TITLE – POST #14 – LECTURE – FUTURISM - FLUXUS

The movements lecture began with Dadaism and Fluxus, which expressed how movements in art began to become non-traditional and focus more on aspects such as motion, ideas, and daily life. With Futurism, began the inspiration to move, create energy, and focus on things such as machine-like aspects. Artists such as Marinetti/Mussolini wanted to show speed, power, and technology. Characteristics of Futurism included emphasis on motion. Artists such as Boccioni used aspects of motion in his paintings. In Continuity in Space you can see how Boccioni uses repetition to create a movement like quality. Giacomo Balla portrayed similar ideas through his painting Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash by using repeated forms of things. Russolo used his understanding of Futurism to use instruments called Intonarumori/ noise-intoners. Next came Rayonnism, which expressed light and movement through art. The characteristics of Rayonnism included rays of light and abstract areas of color. Suprematism continued the movement into more abstract pieces of art. The Characteristics of Suprematism contained a focus on basic shapes and emotion rather than real-life objects. Black Square by Maleviche is a prime example of this movement. The painting relates to Non-Objective Artbecause it has no subject that is related to reality. Constructivism was coming about during this time as well. Artists such as Vladimir Tatlin created pieces with a purpose. The designed Tatlin Tower shows the characteristics of Constructivism which include real purpose, design, and connection to society. Artists such as Naum Gabo took this a step further and began using kinetic Sculpture, which puts actual movement into their pieces. The school Bauhaus was created by Walter Gropius and focused on design and transitioning art elements into real life objects. The characteristics of Bauhaus ada included simple use of color, real function, and usefulness in everyone’s lives. During this time Dadaism was being established. Dadaism went against all prior notions of art. The characteristics of Dadaconsisted of randomness, humor, and chaos. Hugo Ball would perform at a place called Cabare Voltaire. Here, art was brought into the form of words and expression. Performing Art had emerged. Tristan Tzara was another artist who put his thoughts together to help shape Dadaism. Hans Arp – Chance would use scissors and cut pieces of paper into different shapes to create chance collage. Raoul Hausmann – Collage would cut up images to create new pictures and meanings. Marcel Duchamp was one of the most important artists of the time. He created what he called Readymades, such as Fountain. He believed in Retinal Art vs Art for the Mind. Art should make you think, not just look at how pretty it is. His pieces would later inspire Conceptual Art and how we interpret art. Kurt Schwitters – Merz would use found paper and create Bricolage which is a compilation of found objects and parts of everyday life. Surrealism was another movement that would help shape modern art. Postmodernism Art took things such as appropriation, which is taking other images and incorporating them into your own. This happened frequently during Pop Art. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg used images to make pieces such as Rauschenberg’s Combine. Fluxus artists focused on experiencing art, rather than looking at a piece of art. The Characteristics of Fluxus include simplicity of elements, focus on process, and using everyday actions. Fluxus can tie into Process Art, Performance Art, and the Characteristics of Performance Art which included audience participation. Pieces like Piano Activities dada Allan Kaprow, Happenings, and ephemeral art helped shape art into something that doesn't always have to last. Fluids, installations, and Bed Peace are pieces that started to interact with real life.

DISCUSSION QUESTION

What do you think about the two categories of art that Marcel Duchamp created

– retinal art and art for the mind? 

I think Duchamp’s idea of retinal art and art for the mind is pretty interesting. Retinal art is more about how something looks, while art for the mind is about the idea behind it.

I like art for the mind more because it makes you think and not just look at it for a second. But at the same time, retinal art is still important because it can look really good and show skill. Overall, I think he was just showing that art doesn’t always have to be about looks, it can be about meaning too.