point of Persian manuscripts -- very lavish - the original store by Firdawsi was written around 1010 - folio from the text called the Great Il'khanid Shahnama, or the Book of Kings, a persian epic - originally one of 280 folios by several different artists -- 57 pages survive

Summer Trees - Song Su-nam

form: - large vertical lines of various thickness - subtle tonal variations of ink wash context: - Song Su-nam was a Korean artist who used traditional ink on paper - the artist was one of the leaders of the Sumukhwa, a new type of ink brush painting in the 1980s - ink painting is a traditional form of artistic expression in Korea -- this movement revitalizes ink painting in a modern context - inspired by Western abstraction

Forbidden City - Beijing, China

form: - largest and most complete Chinese architectural ensemble in existence - 9000 rooms - walls were built 30 feet high to keep outside people out and those inside in - each corner of the rectangular plan has a tower representing one of the four corners of the world - the focus is on the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the throne room and seat of power -- it is a wooden structure made with elaborately painted beams -- meant for grand ceremonies - yellow tile roofs and red painted wooden beams placed on marble foundations unify the structures in the Forbidden City into an artistic whole -- yellow is the emperor's color function: - the emperor's palace -- the seat of Chinese power -- the capital of the empire during the Ming and Qing Dynasties - originally built to consolidate the emperor's power - ceremonies took place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for the new year, the winter solstice, and the emperor's birthday - the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest building in the complex context: - called "forbidden" in that no one could enter or leave the inner sanctuaries without official permission - the throne room was placed symbolically at the center - the emperor is associated with the dragon -- sits in a dragon throne, wears dragon-themed robes - animals and figures in the roof were placed to ward off fire and evil spirits - the surrounding wall of the Forbidden City is characteristic of a Chinese city -- privacy within provides protection and reflects the containment aspect of Chinese culture - mandate of Heaven -- heaven bestows a mandate on the emperor, who rules with divine blessing as the Son of Heaven -- as a result, his Forbidden City was a reflection of heaven itself

Pisupo Lua Afe (Corned Beef 2000) - Michel Tuffery

form: - life-size sculpture of a bull made from flattened cans of corned beef - two motorized bulls often engage in multimedia performance art called The Challenge - there are small concealed wheels at the feet for ease of movement context: - Michel Tuffery was born in New Zealand of Samoan, Cook Islands, and Tahitian descent - the artist is interested in exploring aspects of his polynesian heritage in a modern context - canned corned beef is a favorite food in Polynesia -- exported from New Zealand - canned meet (pisupo, a Samoan language variant of "pea soup", the first canned food in the Pacific) is given as a gift in special occasions in Polynesia - however, canned meat has been a major contributor to Polynesian obesity - the introduction of canned meat caused a fall in traditional cultural skills of fishing, cooking, and agriculture - the artist introduces a tone of irony in that the cow is made of hundreds of opened cans of cow meat - the theme of recycling is emphasized by the reuse of these cans

Angkor, the temple of Angkor Wat, and the city of Angkor Thom, Cambodia - Hindu, Angkor Dynasty

form: - main pyramid is surrounded by four corner towers -- a temple mountain - corbelled gallery roofs -- influenced by the indian use of corbelled vaulting - the entire complex is made of stone -- most surfaces are carved and decorated - horror vacui of sculptural reliefs - sculpture in rhythmic dance poses -- repetition of shapes function: - dedicated to Vishnu -- most sculptures represent Vishnu's incarnations - may have been intended to serve as the king's mausoleum - hindu temples functioned primarily as the home of the god patronage: - Angkor Wat was the capital of medieval Cambodia, built by King Suryavarman II - the complex was built by successive kings, who installed various deities in the complex - the kings often identified themselves with the gods they installed context: - the comples has a mixed Buddhist/Hindu character: - mountain-like towers symbolize the five peaks of Mount american, a sacred mountain said to be the center of the spiritual and physical universe in both Buddhism and Hinduism churning of the Ocean of Milk: - the story is from the Hindu religion - the story involves the churning of the ocean of the stars to obtain Amrita, the nectar of immortal life - both the gods (devas) and the devils (asuras) churn the ocean to guarantee themselves immortality - to churn the ocean, they used the Seprent King, Vasuki - Vishnu wraps a serpent around Mount Mandara -- the mountain rotates around the sea and churns it Jayavarman VII as Buddha, Khmer king, reigned c. 1181-1218 - most famous and powerful Khmer monarch - patron of Angkor Thom - heavily influenced by his two wives, who were sisters -- after his first wife's death he married her sister - Jayavarman was devoted to Buddhism, although these monuments show a mixture of Buddhist and Hindu iconography

Malagan Mask

form: - masks are extremely intricate in their carving - they are painted black, yellow, and red -- important colors denoting violence, war, and magic - artists are specialists in using negative space function: - sculptures of the deceased are commissioned -- they represent the individual's soul, or life force, not a physical appearance - the mask indicate the relationship of a particular deceased person to a clan and to living members of the family - the large hair comb reflects a hairstyle of the time -- masks are not physical portraits, only portraits of the soul context: - malagan ceremonies send the souls of the deceased on their way to the underworld - sometimes ceremonies begin months after death and last an extended period of time - during the time after death the sponsors must organize the ceremonies and the feasts -- they must also hire sculptors who will carve the structures for the event - an expensive undertaking -- families often combine their wealth and honor several individuals - the commissioned malagan sculptures are exhibited in temporary display houses -- each sculpture honors a specific individual and illustrates his or her relationships with ancestors, clan totems, and/or living family members - during the course of the ceremony it is believed that the souls of the deceased enter the sculptures - the ceremonies free the living from the obligation of serving the dead - structures are erected to suit a purpose -- after the ceremony, the structures are considered useless and usually destroyed or allowed to rot because they have fulfilled their function

