Giambattista Tiepolo - The Banquet of Cleopatra 1743-44 - Oil on canvas
The love affair between the Roman consul Mark Antony (83-30 BC) and the Egyptian queen, Celopatra (69-30 BC) was a popular subject for artists in the eighteenth century. In his Natural History (written in AD 77), Pliny recounted the tale of a famous contest between the Egyptian and Roman rulers whereby Cleopatra wagered that she could stage a feast more lavish than the legendary excesses of Mark Antony. Tiepolo shows the dramatic moment at the end of Cleopatra's repast when, faced with a still scornful Mark Antony, she wins the wager with her trump card. Removing one of a pair of priceless pearl earring, Cleopatra dissolves it in a glass of vinegar and drinks it, thereby causing Mark Antony to lose his bet.
Assignment 2 Questions
List 8 of the NGV highlights within its collection. Title, artist and why?
Giambattista Tiepolo - The Banquet of Cleopatra This painting is beautiful with how strong Cleopatra is by showing that piece less things mean nothing to her.
Sam Shmith - Untitled (In spates 2) from the In spates series Sam shmith knows photography, the way he constructed this photo together is wonderful. It's so sharp like a humans eye.
Adam Fuss - Untitled (1991) This piece is a great eye catcher. The bright colours and strong look Adam has shown makes it mesmerizing to look at.
George Stubbs - A lion attacking a horse This art work is another strong piece. It shows great emotion from the horse as it is completely freaked where the lion shows such hunger and strength as he is chopping down. This piece is hard to look away from.
Robert Lefevre - Minister of the Treasury Robert Lefevre's work was by far my favorite in the Napoleon Exhibition. This piece did catch my eye the most, with the great paint work on the cape making it believable to touch.
Orazio Gentileschi - The Mocking of Christ This piece was so touching to me. To see such a powerful figure being downgraded to a lesser person to his bullies.
Gustave Dore - Little Red Riding Hood As soon as i saw this artwork it made me laugh because of the situation this artwork shows. I also liked how this piece showed a story with one picture.
Yayoi Kusama - Tender are the stairs to heaven
Kusama's piece was different by just it's surroundings of the dark room compared to the rest of the Gallery. The mirrors coursed a effect of the light ladder carrying on forever. This is my favorite piece of art in the Gallery. It was just so different to the rest with Kusama's simple sculpture.
Does the NGV have an 'area' for design?
I did not really see one, but i do this design was in most of the artworks. I only saw a painting exhibition, a exhibition, a furniture exhibition and the Jewellery exhibition.
Write about your response to 5 artists from the light works exhibition and what is their work about? Hiroshi Sugioto - Winnetka Drive-in, Paramount 1993
I think the blank screen shows the fact that as with science everything is unknown and their is endless boundaries with what they can make, but it all starts with a blank screen.
Adam Fuss - Untitled (1991) The strong purple colour has always been associated with science and the paths of the circles going into the distance to me shows a tunnel of the future.
Eugenia Rakopoulos - Diglossia #8 2009
This piece isn't much to look at but, it is different with the contrasts on the mirror. The reflection and the surface gives it an intreseting look with the foreground and the background is mixed from each other but so far away.
Sam Shmith - Untitled (In spates 2) from the In spates series Sam shmith piece is so spacious with the clouds showing such vast area and a small aircraft.
Mike Starn; Doug Starn - Sol Invictus (1992)
This piece is very industrial compared to the other pieces in the Light works exhibition. I don't think it fits in very well with the exhibition ether. I do like the piece though with the circle in the middle look like the moon and the other texture the sky.
'It will intrigue those who are artistically, spiritually, technologically or scientifically minded'. How do you respond to the work in context to this work?
I think the work has shown just that, with the black and white showing the artistic side, while the colours being a limited palette of purple and colours that are humorous to purple. I think I'm personally only artistically minded so not all the art pieces made much of an impression on me, but they are still interesting to look at.
Describe 4 pieces of jewellery design that confronts your understanding of jewellery. What do we mean by 'Jewellery'? Why is it significant?
Doug Bucci - Trans-Hematopoletic Neckpiece
I can see the concept behind the necklace with it showing the red to white cells and the cuts showing the blood drops. I think this piece would be better suited in costumes or someone that likes quirky jewellery.
Paul Derrez - Pleated Collar
This piece of jewellery shows a simple design, that is not quite comfortable to wear as casual wear but it is differently a catwalk look. I like the high collar look and think it well suited to theater costumes.
Nel Linssen - Bracelet and Necklace
Linssen's bracelet and necklace is a very casual look to wear. the only downfall is that the paper might get court in body hairs. I like the two tone colour.
Sigurd Bronger - Carrying device For a Goose Egg
I think this jewellery is unpractical due to how big the egg is. It's a quirky idea with how big the egg is and how it's a contraption to carry one.
How has the exhibition been curated?
I think the Unexpected Pleasures exhibition was very well organized but i think the title of the exhibition doesn't make much sense compared to the jewellery on display. The Light Works doesn't have many works inside the Gallery and they where all very plain, but the layout of the exhibition was great.
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