Art Appreciation 1 Sirpoopsalot
Identify the four roles that artists play that have not changed over time. Cite examples for each from chapter 1.
The four main roles that artists play are that the artists help others see the world in new and different ways, they create a record of their time and place, they make functional objects and architecture more beautiful and meaningful, and give form to immaterial ideas and feelings. Each of these roles are discussed and supported in chapter one. These roles all have examples of artists that can be compared to show that the roles that artists play have not changed over time.
The first role discussed and supported is that “Artists help others see the world in new and different ways”. This is supported by the example of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Kusama’s artwork is inspired by a hallucinatory vision she experienced as a child. Through Kusama’s artwork we, as viewers, get a glimpse of how she, the artist, sees the world. By viewing Kusama’s work we see what she views which is new and different to us, this directly supports the first role of an artist.
The second role, “They create a record of their time and place”, is supported by examples of a few different artists. One example is Claude Monet. Monet’s piece “Gare Saint-Lazare” depicts the Paris train station as he saw it in his life. Monet painted this scene from what he saw at the present time and location and now the painting can be viewed for years to come.
“Artists make functional objects and architecture more beautiful and meaningful” is the third role an artist. To support this role the African artist Kane Kwei is used as an example. Kane Kwei creates decorative custom coffins for people that have a direct relationship to the person they are designed for. It is discussed that Kwei has designed coffins