Electronic Highway - Nam June Paik

form: - neon lighting outlines 50 states and the District of Columbia (Alaska and Hawaii are on the side walls) - each state has a separate video feed -- hundreds of television sets and 50 separate dvd players - themes associated with each state play on the state's screen -- for example the musical Oklahoma! plays on the Oklahoma screen - a camera is turned in the spectator and it's TV feed appears on one of the monitors -- it turns the spectator into a participant in the artwork context: - Nam June Paik was a Korean-born artist who lived in New York City - Paik was intrigued by maps and travel - neon outlines symbolize multicolored maps of each state - neon symbolizes motel and restaurant signs - fascination with the interstate highway system - the constant blur of so many video clips at the same time can lead to "information overload" - paik is considered the father of video art

Under the Wave Off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura) - Katsushika Hokusai

form: - personification of nature -- the wave seems intent on drowning the figures in boats - Mount Fuji, sacred mountain to the Japanese, seems to be one of the waves - the striking design contrasts water and sky with large areas of negative space - imported color: Prussian blue, which made the print seem unusual and special to contemporaries. function: - Part of series of prints called Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji materials and techniques: - each wood-block print required the collaboration of a designer, an engraver, a printer, and a publisher - conceived of as a commercial opportunity by the publisher, who may have doubled as a book dealer - the publisher determined the theme - the print was designed by an artist on paper, and then an engraver copied the design onto a woodblock - the printer rubs ink onto the block and places paper over the block to make a print - many colored prints were made by using a separate block for each color - prussian blue was highly prized in Japan -- acquired through trade with Europe context: - mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, is known for its symmetrical cone - mount Fuji is considered a sacred site - in Shintoism, the forces of nature unite as one, as they do in the Hokusai print - this was the first time a landscape was a major theme in Japanese prints

Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

form: - prominent foreheads, large broad noses, thin pouting lips, ears that reach to the top of their heads - short, thin arms fall straight down -- hands on hips or hands across the lower abdomen bellow the naval - breasts and navels are delineated - backs are tattooed - topknots were added to some statues - white coral was placed in the eyes to "open" them function: - images represent personalities deified after death or commemorated as the first settler-kings context: - the are about 900 statues in all, 50 tons apiece, mostly male -- almost all facing inland - they were erected on large platforms, called ahu, of stone mixed with ashes from cremations -- the platforms are as sacred as the statues that are on them - after being carved, figures were said to have been "walked" into place from where they were quarried - beneath an ahu is a cemetery where village elders were buried - the depletion of resources may have caused an ecological crisis which led to a decline in society and the destruction of the monuments - monuments were toppled face down because it was believed that the eyes had spiritual power

Borobudur Temple - Central Java, Indonesia

form: - pyramid in form -- aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass - square-shaped plan with four entry points - rubble faced with carved volcanic stone - built in a low hill rising above a wide plan content: - this massive buddhist monument contains 504 life-size buddhas, 1460 narrative relief sculptures on 1300 panels 8200 feet long - 72 open work stupas containing a Buddha, each with a preaching mudra - six identical square terraces are placed one atop the other, like steps -- three smaller circular terraces are placed on top -- the lowest level functions as the base of the structure, with a square floor plan -- the second level recedes 23 feet from the edge of the base so that the space is wide enough for processions - each terrace is a level of enlightenment - divided into three sections, representing the three levels of Buddhist cosmology: - base = represents the lowest level of experience -- those who are aligned with their desires on earth -- the world of desire and negative impulses -- sculptures here show the deeds of self-sacrifice practiced by the Buddha in his previous births and the story of his last incarnation as Prince Siddhartha - body = five terraces in which people abandon their earthly desires -- this is the world of forms -- people have to control these negative impulses -- sculptures here show the pilgrimage of the young man, Sudhana, who sets out in search of the Ultimate Truth - superstructure = an area that represents a formless world, in which a person experienced reality in its purest stage, where the physical world and worldly desire are expunged function: - a place of pilgrimage - built as a stupa context: - meant to be circumambulated on each terrace -- six concentric square terraces topped by three circular tiers with a great stupa at the summit - iconographically complex

Templo Mayor (Main Temple) - Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City, Mexico)

form: - pyramids built one atop the other so that the final form encases all previous pyramids -- seven building campaigns - pyramids have a step-like series of setbacks -- not the smooth-surfaced pyramids seen in Egypt - characterized by four huge flights of very vertical steps leading to temples placed on top function: - Tenochtitlán was laid out on a grid -- city seen as the center of the world - the temple structures on top of each pyramid were dedicated to and housed the images of the two important deities context: two temples atop a pyramid, each with a separate staircase: - north = dedicated to Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture - south = dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, god of sun and war - at the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun rises between the two - large braziers pit on top where the sacred fires burned - temple structures housed images of the deities - temples begun in 1375 -- rebuilt six times -- destroyed by the Spanish in 1520 - the destruction of this temple and reuse of its stones by the Spanish asserted a political and spiritual dominance over the conquered civilization Coyolxauhqui "She of the Golden Bells": form: - circular relief sculpture - once brilliantly painted - so called because of the bells she wears as earrings context: - coyolxauhqui and her many brothers plotted the death of her mother, Coatlicue, who became pregnant after tucking a ball of feathers down her bosom. when coyolxauhqui chopped off Coatlicue's head, a child, Huitzilopochtli, popped out of the severed body fully grown and dismembered Coyolxauhqui, who fell dead at the base of the shrine - this stone represents the dismembered moon goddess, Coyolxauhqui, who is placed at the base of the twin pyramids of Tenochitlan - aztecs sacrificed people and then threw their dismembered remains down the steps of the temple as Huitz

