Wallace Collection

1)      Labels

I really enjoyed the way in which the paintings were identified in the Wallace Collection. I agree that with the titles and artists names painted on frames that they feel more integrated with art. I also feel that the integration of the label allows for this gallery to feel personal; for instance as if your viewing someone’s personal collection. Personally, I prefer the labels like these because of that private gallery viewing aspect. Although, on the other hand I enjoy object labels because I like to know additional information about either the painting or the artist.

Throughout this collection I was a partial to integrated labels but when I got the European armor and weapons gallery I disliked this form of labeling. I found myself staring at the ornate suits of armor and intricate detail on the weapons and wanting to know more about them. For this gallery I would have chosen to use object labels outside the glass case describing the origin and composition of the pieces.  For example, there was one particular rifle that seemed to be made out of wood with detailed images of dogs in white. I would have like to have known what the white was made out of and which century this would have been used in.

2)      Object of Appreciation

There were many paintings I enjoyed in this collection but one that stood out to me the most was Govaert Flinck’s “A Young Archer”. I noticed it was the darkest painting on the wall in an already dark room. The painting is of a young African boy on a plain and dull background, richly attired in hunting garb, with a bow clenched in his right hand, a bag of arrows slung over his left shoulder. Only the intricate metal fastenings of the bag strap are highlighted, in contrast to the dullness of the boy's jacket. I sat and contemplated the artist choice of dull colors, particularly the background because this was a depiction of a dark African boy whom which did not stand out in any way. Questions of racism, class, and sensitivity to the subject came to mind. I have no answer to these questions but only appreciation for what this piece is: a work of art.          

          

3)      Object of excessiveness/ ornamentation

While there were many paintings I could have to chosen because of their intricate detailing, I decided to choose a piece of furniture, a “Coffer on Stand” manner of Andre-Charles Boulle. It is made of oak, pine wood, brass, turtleshell, gilt bronze, and ebony and black leather tolled with gold. Now these materials used to construct, what appears to be a chest, seems a bit outrageous. I don’t disagree that this piece is beautiful; the ornate detailing of the flowers, vines, and faces are fantastic and must have taken a long time to create. However, this piece of furniture is a wee bit excessive in terms of appeal even for royal standards.

4)      Favorite Museum

My first instinct would be to say The Science Museum was my favorite because of my science background. Upon further reflection of the semester I found myself realizing I liked many of the art galleries also. In fact I could not choose just one museum, my favorites were the British Museum and the Saatchi Gallery. I enjoyed the British Museum because of all the historical artifacts. I was amazed in every gallery I went into and also learned a wealth of knowledge. I could possibly spend days there and never get bored. There were just so many pieces of historical importance that I could not help myself and read each object label. I also enjoyed the Saatchi Gallery because the art within the collection was unlike that I have even seen before, but in a good way. I really liked that we had a guide to tell us about certain pieces. This allowed me to understand and appreciate the artist even more for their work and creativity.

5)      Museum Interest

Thanks to Steven Driscoll Hixson I absolutely have a greater interest in visiting museums.  Before taking this class I never would have gone into any museum, let alone an art gallery. I was completely intimidated and quite honestly didn’t care about art. Now, I don’t feel intimidated by museums or art and I’m planning on going to the Chazen Museum when I get back to Madison. I’ve been at Madison for three years and will finally visit the Chazen. I think that being in London and Europe in general has given me a greater appreciation for art; especially since I’ve been so fortunate to see pieces by such famous artists at the National Gallery and up and coming artist like at the Saatchi. I’m not sure if I have a greater interest in branding and graphic design since taking this class I know I have a greater appreciation for those who work hard to create logos and graphics. I am also more aware of the brand, its significance, and how unique it is. For example, I was walking in Soho near Covent Garden a few weeks ago and I saw a unique typeface and color palate for the restaurant Byron and I thought to myself “Wow, that’s really unique for a chain restaurant. I wonder what Steven would think.”

6)      Additional Comments

Thank you Steven Driscoll Hixson for a great semester! You have opened my eyes to a new world of art that I (a nerdy science geek) previously ignored. I will take your lessons of Helvetica, color palates, branding, and logos with me where I eat, shop, and live and think to myself “I wonder what Steven would think of this hideous (or awesome) typeface”.                       

Design Museum

1)      Brit Insurance Design Awards

Architecture: Open Air Library, KARO Architekten and Architektur+Netzwerk, Germany. I thought this design was very innovative because the open air concept is unlike that ever seen before. I found it interesting because it’s if weather was not taken into consideration. I also thought it was remarkable that this library was based on a trust system. In addition, I liked that the book selves were made out of old beer crates (nothing like showing some German heritage).

