Manipulating The Image - Text On The Street/Niels Meulman (Blog 7)

Niels 'Shoe' Neulman

Born, raised and based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands an internationally well known artist for his Chinese calligraphy inspired art form fuse of traditional calligraphy and contemporary graffiti art work. A mastermind who uses text in his work such as political phrases or inspiring/wise quotes on great big brick walls or sometimes even the concrete ground using a broom to complete his piece with either water or just simply black or white paint. Also using repetition with singular words, he not only presents a beautiful piece of Calligraffiti I think he also sends out messages to those that observe his work such as 'Beauty', 'Uncomfortable and Distant', 'Worship Worthy', 'Constant Change', etc. These make his viewers think 'Wow, I wonder what he's trying to communicate towards us, what type of message is he trying to tell me', etc. From my perspective I think that even though he presents these words/phrases, they could be very distressful type of words/phrases but with his beautiful calligraphic handwriting it shows that there is still beauty, happiness, love in the world. Below I have 3 great images of Niel's work.

"UNUNCOMPROMISING"

China ink and black permanent marker ink on a brick wall.

Wudoying, Beijing.

"UNUNDERSTAND"

Broom and China ink on a brick wall, 6 x 10m.

Beijing 2011.

"SWEEPING BEAUTY"

A broom and water on a concrete ground.

Singapore 2012

Manipulating The Image - Barbara Kruger (Blog 6)

Barbara Kruger was on January the 26th 1945 in Newark , New Jersey in the United States. Known for her visual art, mostly for her amazing style of work that consists of black and white photographs overlaid with declarative captions mostly in white on red Futura Bold Oblique or Helvetica Ultra Condensed fonts. Phrases often including "you", "your", "I", "we", and "they", addressing cultural constructions of power, identity and sexuality. Barbara produces all her work in New York and Los Angeles as these are the places where she lives.

The first two images are of her original style of work using collage with texts or also known as photomontages. As for the last image, a Belief+Doubt installation shot that was later created as in a lobby that is displayed at the Hirschhorn Museum located in Washington D.C, USA.

Drawing From Nature - Mural Response (Blog 5)

For our collaborative project, firstly we all designed our pieces individually. After completing our ideas, our designs that we wanted to contribute to the mural we all headed down to the horticulture place to choose our spots and to apply the first undercoat which was a off grey color, so that the second base color coating would stick and also to cover up the rusty bits on the shipping container. It was a great team effort in the beginning of our mural process. Everyone worked well although it was hard to work with the surface of the shipping container. After that, we all applied our designs to the shipping container using either paint, spray paint, or stencils. What didn't work well was not everyone could fit on the shipping container. It was kind of a first in first serve. 

I really enjoyed the experience, not really happy with my contribution but I know if I try to fix it I am only going to make it even worse. Majority of the class done roses. In the end it all came out really well. Everyone's work well and hard towards their final result. I like it and hope that everyone does too.

I find this nature mural very appealing because it just gives you a relaxed and calming feeling. This mural is of a Chinese cherry blossom tree, presented as a art decal wall mural set in a living room. Such a beautiful place to have it, so that everyone that comes into the room can see the beauty of this painting and feel it emotionally.

Drawing From Nature - Karl Maughan (Blog 4)

Born in 1964 also raised in Wellington, NZ, Karl Maughan is a successful hyper-real painter well known for his paintings of lush native fauna - flower, vegetable gardens manicured bushes and out of control wildernesses since the mid 1980s. He gathers photographs of gardens in NZ, Britain and Europe so this is where he gets his inspiration from. From a distance, Karl's work appears as photographic realism; up close, it is abstract. I would like to explore and familiarize myself with abstract art. I find it amazing that no matter what you do with paint, especially in the abstract form, it'll still be art worth it's hard work hanging on someone's wall.

There are 3 images below showcasing 3 pieces of Karl Maughan's work. The first one completed in 2004 called 'Cross Hills.' 'Mount Mera' completed in 2013 and 'A clear day.'

Drawing From Nature - Fiona Hall (Blog 3)

Born in 1953 Fiona Hall grew up in Oatley, Sydney. Taken to an exhibition called 'Two Decades of American Painting' at the art gallery of New South Wales at age 14, this is where Fiona developed her interest in art. Starting from wanting to be an architect during high school she soon studying photography after she graduated from school, then later on became an artist, a sculptor. Fiona's work appears to be about reality. Her amazing sculptures are made out of sardine cans moulded into plants, leaves, trees, insects or birds mostly. Also well known for drawing native plants or leaves onto one dollar bills from the country of it's origin.

After graduating from the East Sydney Technical School in 1975, Fiona made her way over to Europe living in England for two years working as an assistant for Fay Godwin. Soon hosting her first solo exhibition 1977 at London's Creative Camera Gallery. Flying back to Australia for a brief visit to her ill mother, Fiona displayed her first Australian solo exhibition at the Church Street Photography Centre in Melbourne then decided to move to the United States. Applying for a post-graduate photography training course, hence the reason why she chose to live in the US.

3 works completed by Fiona Hall below are 'Give A Dog A Bone' created in 1996 presented in the Museum of Contemporary Art. The 'Leaf Litter' created in 2001 and her sardine tin sculptures called 'Paradius Terrotis' created in 1989 to 1990.