Art History

Introduction

Making Sense of our past helps us identify were we came from our customs, religious beliefs, developing technologies, inner passions, pain, superstitions and emotions. By studying those individuals or groups who practised, produced and developed our art. We gain insight into a multiplicity of perspectives on what our being is : "The self" how we see our selves either internally or external. The way we interact with our environment and each other. Anti social or acceptable behaviour the societies expectations.. "Our Identity" and who shapes us?"

Instead of chronological order, I've decided to select the artist and movements which have been influential to our popular culture, as it seems history and thus culture is repeating , itself going round in circular patterns, technology being the main difference and the interpretation of the socio. The new and exciting is the reaction and response to the ever changing environment. Maybe be revolution, rebellion dissatisfaction or subservience, acceptance and ignorance.

Reinvention is possible and going to the past is your first step. People and places of historical significance those before with all the technology and tradition ready to be rediscovered or adapted.   Decoding art philosophy into plain English so you and I may refer to these notes  for interest  and enjoyment. Nevertheless these words I've written are to be taken for what they are as each persons interpretation maybe slightly different so if in doubt read for thy self and see if we arrive with the same theory.  The past will always be new and the beginning.

 

In The Beginning there was Frida Kahlo

Why not start with Frida?  She was one artist who successfully liberated and revolutionized the way women perceived themselves the focus of her paintings were mainly on her for us to mirror.  Her self portraits were a visual description of many emotions and physical attributes most people especially women would be embarrassed or afraid to display. (early  shocking and confronting techniques to desensitize) Emotions such as pain, anger, dissatisfaction and so on.  Any of these would have to be suppressed as it was unladylike and improper to show such emotions in public and society.

Its difficult to work out whether Frida was riding the Dadda train or following any specific art movements, maybe it was just  exposure  via her marriage to Diego Rivera, who at the time was a mainstream Artist heavily into  politics, especially communism he created murals  that  illustrated  industry revolution, dehumanization, the transition from the old to the new and changing world    Riveras inspirations and techniques filtered through with the effect of increased support to continue her art  and  further her self expression and ideas.   In Riveras earlier years a new Mexican constitution had been established and the constitution provided for a new industrial relations code, programs to help the poor, restoration of communal land, restrictions to the sale of natural resources such as mexican oil .

Frida's style was a combination of rich vibrant colour and detail  such as the  native folk art of Mexico which depicts the  local fauna and flora .  Iconography  symbolizing ancient Aztec social and religious beliefs about their Gods and social life.   Aztec civilization supposedly 3000 years old, had a  unique culture not so different from Ancient Egypt and Greece.   Ancient customs and procedures on so many aspects of human life developing.  The Aztecs had their very own arts,dance, music, crafts, farming, and hunting techniques, customs, traditions and religious beliefs to manage the land and its people.  They had architectural superiority building monuments and temples for religious  ceremony and worship.  Many ceremonies would take place human sacrifice for the gods, the burning of tree resin, prayer and music worship.(Aztec hymns).  Food of the gods " Chocolate" was a major food source and export.

A religion with many Gods.  For example: the Humming Bird of the south who led the people to Mexico city, one of  their warrier sun gods .  All elements  and  powers of nature were represented by different Gods having super human  strength and the powerful attributes of all living creatures and earthly atmospheres   Most people share this fascination for spirituality, the creation of life  death and natures wonders.   The Mexicans have special festivals commemorating spirituality and the  after life such as The day of the dead which before the Spanish takeover went on for a month.  The community performed many theatrical displays with dances, drama, singing and  ceremonial procedures.  The  temples and streets colourfully decorated with flowers and offerings as shrines to the gods and the deceased.  The people and priests were dressed  with  symbolic colourful head pieces hand woven with exotic bird feathers.  Masks were also worn and  hand crafted or carved, made  with natural materials  and precisous stones all this in the image of their gods.  Death they believed to be the beginning of a celestial journey,"ones true reality"  Worshipping, paying homage to their gods to guarantee their survival in the material world.

Interesting, mysterious exciting and exotic in a way free from the constraints of a sophisticated modern society.   The Modern society with its Mechanical characteristics main concerns are a well established international industry, the mechanization of process and production, money making and marketeering.  Science and technology having dominance over the arts and social welfare.

Fridas love for her country was continuously expressed in her work such as:  two Fridas and  these paintings  symbolized the strong connections between her childhood  memories to her current life consciousness and perceptions.  All emotions on a personal or social level, visible and relayed for self experience.  Deeply seeded notions of fear  fragility and anxiety.  Accomplished by the use of symbols or references to popularized art, and customs  of the older  traditions of her mother country as an underlying narrative to her work. 

Beautiful compositions  which express physical or emotional feelings, decorated with a National pride, rich  in complexity  with Spanish, Indian and  other popular  European cultures sometimes opposing, contradictory and  controversial to the other. ( Mexicana  versus western  clothing , head wear, jewerly, poetry and songs) Her representations having reference to the ancient and the modern  war torn Mexico with its changing modern governments, industries and political attitudes with  reform to social welfare and the rights  of  the  indigenous Indians (such as having access to the land)  Her  art work  having enough scope depth and diversity to keep  Frida's home a part of mainstream  international art  & politics.   Sentimentality and respect beaming into the indigenous Indians and people of the country.

all these words have been  adapted and  put together by me from various sources as follows:

Bibliography: 1.ehow blogg by Bobby Gee on History of  The Mexican Government.

                       2. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Book and pictures by Isabel Alcantara and Sandra Egnoff

                      3. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Jansen Maarten and Gabina Aurora Perez Jimenez

                       4. Aztec history.com

                       5. The diary of Frida Kahlo and intimate self-portrait.  Introduction by Carlos Fuentes