Top Pieces of Art

Ironwork designed by Gaudi

Gaudi is a major inspiration of mine and this is why he features in my top pieces of art. I love Gaudi’s metalwork. I looked at it when I was completing a previous assignment. I got the privilege of going to Barcelona and experiencing his work first hand- photos just don’t do it justice!

Gaudi managed to make a cold heartless material such as metal and make it into organic shapes with sinuous lines. I really like the curves he creates in the metal as they create interesting shadows. I like how he just used one metal and was true to form, as he didn’t cover it in enamels or decorations. His work was so elaborate it didn’t need decorations.

The photo on the right is of an ironworking on Palau Guell and was created by Joan Oñós in 1889. Gaudi designed the metal work but worked closely with other artists to create the masterpieces. Some pieces, such as the photo on the left, he created himself after learning the various techniques. 

Top Pieces of Art

Joan Miro- Daybreak Tagesanbruch (1968)

I remember looking at Miro’s work while I was in year eight and making a presentation about him and his work. Part of this project was to draw some of his work. I had loads of fun drawing the different shapes and using bright primary colours. I like how he used bright colours, which contrasted with the dark black lines. This piece was the first piece I drew as part of that project.

We visited the Joan Miro Foundation on a trip to Barcelona where I got to see a whole collection on his work from paintings to scultpures outside on the roof terrace. It was a really interesting place to visit. I could have spent hours drawing my favourite pieces.

Top Pieces of Art

The Blues Brothers (1980) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Both films directed by John Landis and written by John Landis and Dan Aykroyd

These are two of my favourite films. I can remember watching The Blues Brothers at an early age with my dad and singing along to the songs (which I still do when I watch it!)

I really like how the film is not the best-made film but focuses on the music and the musicians. How they managed to get so many famous musicians to play and/or sing in it I don’t know.  

As a sequel goes, Blues Brothers 2000 isn’t the best but I think it is successful as a sequel as it carries the musicians through from the first film and places them in context of when the sequel is set. 

Top Pieces of Art

The Lion King- Walt Disney (1994)

 I can remember this being my favourite film growing up. I felt that I could relate to it as I was growing up in Africa and a small part of me thought it was real and that the characters were alive and that I would see them one day.

I think that it is incredible that is a hand drawn animation with the occasional piece of computer animation- mostly in the wildebeest stampede.

Everyone knows the songs in Lion King, as they are timeless pieces of music written by Tim Rice with the music composed by Elton John. I think that out of all the songs my favourite is ‘Hakuna Matata’ as the song is catchy. 

Top Pieces of Art

Arline Fisch- English Garden (1993)

This piece is placed in my top pieces of art because it has been the one piece to completely change my way of thinking and what kind of artist I would end up being. It inspired me to change my plan of becoming a photographer to becoming a 3D artist. This change happened, thankfully, right at the beginning of my college course. It was the main inspiration me to make my first piece of metal body adornment, for which I received my first distinction!

I still look at Arline’s work for inspiration regardless of the project or assignment as she is a major influence on me. Her work is sculptural in both a metalwork and textiles.

Top Pieces of Art

Alexander Calder- Mercury Fountain

I saw this on a recent trip to Barcelona where we visited The Joan Miro Foundation. At first I thought that it was a sculpture by Miro but after doing more research into Miro I found out it was by Alexander Calder.

It looked like water at first glance but looking closely at the ‘water’ you could see it was acting differently to water would act. It behaves like oil on water creating little droplets on the surface of the sculpture. I found out it was actually liquid mercury. The sculpture is now behind a glass wall because of the dangerous vapours from the mercury. I like how the liquid Mercury adds reflection to the sculpture.

I really like how the sculpture has a cycle where the mercury travels down the sculpture into the pool and is sucked back up to the top to start again. This motion also adds movement to the sculpture.

Top Ten Pieces of Art

We were asked to come up with our top ten pieces of Art. At first glance this would seem like an easy task to come up with ten pieces of Art and write a little about each one seeing as we experience thousands of examples of 'Art' everyday.
However, coming up with just ten is a lot harder than it looks, because first you have to decide what your definition of Art is. Is it Paintings? Sculpture? Music? Abstract? Something you wear? Something that triggers an emotional response? Or all the above?

You see my problem?! I have decided that I can't put them in Top ten order as first I would have to decide on what Art is, if it is actually be defined...