Lillian Schwartz and Robert Lazzarini

(Kristen and Josh)

Very informational from the get-go.

I found Schwartz to be very interesting. Mona-Leo is really interesting and kind of humorous which I enjoy. I like her thinking that the Mona Lisa was a portrait of Leonardo DaVinci. The first video they showed I found to be EXTREMELY irritating and eerie, but also fascinating, being as it was so advanced for the time period. Really trippy and hard to watch. The second pixelation animation they showed i enjoyed much more. I loved the kaleidoscope-esque nature of it. The music was still kind of scary and trippy, though.

The piece, Teacup, by Lazzarini was seriously cool. It reminds me of things, although I can't put my finger on what, however, it is unlike anything I've seen before. in fact, all of the pieces shown by Lazzarini were unlike anything I have ever seen. They're really cool, for lack of something better to say.

Overall i found this to be a very informative and interesting presentation. Which is a good thing as these can get suuuper boring.

Lucy's Presentation

I'm really not sure who she was talking about. I know she spoke of avatars from a Mattes group. The names were Eva and Franco, I believe. Other than that, I was really pretty lost as far as what she was talking about goes. I feel like she really just chose two identical artists; even though it was unclear whether she was talking about an artist or an avatar. There was no contrast between the two as far as I could tell.

After consulting with my neighbor, I determined she was speaking of two different avatar groups: the Mattes group and the Brennes. I think.

Then, if I'm not mistaken, she was speaking about a game? A computer game of some sort called Second Life that was basically like The Sims...only way less awesome.

Overall, I think the presentation was really unclear but with more time put into it, perhaps, it could be very successful. I don't see how these things could be put in to an exhibit. :(

Lynn Hershman and Marina Abramovic Presentation

This presentation addressed the likeness of these two women in that they both had similar ideas of using themselves as a medium to portray ideas of feminism.
I was a little taken aback by the information they provided about how Hershman's first exhibit was shut down and she was told she had no place in an art museum.
I was also shocked by Abramovic's self-mutilation pieces, particularly the one where she cut a five pointed star on her stomach and the details of the events leading up to and following the cuts. I think that's obviously the intent of her pieces. I was also surprised to learn that Abramovic recently did this at the Guggenheim, being as I was recently there for a visit.
Abramovic's piece that featured herself and a man (naked) standing facing each other at the entrance to an exhibit, forcing visitors to push past them to enter.
This piece seemed more focused on Abramovic than Hershman. Or, perhaps, Abramovic's pieces were more powerful than Hershman's. I think that the pairing of these two artists is at a glance appropriate but after further investigation it seems that Abramovic's performances overall trumped those of Hershman's.

Masaki Fujihata and Perry Hoberman Presentation

Group supplied good, solid information about the artists personally as well as their artwork. Both artists desire and often require viewer participation and interaction in their pieces. Unreflective Mirror was one of the most interesting pieces this group showed. I really wish I could experience it. Another piece they showed (Mersea...Cirlce? something like that) reminded me of something they have at Loews movie theater in my hometown. They have a series of projections on the floor (spiders, toys, balls) and when you step near them they moved around.
Their idea of having an exhibit that is entirely interactive is a great one. I, personally, can hardly stand walking around aimlessly in an exhibit just looking and being forbidden to touch. The concept of being able to -encouraged to- touch everything is something that would make for a great exhibit.

Illustrator Vector Exercise

Artist Comparison

Marina Abramovic is a widely known performance artist who is recognized for her common use of her own body in her work. Abramovic is also known for encouraging audience participation, often in search of their reactions which become the art. Most of Abramovic’s work embodies an underlying theme of feminism, as well as including her own female form.
Like Abramovic, Cui Xiuwen’s work also portrays a theme of femininity through female sexuality and gender. Xiuwen is also known to use a reoccurring theme of maternity in her work. Xiuwen’s art was commonly based off of her battles with vulnerability, anxiety, and concern; feelings that relate to maternity. Xiuwen’s pieces usually feature a young, pregnant, asian woman, standing/laying/etc alone in a serene setting.
Xiuwen and Frida Kahlo are similar in that both artists find inspiration in their own loneliness and struggles. Kahlo, like Abramovic, uses her own figure as the focal point of her work. Rather than performance art, however, Kahlo is known for her earthy, rustically painted self portraits, which she did so often as a tribute to her time spent alone while healing from a tragically vehicle-related accident in Mexico.
Obviously, these three remarkable female artists share a common theme of femininity in their works, whether it be sexuality, gender, or maternity, as well as the use of their own, or another’s, female figure.