All-T'oqapu tunic - Inkan

form: - rectangular shape -- a slit in the center is for the head -- then the tunic is folded in half and the sides are sewn for the arms - the composition is composed of small rectangular shapes called t'oqapu - individual t'oqapu may be symbolic of individuals, events, or places - this tunic contains a large number of t'oqapu function: - wearing such an elaborate garment indicates the status of the individual - may have been worn by an Inkan ruler technique: - woven in a backstrap loom - one end of the loom is tied to a tree or a post and the other end around the back of the weaver - the movement of the weaver can create alternating tensions in the fabric and achieve different results context: - exhibits Inkan preference for abstract designs, standardization of designs, and an expression of unity and order - finest textiles made by women, a highly distinguished art form -- this tunic has a hundred threads per square centimeter

Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja) - Hindu, India (Tamil Nadu)

form: - shiva has four hands - one hand sounds the drum that he dances to -- another carrie's a flame of destruction -- the other two offer the abhaya mudra, a gesture that allays fears - epicene quality showing an idealized, nearly nude, male figure - flying locks of hair terminate in rearing cobra heads - often depicted in a flaming nimbus, vigorously dancing with one foot on a dwarf, the demon of Ignorance - fire around Shiva represents the borders of the Hindu cosmos -- covered with flowers when carried in processions function: - the sculpture becomes the receptacle for the divine spirit when people pray before it -- therefore, the sculpture is royally treated with gifts, food, and incense - the sculpture can be bathed or clothed - a hole is at the bottom of the sculpture for the placement of a pole so that it can be used in processions and covered by flowers context: - shiva periodically destroys the universe so that it can be reborn again - he unfolds the universe out of the drum held in one of his right hands -- he preserves it by uplifting his other right hand in a gesture indicated "do not be afraid" - shiva has a third eye barely suggested betweeen his other two eyes, he once burned the god Kama with this eye - the message is that belief in Shiva can achieve salvation - the distribution of this figure is due to the patronage of a queen, Mahadevi

Female Deity

form: - simple geometric form - erect pose, long arms, broad chest - chin drawing to a point -- no facial features - horizontal lines were used to indicate kneecaps, navel, and waistline function: - female deity context: - many were kept in religious buildings belonging to the community - they represent individual deities - sometimes they were dressed in garments -- may have been decorated with flowers - taken by missionaries who did not record anything about the sculptures

Buk (mask)

form: - some masks combine human and animal forms -- this mask shows a human face with a bird placed on top - turtle shell masks are unique to this region function: - the mask, like a helmet, is worn over the head - part of a larger grass costume used in ceremonies about death, fertility, or male initiation, perhaps even to ensure a good harvest context: - Torres Strait is the water passageway between Australia and New Guinea - human face may represent a cultural hero or ancestor

Taj Mahal - Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

form: - symmetrical harmony of design - typical islamic feature of one large central arch flanked by two smaller arches - square plan with chamfered corners - onion-shaped dome rises gracefully from the façade. a Small kiosks around dome lessen severity - intricate floral and geometric inlays of colored stone - minarets act like a picture frame, directing the eye of the viewer and sheltering the monument - texts from the Quran cover surface - motifs of flowering plants, carved into the walls of the structure, may have been inspired by engravings in European herbals function: • built as the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan's wife; the shah was interred next to her after his death context: - translated to mean "crown palace." - named for Mumtaz Mahal, deceased wife of Shah Jahan, who died while giving birth to her 14th child - part of a larger ensemble of buildings - grounds represent a vast funerary garden, the gardens found in heaven in the islamic tradition - taj mahal reflected in the Charbagh garden (that is, a garden that is rectangular and based on the four gardens of Paradise mentioned in the Quran) - different from other Mongol buildings in its extensive use of white marble, which was generally reserved for interior spaces -- white marble contrasts with the red sandstone of the flanking buildings - influence of Hindi texts in which white is seen as a symbol of purity for priests and red for warriors -- the Taj Mahal is white marble but the surrounding buildings are red sandstone theory: - may have been built to salute the grandeur of the Shah Jahan and his royal kingdom, as much as to honor his wife's memory - alternate theory suggests that this is a symbolic representation of a Divine Throne on the Day of Judgement

Earth's Creation - Emily Kame Kngwarreye

form: - the artist employed the dump dot technique, which involves pounding paint onto a canvas with a brush to create layers with a sense of color and movement -- related to "dream time" painting in Australia - this work is part of a larger suite of paintings content: - the work references the color and lushness of the "green time" in Australia after it rains and the Outback flourishes context: - Emily Kame Kngwarreye was an Australian aborigine artist - the artist was largely self-taught and began her career doing ceremonial painting - the artist was influenced by European abstraction of the mid-twentieth century

Bandolier Bag - Lenape (Delaware tribe, Eastern Woodlands)

form: - the bandolier bag has a larger heavily beaded pouch with a slit on top - the bag was help at hip level with strap across the chest - the bag was constructed of trade cloth -- cotton, wool, velvet or leather function: - it was made for men and women -- objects of prestige - they were made by women - function and beautiful -- acted also as a status symbol as part of an elaborate garb - bandolier bags are still made and worn today context: - beadwork not done in the Americas before European contact - beads and silk ribbons were imported from Europe - the bass contain both Native American and European motifs - beaks and silk ribbons were imported from Europe - the bags contain both Native American and European motifs

Longmen caves - Luoyang, China

form: - the buddha is arranged as if in an altar of a temple, deeply set into the rock face - Vairocana Buddha is flanked by monk attendants, bodhisattvas, and guardians -- perhaps a portrait of Wu Zetian - the figures have elongated legs and exaggerated poses - sculptures and reliefs are carved from the existing rock -- some colossal, some small - realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians shows them as able protectors and defenders of the faith patronage: - inscription states that Empress Wu Zetian was the principal patroness of the site and that she used her private funds to finance the project context: - more than 2300 caves and niches are carved along the banks of the Yi River - documents attest that 800,000 people worked on the site, they produced 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas, and 2800 inscriptions on steles

