Emphasis by Isolation

Many artists attempt to portray anomalies in their artwork in order to create a unique, captivating image. Oftentimes, however, it is only a single anomaly that makes the biggest statement. In the image below, by simply adding a single girl in the midst of a line of mannequins, the art piece conveys the idea/concept of conformity. The blank look on her face seems to connotate conformity with robotic, mechanical thinking; perhaps a form of brainwashing. Stewart (2012) describes why anomalies are so appealing to an audience, "Because we seek to connect the verbal and visual information we are given, a mismatched word or an isolated object immediately attracts attention".

Balance

Balance is an integral component of healthy functioning in life. The whole biological mechanism of homeostasis is concerned with maintaining balance within our bodies. The concept of Yin and Yang is concerned with maintaining not only psychological balance but societal balance. The artist of the picture below used the same bird, but through the use of balance, created a captivating contrast between the simple colors of white and black. The bird is both the same, and opposite, simultaneously. Stewart (2012) would describe the below image as a perfectly symmetrical balance. "The resulting form generally is physically and visually stable".  Perhaps the artist did this on purpose, but the resulting image looks strikingly similar to the Yin and Yang symbol.

The Passage of Time

One thing we never get back is time, we can't hold on to it, we can't make more of it, and yet it still dictates almost all of our activities while we're alive. Art is something that captures the essence of time and how time relates to the manner in which we live our life. With the increased availability of  cameras on our phone we have become a generation starkly aware that life is only a future memory and to relive the precious moments in our life, we need to find a way to capture them, through photographs, paintings, etc. Stewart (2012) describes art as a component in artwork, "while it is easy to overlook a force that we cannot see, the effects of time are critically important in all areas of art and design".

Art as Thought

What intrigues me most about being human is our ability to transform our thoughts into tangible reality. Computers, architecture, furniture, etc., are all testament to this unique human ability. However, in most forms of design the idea has been formulated, discussed with others, redesigned and finally implemented in order to create a functional object. Art, however, embodies the tangible form of our abstract thoughts, the creative aspect of our psyche. Stewart (2012) says, "the combination of tangible material and aesthetic complexity gives sculpture a unique power. (. . .) Through a miracle of invention, the best sculptures simultaneously embrace and transcend their physical nature". While functional objects may be helpful in a physical sense, art is beneficial to the mind and spirit by tapping into the abstract part of our mental nature.

Art as Storytelling

The one creative talent I've always possessed is storytelling. I never considered myself an artist though, because this was the extent of both my creative passion and talent. I can't draw, design, sculpt, or really apply creativity in a meaningful way using any other medium. However, throughout this semester I've discovered a pivotal component of art. Art is storytelling. It may not necessarily use words, but it perpetuates the aspect of humanity that not only craves, but requires, storytelling. Through visual aesthetics it allows the viewer to create a story of their own, a mythology that falls somewhere between the two contrasting dimensions of truth and lie, that conveys the essence of what it means to be human. And to me, as a writer, that is what is so beautiful. I am an artist. And really, every person is because we all have a story to tell that connects to the meaning of life, and an ultimate purpose underlying the triviality of everyday life. We are all connected at some fundamental level and storytelling, through any medium, assists us in reaching this realization.

Expanding Perspective: The Use of Expansion in Artwork

Expansion as it applies to art is intended to exaggerate the meaning the artist wants to convey to the viewers. When expanding upon a component of art, it is trying to draw in the audience to suggest a concept that is, no pun intended, expansive in our world/society/mind/etc. Stewart (2012) explains this concept: "the contradiction between the materials and the meaning suggests a new definition of nature". Consider the below piece. A child is pointing towards a mass of technology as if exemplifying his desire to have one of the pieces of technology that is essentially part of a pile of what appears to be discarded, useless junk. This is intended to illustrate the relationship between society (particularly younger generations) and technology. We are constantly lusting after gadgets, devices, and the newest and best form of technology, but in the end it only contributes to our excessive waste that has become the prevalent norm in the 21st century.

Defying Gravity

A powerful element in art is the act of defying what we consider normal, natural laws of nature. One of the most obvious laws of nature that we use to construct our perception of reality is gravity. Stewart (2012) describes gravity as "the most immediately noticeable when we begin to construct a three-dimensional structure. Lines, spaces, and volumes must be organized according to the laws of physics while simultaneously meeting our aesthetic objectives". However, when artists realize that gravity can be used as more of a malleable tool than a concrete rule, their artwork becomes liberated on a fundamental level. Stewart (2012) recognizes this by stating, "when we begin to analyze the uses of gravity in sculpture, we soon find that it is an asset rather than a liability". The below artwork illustrates this realization perfectly. After all, gravity is simply an elemental aspect of our Earth. In space, and ultimately in the Universe, gravity is no more than an elemental component, rather than an absolute constant. The image below makes the audience question what our world might look like if gravity simply ceased to exist.