Furniture: Thomas Heatherwick’s Spun. This innovative chair was not only interesting visually but entertaining to sit in. Personally, from a science background I found this innovative when considering physics because any person (not matter what size) can sit in this chair, spin all the way around, and not fall out. Aesthetically, it’s modern looking and provides a great conversation piece.

Transport: Yikebike by Grant Ryan, New Zealand. This mode of transportation is very interesting because it’s a folding electric bike. I have never seen an electric bike quite like this; it sort of reminded me of a segway that you sit on. I think this is innovative because it provides city dwellers with safe and fast transport because unlike a moped/motorcycle you aren’t competing with traffic. Also, unlike regular bicycles you wouldn’t get sweaty getting from one place to another.

Graphics: London College of Communication “Power of Ten” Summer Show 2010. I would give this design the Brit award because I think its innovation is in the form of its message: “promoting a sense of pride in a community as the local area around the college regenerates.” I also thought the display model was unique and their use of “Power of Ten” and the choice type face was impressive.

2)      Wim Crouwel:

The Wim Crouwel, A Graphic Odyssey exhibition was fascinating because it celebrates the prolific career of an influential graphic designer. At first I was overwhelmed by the amount of work that was on display. I felt that many of his works were very similar and that he doesn’t deviate much from the 1960s computer and space age style. Therefore I became indifferent to many of the posters. Personally, I think that Wim Crouwel’s work is too minimal and for a poster I would like to see more visual elements rather than simply text with colors. Although, I did like the Stedelijk Museum posters, they seemed to be the most fitting for the subject matter. Overall I would describe the exhibition as timeless, astonishing (career), colorful, legacy, and overwhelming.

When looking at Wim Crouwel’s posters I don’t think any of the shapes resembled Jackson Pollock. In my opinion Jackson Pollock’s work is much more abstract and I don’t see that in Crouwel’s work. Although I do agree that Math Rothko’s colors, especially contrasting colors, emerge in Crouwel’s posters. Although unlike Rothko, Crouwel has distinct transition between colors whereas Rothko’s work seems to be more of a blending transition.  I also recognized the Donald Judd inspiration of repeating shapes in Crouwel’s work especially in his use of squares and rectangles. I even noticed those repeating rectangular shapes used in the creation of his 1964 calendar which was my favorite piece.

After some research I came across an artist very similar to Wim Crouwel also working in the 1960s, Mr. John McLaughlin. John McLaughlin was an abstract artist that also focused on modernity. I feel that Crouwel’s work resembles McLaughlin’s much more than any other artist because both focus of simplicity, modernity, minimalism, and color.                         

Saatchi Gallery

Sightlines

Does this gallery enable various sightlines (lack of interruption or multiple vantage points) to engage new methods for viewing objects? Does this depart from other museum visits?

The Saatchi Gallery absolutely allows for multiple sightlines. Most of the pieces were not ordinary paintings hanging on a wall; many were free standing three dimensional objects that one could walk all the way around, there was even a piece that I could walk under. I enjoyed this way of viewing objects because I didn’t feel as if I was getting one person’s view point. I feel the use of sightlines at the Saatchi Gallery greatly departed from other museum visits because of the three dimensional aspect and that there was no barrier between the art and the viewer whereas in many other museums the art was highly protected by ropes.   

Didactics

The galleries present minimal text in relation to the art. Is the text adequate? Do you desire more information –and if so –what information would you appreciate?

The galleries didactics was inadequate in relation to the art it presented. Most, if not all, pieces had only a small card with the name of the piece and artist. Personally, I like to know more behind the art work whether it is a historical painting, by a famous artist, or a modern/contemporary piece. I would like to know additional information about the artist background, inspiration, and method of the creating the art work. For example, the tour of the gallery was great because our guide explained how the artist created their works and what their inspiration was. Personally, this puts meaning to art and I understand it more; whereas, many of the pieces I would have just walked by and not have thought anything of them.    

Collection

Do you find the works on view more adventurous than museums? Or is some of the work questionable in craft, subject matter, and composition?

I feel the Saatchi Gallery’s works were not any more adventurous than say the Tate Modern but they were certainly progressive. For instance my favorites were the one in which the artist dug a hole in clay or the piece where dead bugs were held from horse hair. Then again, I think pieces like this would not be found in the National Gallery therefore very adventurous indeed. Some of the work, particularly the internet spam posters were not very tasteful but overall the craft and composition of art was imaginative and revolutionary.