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao - Frank Gehry

form: - the building has swirling forms and shapes that contrast with the industrial landscape of Bilbao - from the river side, the building resembles a boat, referencing Bilbao's past as a shipping and commercial center - the curving forms were designed by a computer software program called Catia - fixing clips make a shallow dent in the titanium surface -- it produces an effect of having a shimmering surface that changes according to atmospheric conditions - curvilinear forms evoke the architecture of Borromini and the Italian Baroque in general function: - a modern art museum featuring contemporary art in a contemporary architectural setting - the work follows the tradition of the Guggenheim museums around the world, many also created by prominent architects in daring designs context: - Frank Gehry is a Canadian-American architect based in Los Angeles - the revitalization of the port area of Bilbao is called the "Bilbao effect" -- a reference to the impact a museum can have on a local economy

House in New Castle County - Robert Venturi, John Rauch, and Denise Scott Brown

form: - the facade contains an arch inside a pediment form - a squat, bulging Doric colonnade is asymmetrically placed - the columns are actually flat rather than the traditionally round forms - the drainpipe at the left bisects the outermost column - the flattened forms on the interior arches echo the exterior flat columns - the interior forms reflect a craftsman's hand in curved, cutting elements function: - the house was designed for a family of three - for the wife, a musician, a music room was created with two piano, an organ and a harpsichord - for the husband, a bird-watcher, large windows were installed facing the woods context: - post modern mix of historical styles - rural location in low hills, and grassy fields of Delaware - Venturi's comment on the International style: "Less is a bore"

Transformation mask - Kwakwaka'wakw, Northwest coast of Canada

form: - the mask has a bird like exterior face -- when opened, if reveals a second human face on the interior function: - the masks were worn by native people of the Pacific, Northwest, centered in Vancouver Island - the were worn over the head as part of a complete body costume context: - during a ritual performance, the wearer opens and closes the transformation mask using strings - at the moment of transformation, the performer turns his back to the audience to conceal the action and heighten the mystery - opening the mask reveals the face of an ancestor -- there is an ancestral element to the ceremony - although these masks could be used at a potlatch, most often they were used in winter initiation rites ceremonies - the ceremony is accompanied by drumming and takes place in a "big house" - masks are highly prized and often inherited

Folio from a Qur'an - Arab, North Africa, or Near East

form: - the title of each chapter is scripted in gold - script is rigidly aligned in strong horizontal letters well-spaced apart in brown ink - kufic script = strong uprights and long horizontals - great clarity of text is important because several readers read a book at once, some at a distance - arabic reads right to left - consonants are scripted, vowels are indicated by dots or markings around other letters - the diacritical markings of short diagonal lines and red dots indicate vocalizations - pyramids of six gold discs mark the ends of ayat (verses) function: - the quran is the Muslim holy book context: - qurans were compiled and codified in the mid-seventh century -- however, the earliest surviving quran is from the ninth century - calligraphy is greatly prized in quranic texts -- elaborate divine words needed the best artists - illustrated is the heading of sura 29 in gold - the text indicates that those who believe in protectors other than Allah are like spiders who build flimsy homes

Mesa Verde cliff dwellings - Montezuma County, Colorado

form: - the top ledge houses supplies in a storage area -- cool and dry area out of the way -- accessible inky by ladder - each family received one room in the dwelling - plaza placed in front of the abode structure -- kivas face the plaza function: - the pueblo was built into the sides of a cliff, housed about 100 people - clans moved together for mutual support and defense context: - farming done in the plateau above the pueblo -- everything had to be imported into the structure -- water seeped through the sandstone and collected in trenches near the rear of the structure - low winter sun penetrated through the pueblo -- high summer sun did not enter the interior and therefore it stayed relatively cool - inhabited for two hundred years -- probably abandoned when the water source dried up

A Book from the Sky - Xu Bing

form: - the work references chinese art forms -- scrolls, screens, books, and paper - four hundred handmade books are placed in rows on the ground - one walks beneath the printed scrolls hanging from the ceiling - all of the chinese characters are inventions of the artist and have no meaning - the artist uses traditional asian wood-block techniques history: - original title: "An Analyzed Reflection of the End of This Century" - originally in the national museum of fine arts in Beijing -- filled a large exhibition space - the artist lost favor with the communist government over this work - mounted at many venues in the west afterward context: - Xu Bing is a Chinese-born artist and U.S. resident - the artist was trained in the propagandistic socialist realist style -- that background led to his critique of power in works such as this one - criticized as "bourgeois liberation" -- it was claimed that its meaninglessness hid secret subversions -- others interpret the meaningless characters as reflecting the meaningless words found in political doublespeak

Lying with the Wolf - Kiki Smith

form: - this is a large, wrinkled drawing pinned to a wall -- reminiscent of a tablecloth or a bedsheet context: - Kiki Smith is an American artist who was born in Germany and lives in New York City - a theme of smith's work is the human body -- this is a nude female figure - female strength is emphasized in the woman lying down with the wild beast - the wolf seems tamed by the woman's embrace - the wolf is traditionally seen as an evil or dangerous symbol, but not here

Shibboleth - Doris Salcedo

form: - this is an installation that features a large crack that begins as a hairline and then widens to two feet in depth - the floor of the museum was opened and a cast of Columbian rock faces were inserted - the work stresses the interaction between sculpture and space context: - Doris Salcedo is a columbian sculptor - shibboleth = a word or customs that a person not familiar with a language may mispronounce -- used to identify foreigners or people of another class - a shibboleth is used to exclude people from joining a group - the crack emphasizes the gap in relationships - the work references racism and colonialism -- keeping people away or separating them - the installation is now sealed, but it exists as a scar -- it commemorates the lives of the underclasses artist's words: - "it represents borders, the experience of immigrants, the experience of segregation, the experience of racial hatred. it is the experience of a third world person coming into the heart of Europe. for example, the space which illegal immigrants occupy is a negative space. and so, this piece is a negative space." comparisons - works on the ground: - Smithson, Spiral Jetty - Great Serpent Mound - Weiwei, Sunflower Seeds

Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Maya Lin

form: - this memorial is a v-shaped war monument cut into the earth - the memorial contains the names of 60,000 casualties of the Vietnam War listed in the order they were killed or reported missing - the earliest names appear in the vortex and extend out to one end of the monument and begin again at the other end working toward the vortex -- a symbolic circular association function: - the war monument dedicated to the deceased and missing-in-action soldiers of the Vietnam War materials: - black granite, a highly reflective surface, is used so the viewers can see themselves in the names of the veterans context: - Maya Lin is an Ohio-born Chinese American - this was the winning design in an anonymous competition held to create a memorial on the mall in Washington DC - the work is not an overly political monument with a message, but a memorial to the deceased who sacrificed everything - one arm of the monument points to the Lincoln Memorial, the other to the Washington Monument, plating itself central to key figures in American history - it digs into the earth like a scar, a scar that heals but whose traces remain, a reflection of the impact of the war on the American consciousness - strongly influenced by the minimalist movement - initially strongly criticized by those who wanted a more traditional war monument -- later, a figural grouping was placed nearby

Stadia II - Julie Mehretu

form: - this work depicts a stylized rendering of stadium architecture - the forms suggest the excitement, almost frenzy, of a competition held in a circular space surrounded by international images - dynamic competition is suggested in sweeping lines that create a vibrant pulse - the work uses multilayered lines to create animation - sweeping lines create depth -- the focus of attention is around a central core from which colors, icons, flags, and symbols resonate context: - Julie Mehretu was born in Ethiopia, she lives and works in New York City - she paints large-scale paintings - although the paintings are done with abstract elements, the titles allude to their meaning - flags can represent, in a positive or negative way, national pride, patriotism, or nationalism comparisons - images of entertainment: - The Colosseum - Seated Boxer - Basquiat, Horn Players

Trade (Gifts for Trading Land with White People) - Jaune Quick-to-See Smith

form: - this work is a combination of collage elements and abstract expressionist brushwork - newspaper clippings and images of conquest are placed over a large dominant canoe - the red paint is symbolic of the shedding of American Indian blood content: - the array of objects sardonically represents Indian culture in the eyes of Europeans -- sports teams, Indian-style knickknacks such as toy tomahawks, dolls, and arrows - a large canoe floats over the scene context: - Jaune Quick-to-See Smith is a member of the Salish and Kootenai American Indian tribes of the Flathead Nation - the work was meant as the "Quincentenary Non-Celebration" of European occupation of North America (1492-1992) - American Indian social issues caused by European occupation are stressed -- poverty, unemployment, disease, alcoholism - Title Trade references events in american indian history such as Manhattan being sold to the Dutch in 1626 for $24. even if this story is apocryphal, it does highlight a history of "trade" in which indians have been taken advantage of

Great Mosque - Djenné, Mali

form: - three tall towers -- center tower is a mihrab - vertical fluting drains water off the surfaces quickly materials: - made of adobe, a baked mixture of clay an straw -- adobe helps maintain cooler temperatures - torons = wooden beams projecting from walls - wooden beams act as in-place ladders for the maintenance of the building function: - largest mud-brick mosque in the world content: - crowning ornaments have ostrich eggs, symbols of fertility and purity - roof has several holes with terra cotta lids to circulate air into the main room context: - inhabited since 250 B.C.E., Djenné became a market center and an important link in the trans-saharan gold trade - two thousand traditional houses survive, built on small hills to protect against seasonal floods - once a year there is a community activity to repair the mosque called Crepissago de la Grand Mosqué

Conical tower and circular wall of Great Zimbabwe - Shona peoples

form: - walls = 800 feet long, 32 feet tall, 17 feet thick at the base - walls slope inward toward the top -- made of exfoliated granite blocks function: - Zimbabwe was a prosperous trading center and royal complex -- items from as far as Persia and China have been found - stone enclosure was probably a royal residence context: - Zimbabwe derived from a Shona term meaning "venerated houses" or "houses of stone" - internal and external passageways are tightly bounded, narrow, and long -- occupants are forced to walk in single file, paralleling experiences in the African bush - the conical tower is modeled on traditional shapes of grain silos -- control over food symbolized wealth, power, and royal largesse - the tower resembles a granary and represented a good harvest and prosperity -- grain gathered, stored, and dispensed as a symbol of royal power - abandoned in the 15th century probably because the surrounding area could no longer supply food and there was extensive deforestation

Verand post of enthroned king and senior wife - Olowe of Ise (Yoruba peoples)

form: - wooden sculpture with tall vertical emphasis - complicated and elaborate use of negative space - negative space creates an openness in the composition - most veranda posts were painted -- this work has traces of paint remaining function: - Olowe of Ise carved veranda posts for the rulers of the Ekiti-Yoruba kingdom in Nigeria - one of for carved for the palace at Ikere, Nigeria context: - the king is the focal point between himself and others represented on the post - behind the king, his large-scale senior wife supports the throne - she crowns the king during the coronation -- protects him during his reign - the smaller figures include his junior wife,, his flute player, Eshu, the trickster god,, and a figure of a fan bearer now missing

Pink Panther - Jeff Koons

form: - artificially idealized female form -- overly yellow hair, bright red lips, large breasts, pronounced red fingernails -- overly fake look - life-size content: - the woman is Jayne Mansfield (1933-1967), a popular screen star and a Playboy play,ate - Pink Panther, a cartoon character, generally seen as an animated figure - the panther has a tender and delicate gesture around Jayne Mansfield context: - Jeff Koons is a Pennsylvania-born artist, working in New York - this work is a commentary on celebrity romance, sexuality, commercialism, stereotypes, pop culture, and sentimentality - this work is kitsch but is made of "high art" porcelain - created a permanent reality out of something that is ephemeral and never meant to be exhibited - part of a series called The Banality at a show in the Sonnenbend Gallery in New York in 1988

