Post-Colonialism & Globalism Flashcards
Frank O. Gehry, Guggenheim Museum, 1993-1997
Deconstructivist architecture- theory-based, deliberately disturbs architectural assumptions, buildings should be stable, rational, tell us what they do based on form- instead de-centering structure
organic, sculptural, uses Computer Aided Design (CAD), steel skeleton covered by skin of silvery titanium, shimmers silver or gold
asymmetrical- looks different from different angles- from North- organism, from South- giant ship- references shipping industry of Bilbao
Derridian Deconstruction- meaning “intertextual”- always “de-centered” and seemingly unstable
Shirin Neshat, Rebellious Silence, 1994
Iranian photographer- critiques Westernization- Post-Colonialist miscommunication b/w colonizer and colonized- how Iranians are stereotyped by West; we misunderstand intentions & values of other cultures- see them as opposite- e.g. Muslims as terrorists
photographs of Muslim women in “Women of Allah” series- parts of body overwritten with Farsi and weapon- juxtaposition of violence & Iranian language
context= Persian Gulf War- 1990-91- Iraq invades Kuwait- 1st time live news coverage of war front in Middle East
Nam June Paik, Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., 1995
Korean-born video art pioneer
modified T.V. sets to display recordings in collage effect
made “site-specific” works
computer-controlled monitors rapidly changing images of each state’s culture/history
power of mixed messages transmitted relates to how identity is constructed by media based on where you are from
e.g. New York- closed-circuit feed of viewer
Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001
from book of artwork by unschooled artists (American Primitive Painting), anonymous landscape- Walker took African-American figures and placed with others in rebellion scene; installation piece- drew and cut out sillhouettes onto black paper, adhering sillhouettes to wax, projecting colored light onto walls, heightens surreality of scene, shadows interact w/ black figures
explore AA in antebellum South- flag=colonial ship sail, silhouette w/ one leg, woman aborting child, caring for newborns
narrative & interactive piece; historical representation of AA in visual culture; emphasizes concealment, anonymity, ambiguity
Matthew Barney, Cremaster 3: Mahabyn, 2002
installation artist- illustrates how can shoot film and release directly to DVD without need of art gallery show
arcane sexual mythology r/o concept of gender mutability and questioning gender roles & stereotypes
cremaster muscle controls descent of testes- determine sexual differences in human embryos- gender identity
takes place in Chrysler Building- artist Richard Serra as the Architect- symbolic content of apprentice moving through ordeals to gain right to kill Architect- Apprentice in kilt & gagged, perform tasks like levels in video game
Barney and leopard woman transform into Masons (modified Masonic costumes)
Nadin Ospina, Colombia Land, 2004
Post-colonial parody= uses Lego figures, blown up in photos and sculptures to caricature stereotypes of Colombia
Colombia portrayed in American media as nation of drug lords & violence, stereotype overlooking rich cultural heritage
bandit with weapons in crop of drugs, posed in form of National Geographic ethnographic presentation- Colombian in “native habitat”
cultural colonization of Colombia by Western powers and American pop culture; “Colombia Land”= “Legoland”
Yinka Shonibare, MBE, How to Blow Up Two Heads at Once (Ladies), 2006
British Nigerian artist based in London- interest in how identity constructed throughout colonial history
Dutch Wax fabric figures w/ headless mannequins
Two headless mannequins pointing standard dueling 19th century flintlock pistols at each other; indeterminate skin color= European? African?
dress is 19th c. Victorian- European, but made of Dutch Wax fabric assoc w/ West Africa; ironically from Indonesia, imported by Dutch colonists in Africa, manufactured in England, exported to West Africa
colonial history is complicated
