'Untitled' (2002) Richard Misrach
1. What and when was the Enlightenment?
A good definition of the enlightenment is “ 'The Enlightenment' has been given many differing definitions but it was, at its broadest, a philosophical movement of the eighteenth century which stressed human reasoning over blind faith or obedience and was thus in contrast with much of the religious and political order of the day, while also encouraging 'scientific' thinking.”(http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/referenceencyclopedia/g/glenlightenment.htm). The enlightenment was centered around the 18th century.
2. Define the concept of the Sublime.
The theory of the “sublime” was defined in 1756 by the British statesman and political theorist Edmund Burke. Burkes belief was that “the life of feeling and spirit depended on a harmony within the larger order of the universe. The sublime therefore, was the ultimate experience of divinity, a mixture of awe, fear and enlightenment produced by the contemplation of a powerful terrifying nature.”
3. How did the concept of the Sublime come out of the Enlightenment thought?
Before the enlightenment, landscape paintings were not considered ‘true’ art, merely something to put in the background behind ‘real’ art. As mankinds knowledge expanded and the vastness of the world shrunk, the sheer size and formidability of nature became more apparent.
4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Add some more images.
Misrach’s work often has a political edge to it, showing pollution and other such scars mankind has inflicted on nature. One could also say it deals with technology in a similar light to how nature was once regarded; that the sheer vastness and potential is both awe and fear inspiring.
5. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.
Zaha Hadid deals with the ideas around the Sublime in her work, in that she creates big awe inspiring buildings made to look natural and lifelike, but at the sametime static. These giant structures are almost like a venture into the unknown in themselves, attracting people to visit simply to find out whats inside.
6. How does Misrach's photography make you feel? Does it appeal to your imagination?
Misrach’s work is both beautiful yet sometimes sad. The serene colours appeal very much to my imagination, almost like there is a story behind each image. Truly the work of a master photographer, Misrach's photos are almost unreal, showing the beauty of this world that's often overlooked.
7. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.
I added “Wanderer in the Mists” (1818 – oil on canvas) by Caspar David Friedrich. Although it is in our handout, I do really love this image. The strong figure standing peering out over a serene landscape just waiting to be explored or conquered, the wonder of exploring the unknown which is somewhat lost in today's world with things like satellite imagery and GPS.
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ReplyDeleteHey Matt
ReplyDeleteHere is quite a good definition of the sublime:
"What we can conceive of - the infinitely great, for instance - but is not in our power to represent, exactly defines the Sublime."
- R. Appignanesi and C. Garratt, Introducing Postmodernism
I quite like this quote, it defines the sublime well and makes you think about what it is all really about. How the sublime is something we cannot own or represent. It is a power of nature and tranquility, something that we can appreciate without having to possess.
Some really nice photographs of the sublime landscape by Richard Misrach are at: http://www.edelmangallery.com/misrach.htm
Another amazing photographer of the sublime landscape is Michael Kenna if you would like to look at his works also: http://www.edelmangallery.com/currentshow.htm
Kennas works are so beautiful and are set at night, they may even be nicer than Misrachs. My favourite ones are: Four Birds Flying, Tbilist, Georgia (2008), Eiffel Tower, Study 6, Paris, France (2007), Night Docking Poles, Venice, Italy.
Hey Matt!
ReplyDeleteMy opinion of Richard Misrach's work can be summarized in one word; Majestic! This guy has a splendid eye for landscape and all his works are just simply beautiful. The "Wanderer in the Mists” (1818 – oil on canvas) by Caspar David Friedrich, is a very interesting painting; if I were doing this blog, I would have chosen this painting as well. It is one of the easiest paintings to decipher in relation to the Sublime. It isn’t just a man standing on some rock, the painting tells a story about an explorer and his adventure into the wilderness. Each component in the painting has role to play in telling its story, which makes the painting more intellectual in a way.
:)
Richard Misrach’s dedication to the Southwest’s desert at first seems to echo a landscape documentary tradition more than the social-documentary work. the Desert Cantos series was Misrach’s lifetime project, and it's kinda divvied up into segments such as the terrain, events like.. the landing of a space shuttle, military testing, floods, and fires, has as much to do with social issues as with man’s presence within nature. His photographs are so dreamy and sort of un realistic in a way, as he captures settings, events and scenes that majority of us would never see in our life time..and only picture it in our minds.
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