Portrait mask (Mblo) - Baule peoples (Côte d'Ivoire)

form: - broad forehead, pronounced downcast eye sockets, column-shaped nose -- features associated with intellect and respect - quiet faces, introspective look, peaceful face, meditative, eyebrows in an arch function: - presented at Mblo performances in which an individual is honored with ritual dances -- tributes are performed in his or her honor - the dancer who wears the mask and wears the clothes of the person for the performance is accompanied by the actual person in the performance - the honoree receives a mask -- an artistic double of the person -- as a gift context: - the masks are commissioned by a group of admirers, not by an individual -- this one was made by the artist Owie Kimou - the masks are an idealized representation of a real person - this is the idealized representation of Moya Yanso - from the Ivory Coast

Androgyne III - Magdalena Abakanowicz

form: - the figure sits on a low stretcher of wooden legs, substituting for human legs - the figure is hollowed our, just a shell - the figure is placed to be seen in the round -- the complete back and the hollow front are visible - the pose suggests meditation and/or perseverance - sexual characteristics are minimized to increase the universality of the figure, hence the title Androgyne, or an androgynous figure, one that is neither male nor female materials: - the work is made of hardened fiber casts from plaster molds - the hardened fiber has the appearance of crinkled human skin set in earth tones context: - Magdalena Abankanowicz was a polish artist who endured World War II, the Nazi occupation of Poland, and Stalinist rule - since 1974, the artist had been making similar figures, often without heads or arms, in large groups or singly

Lakshmana Temple - Khajuraho, India

form: - the temple is placed on a high pedestal, or plinth, to be seen from a distance -- it appears like rising peaks of a mountain range - compact proportions - east/west axis = receives direct rays from the rising sun - the building is a series of shapes that build to become a large tower -- complicated intertwining of similar forms called a shikara - in the center is the "embryo" room containing the shrine - the embryo, called a garbha griha, is very small with only space enough for a limited number of people -- it is meant for individual worship materials: - ashlar masonry -- made of fine sandstone sculpture: - bands of horizontal moldings unite the temple - the sculpture on the surface harmoniously integrates with the architecture - the figures are sensuous with revealing clothing - erotic poses symbolize regeneration - sexuality is frankly expressed function: - it is a hindu temple grounded with a series of other temples in Khajuraho - the temple is dedicated to Vishnu patron: - Yashovarman, a leader in the Chandella Dynasty, built the temple to legitimize his rule -- completed by his son, Dharga, after his death context: - worshipers move in a clockwise direction starting at the staircase to circumambulate the temple

Ikenga (shrine figure) - Igbo peoples (Nigeria)

function and content: - Ikenga means "strong right arm" and thus physical prowess - it honors the right hand, which holds tools or weapons, makes sacrifices, conducts rituals, and alerts to speak at public forums - Ikenga embraces traditional masculine associations of strengths and potency - often a mix of human, animal, and abstract forms - carved from hardwoods, considered masculine - it tells the owner's morality, prosperity, achievements, genealogy, and social rank context: - enormous horns symbolize power - requires blessings before use -- consecrated with offerings before kinsmen - as the man achieved more success, he might commission a more elaborate version - it is maintained in the man's home and is destroyed when the owner dies -- another can reuse it if not destroyed

Chavín de Huántar - Northern highlands, Peru

function: - a religious capital - temple, 60 meters tall, was adorned with a jaguar sculpture, a symbol of power - hidden entrance to the temple led to stone corridors Plan and Lanzón Stone: form: - inside the old temple of Chavín is a maze like system of hallways - passageways have no natural light source -- they are lit by candles and lamps - at the center, underground, is the Lanzón (Spanish for "blade") Stone -- blade shaped,, may also represent a primitive ploughing,, hence, the role of the god in ensuring a successful crop - depicts a powerful figure that is part human (body) and part animal (claws, fangs) -- the god of the temple complex - head of snakes and a face of a jaguar - eyebrows terminate in snakes - flat relief -- designs in a curvilinear pattern - 15 feet tall function: - served as a cult figure - center of pilgrimage -- however, few had access to the Lanzón Stone - modern scholars hypothesize that the stone acted as an oracle -- hence a point of pilgrimage - new studies show the importance of acoustics in the underground chamber Relief sculpture: - shows jaguars in shallow relief - located on the ruins of a stairway at Chavín Nose ornament: form: - worn by males and females under the nose - held in place by the semicircular section at the top - two snakes heads on either end - serpent motif on both the Lanzón stone and Nose ornament function: - transforms the wearer into a supernatural being during ceremonies context: - elite men and women wore the ornaments as emblems of their ties to the religion and eventually were buried with them - the Chavín religion is related to the appearrance of the first large-scale precious metal objects -- revolutionary new metallurgical process - technical innovations express the "wholly other" nature of the religion

Yaxchilán - Chiapas, Mexico

function: - city set on a high terrace -- plaza surrounded by important buildings - flourished c. 300-800 C.E. Structure 40: form: - overlooks the main plaza - three doors lead to a central room decorated with stucco - roof remains nearly intact, with a large roof comb (ornamented stone tops on roofs) - corbel arch interior patronage: - built by ruler Bird Jaguar IV for his son, who dedicated it to him Lintel 25, Structure 23: form and content: - the linger was originally set above the central doorway of structure 23 as a part of a series of three lintels - Lady Xook (bottom right) invokes the Vision Serpent to commemorate her husbands rise to the throne - The Vision Serpent has two heads -- one has a warrior emerging from its mouth, and the other has Tlaloc, a war god - she holds a bowl with bloodletting ceremonial items -- stinging spine and bloodstained paper -- she runs a role with thorns through her tongue - she burns paper on a dish as a gift to the netherworld - the depicted ritual was conducted to commemorate the ascension of Shield Jaguar II to the throne function: - lintels intended to relay a message of the refoundation of the site -- there was a long pause in the building's history - Shield Jaguar's building program throughout the city may have been an attempt to reinforce his lineage and his right to rule context: - the building is dedicated to Lady Xook, Shield Jaguar II's wife - the inscription is written as a mirror image -- extremely unusual among Mayan glyphs -- uncertain meaning, perhaps indicating she had a vision from the other side of existence and she was acting as an intercession or shaman - the inscriptions names the protagonist as Shield Jaguar II - bloodletting is central to the Mayan life -- when a member of the royal family sheds his or her blood, a portal to the netherworld is opened and g

Gold and jade crown - Three Kingdoms Period, Sillia Kingdom, Korea

function: - crown is very lightweight and therefore had limited use -- maybe for ceremonial occasions or perhaps only for burial context: - stylized geometric shapes symbolize trees - antler forms influenced by shamanistic practices in Siberia - uncovered from a royal tomb in Gyeongju, Korea -- from the Silla Dynasty

Basin (Baptistère de Saint Louis) - Muhammad ihn al-Zain

function: - original use = ceremonial hand washing -- perhaps a banqueting piece - later use = baptisms for the French royal family (association with Saint Louis is fictional) -- coats-of-arms originally on the work were reworked with French fluer-de-loud content: - signed by the artist six times - hunting scenes alternate with battle scenes along the side of the bowl - Mamluk hunters and Mongol enemies - bottom of bowl decorated with fish, eels, crabs, frogs, and crocodiles patronage: - there is no patron or date identifying the work, although some scholars feel that the basin is connected to the amir Salar (d. 1310), whose image may be prominently depicted in one of the rounders -- in that regard it may have been a gift from Salar to a sultan - exquisite craftsmanship makes it likely that the work was done on commission for an important setting

Great Stupa at Sanchi - Madhya Pradesh, India

function: - pilgrimage site - a buddhist shrine, mound shaped and faced with dressed stone containing the relics of the Buddha - the worshipper circumambulates the stupa clockwise along the base of the drum -- circular motion suggests the endless cycle of birth and rebirth form: - three umbrellas at the top represent Buddha, Buddha's Law, and monastic orders - a railing at the crest of the mound surrounds the umbrellas, symbolically, representing a sacred tree - double stairway at the south end leads from base to drum, where there is a walkway for circumbulation - originally painted white - hemispherical dome is a replication of the dome of heaven -- seated Buddha from second level from the Later Gupta period toranas: - four toranas, or gateways, at cardinal points of the compass, grace the entrances - the orientation of the toranas (east, south, west, and north) and the direction of ritualistic circumambulation correspond with the direction of the sun's course: from sunrise to zenith, sunset, and nadir - the torana has richly carved scenes on the architraves - buddha does not appear himself but is symbolized by an empty throne or a tree under which he meditated - some of these reliefs may also represent the sacred sites where Shakyamuni Buddha visited or taught others about the jataka stories or past lives of the Buddha - horror vacui of composition - high-relief sculpture - pre-buddhist Yakshi figures symbolize fertility context: - donors' names are carved into the monuments -- 600 inscriptions reveal the project was funded by women as well as men, common people as well as monks

the Ardabil Carpet - Maqsud of Kashan

function: - prayer carpet used at a pilgrimages site of a Sufi saint - huge carpet, one of a matching pair, from the funerary mosque of Shayik Safial-Din -- probably made when the shrine was enlarged. the companion carpet is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art materials: - wool carpet, woven by the people, probably men -- although women also did weaving in this period - the importance of the location and the size of the project indicate that men were entrusted with its execution technique: - wool pile of 5,300 knots per 10cm. sq. -- allows form great detail content: - medallion in center of carpet may represent the inside of a dome with 16 pendants - mosque lamps hang from two of the pendants -- because one lamp is smaller than the other, the larger lamp is placed farther away so that it appears the same size as the smaller -- some suggest that this is a deliberate flaw to reflect that God alone is perfect - corner squinches also have pendants completing the feeling of looking into a dome - inscription = "except for thy threshold, there is no refuge for me in all the world. except for this door there is no resting-place for my head. the work of the slave of the portal, Masqud Kashani," and the date, 946, in the Muslim calender - the word "slave" in the inscription has been variously interpreted, but generally it is agreed that he was not a slave in the literal sense, but someone who was charged with executing the carpet

The Kaaba - Mecca, Saudi Arabia

function: - mecca is the spiritual center of Islam -- this is the most sacred site in Islam - a large mosque surrounds the Kaaba - destination for those making the hajj, or spiritual pilgrimage, to Mecca - pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times materials: - the Kaaba is made of granite -- the floor is made of marble and limestone - the Kaaba is covered by textiles -- the cloth is called the Kiowa and is changed annually context: - Kaaba means cube in Arabic -- the Kaaba is cube-like in shape - Kaaba said to have been built by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishamel for God - existing structure encases the black stone in the eastern corner, the only part of the original structure by Ibrahim that survives - has been repaired and reconstructed many times since Muhammad's time

Jowo Rinpoche, enshrined in the Jokhang Temple - Lhasa, Tibet

history: - statue thought to have been blessed by the Buddha himself -- believed to have been crafted in India during his lifetime -- said to have his likeness - believed to have been brought to Tibet in 641 - temple founded in 647 by the first ruler of a unified Tibet - disappeared in 1960s during China's cultural revolution - in 1983, the lower part was found in a rubbish heap and the upper part in Beijing -- restored in 2003 function: - served as a proxy for the Buddha after his departure from this world - often decorated, clothed, and presented with offerings context: - depiction of Buddha Sakyamuni as a young man around the age of twelve - most sacred and important Buddhist image in Tibet - jowo means "lord" -- Khang means "house"

The Swing (after Fragonard) - Yinka Shonibare

interpretation: - the artist was inspired by Fragonard's the Swing - this work is a life-size headless mannequin - the dress is made of dutch was fabric, sold in Africa -- it references to global trade and post colonial life in africa - flowering vines are cast to the floor - a headless figure -- guillotined by the French Revolution context: - Yinka Shonibare was british born, but of Nigerian descent,, he lives and works in london - the two men in the Fragonard painting are not included -- the audience takes the place of the men (erotic voyeurism) comparisons - depicting motion: - Muybridge, The Horse in Motion - Alexander Mosaic - Rodin, The Burghers of Calais

Presentation of Fijian mats and tapa cloths to Queen Elizabeth II

materials: - costume, cosmetics (including scent) - chant, movement, pandanus fiber and hibiscus fiber mats technique: - men oversee the growth of the mulberry trees that produce the tapa; women turn the bark into cloth - bark is removed from the tree, soaked in water, and treated to make it pliable - clubs are used to beat the strips into a long rectangular block to form pieces of cloth - the edges of these smaller pieces are then glued or felted together to produce large sheets - the tapa is decorated according to a local tradition -- sometimes stenciled, sometimes printed or dyed function: - enormous tapa clothes were made and presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 in commemoration of her visit to Fiji on the occasion of her coronation as queen of England context: - the presentation to the queen is an example of performance art - C.F. Lapita geometric motifs

Dancing at the Louvre - Faith Ringgold

materials: - the artist uses the american slave art form of the quilt to create her works - quilts were originally meant to be both beautiful and useful -- works of applied art - these quilts are not meant to be useful - quilting is traditionally a female art form - the artist combines the traditional use of oil paint with the quilting technique content: - figures in Ringgold's works often act out of a history that might never have taken place, but that the artist would have liked to have taken place - the artist created a character named Willia Marie Simone, a young black artist who moves to Paris. She takes her friend and three daughter to the Louvre museum and dances in front of three paintings by Leonardo da Vinci - the story is spelled out in text written on the borders of the quilt - this is the first of twelve quilts in the series context: - Faith Ringgold is a New York-born, African-American artist - the quilt has a narrative element - feminist and racial issues dominate her work - her works often reflect her struggle for success in an art world dominated by males working in the European tradition

'Ahu 'ula (feather cape)

materials: - the cape is made of thousands of bird feathers - feathers numbered 500,000 -- some birds had only seven usable feathers - the feathers were tied to a coconut fiber base function: - only high-ranking chiefs or warriors of great ability were entitled to wear these garments -- worn by men context: - red was considered a royal color in Polynesia -- yellow was prized because of its rarity - the cape was created by artists who chanted the wearer's ancestors to imbue their power into it - it protected the wearer from harm - the concept of "mana" -- a supernatural force believed to dwell in a person or sacred object - many capes have survived by no two capes are alike

Tamati Waka Nene - Gottfried Lindauer

subject: - subject is Tamati Waka Nene (c. 1780-1871), Maori chief and convert to the Wesleyan faith - painting is posthumous, based on a photograph by John Crombie content: - emphasis is placed on symbols of rank -- elaborate tattooing with Maori designs, staff with an eye in the center, feathers dangling from the staff - ceremonial weapon has a finely wrought blade with dangling feathers and abalone shell as a focal point - status is revealed in his oversized greenstone earring, which contains his power, or "mana", and his kiwi feather cloak context: - the painter was born in Bohemia and was famous for portraits of Maori chieftains upon his arrival in New Zealand in 1873-1874 until his death in 1926 - he was a journeyman painter and tradesman who worked on commission - this is a european-style painting in its use of oil paint, canvas backing, coloring, modeling, shading, and atmospheric perspective - conflicting interpretations of works such as these: - Maori may see the portraits as an embodiment of the spirit of a person, and as a link between past and present - westerners may see the paintings as a commercial adventure with a monetary value - some may see the portrait as a record of a vanishing culture - others may interpret the work as an anthropology highlighting aspects of Maori costuming and physiognomy, and what they could mean - still others may see the portraits as expressions of colonial dominance

Maize cobs - Inka

technique and form: - repoussé technique - hollow metal object - life-size function: - may have been part of a garden in which full-sized metal sculptures of maize plants and other items were put in place alongside actual plants in the Qorinkancha garden - may have been used to ensure a successful harvest context: - maize was the principal food source in the Andes - maize was celebrated by having sculptures fashioned out of sheet metal - black maize was common in Peru -- oxidized silver reflects that

Old Man's Cloth - El Anatsui

technique and materials: - one thousand drink tops are joined by wire to form a cloth-like hanging - bottle caps are from a distillery in Nigeria - the artist uses power tools such as chain saws and welding torches - the artist converts found materials into a new type of media that lies somewhere between painting and sculpture - recycling of found objects form: - the work is not flat, but hung as cloth - curators are often left to hanging El Anatsui's work to the best advantage -- the work appears slightly different in each setting context: - El Anatsui was born in Ghana,, spent much of his career in Nigeria - the artist produces colorful, textured wall hangings related to West African textiles - the gold color reflects traditional cloth colors of Ghana and references royalty - the gold also symbolizes Ashanti control over the gold trade in Africa - El Anatsui combines aesthetic traditions of his home country of Ghana, his adapted country of Nigeria, and the global art movement of abstract art comparisons - cloth: - All-T'oqapu tunic - Hiapo - Funeral banner of Lady Dai

Darkytown Rebellion - Kara Walker

technique: - the artist draws images with a greasy white pencil or soft pastel crayon on large pieces of black paper and then cuts the paper with a knife - images are then adhered to a gallery wall with wax - the artist uses traditional silhouette forms - overhead projectors throw colored light onto the walls, ceilings, and floor - cast shadows of the viewer's body mingle with the black paper images context: - Kara Walker is a california-born, New York based, african american artist - the work explores themes of african americans in the antebellum south -- a teenager holds a flag that resembles a colonial ship sail,, one man has his leg cut off,, a woman is caring for newborns - the work explores how stereotypes and caricatures of african-americans have been presented - inspired by an anonymous landscape called "Darkytown" -- it was the artist's invention to have the figures in rebellion - this is not a recreation of an historical event, but a commentary on history as it has been presented in the past and the present - the viewer interacts with the work, walking around it, engaging in elements of it, the viewer ks part of the history of the piece