Visual Arts in Context - 4.8.2.3.1 | Unit 4: Beyond the Obvious – Abstraction, Pattern, and Visual Systems | IB MYP Grade 9 Visual Arts
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4.8.2.3.1 - Visual Arts in Context

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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Understanding Non-Objective Art

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, we are diving into the world of non-objective art. Can anyone tell me what that term means?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it art that doesn’t represent anything real or concrete?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Non-objective art focuses on visual elements rather than depicting real-world subjects. Now, why do you think this kind of art can be powerful?

Student 2
Student 2

Because it can express deep emotions without showing something specific?

Teacher
Teacher

Right! This abstraction allows for personal interpretation. Let's remember it as 'POWER'—Positive emotions, Originality, Without recognizable subjects, Evocative of feelings, and Resilience of personal interpretation. Can you think of an example?

Student 3
Student 3

I think of Jackson Pollock's drip paintings! They're very emotional.

Teacher
Teacher

Great example! Pollock’s work challenges traditional forms and encourages a unique viewer experience.

Student 4
Student 4

So, are we going to create something like that?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! You'll get to create your own abstract art based on your emotions later on. To summarize, non-objective art frees artists and viewers alike to engage deeply with feelings and interpretations.

Historical Context of Abstract Art

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s look at some important movements like Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. What do these movements signify?

Student 1
Student 1

Cubism breaks objects into geometric shapes, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Cubism, developed by Picasso and Braque, deconstructs objects into geometric forms. How about Abstract Expressionism?

Student 2
Student 2

It's about expressing emotion through color and movement without form.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Abstract Expressionism emphasizes the emotional impact over realistic representation. Let's use 'C.E.E.'—Cubism, Emotion, Experimentation—as a mnemonic to remember these movements. Why do you think these movements were significant?

Student 3
Student 3

They changed how we see art, showing our feelings and ideas can be depicted without clear images.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! They revolutionized how art interacts with emotion and thought. Summarizing today's lesson: Cubism and Abstract Expressionism illustrate the evolution of visual systems in art.

Technology's Role in Contemporary Abstract Art

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Teacher
Teacher

How has technology influenced abstract art today?

Student 1
Student 1

Artists use digital tools to create new forms of art!

Teacher
Teacher

Spot on! This emergence of digital tools allows for algorithmic art creation, enabling artists to use codes as a medium. Who can name any artists using technology?

Student 2
Student 2

I've heard about Refik Anadol, who blends art with data!

Teacher
Teacher

Great reference! Today’s generative artists like Anadol push boundaries by utilizing data to create visuals. Remember 'D.A.T.A.'—Digital Art That Amazes—for the significance of data in art. Why do you think this innovation is important?

Student 3
Student 3

It makes art more accessible and allows for new forms of expression!

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! The dialogue between technology and art expands creative possibilities. To sum up, technology reshapes art production, bringing new dimensions to abstract expression.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section explores the significance of abstraction in visual arts, emphasizing its ability to convey meaning and emotion without reliance on recognizable subjects.

Standard

The section delves into non-objective art, highlighting how key abstract movements have innovated the use of visual elements. It underscores the relationship between artistic expression and technological advancements while providing inquiry questions to stimulate critical thinking.

Detailed

Visual Arts in Context

This section invites learners to embark on a journey beyond literal representation, exploring the vastness of non-objective art. It emphasizes that visual elements, when organized coherently into a 'visual system,' can convey deep meanings and emotion without explicit narratives or identifiable subjects.

Key to this exploration are significant movements in abstract art that have shaped this understanding, including Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, and contemporary practices involving technology. The section also articulates inquiry questions that enhance critical thinking:
- Factual: How do artists craft abstract forms?
- Conceptual: How can a visual system convey significance?
- Debatable: Does abstract art possess less reality than representational art?

Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to articulate the historical and philosophical underpinnings of abstract art movements, identify patterns in cultural expressions, and create their own abstract forms, applying a personal visual system. This examination invites critical inquiry into creativity, art's nature, and the synergy between art and technology.

Audio Book

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Introduction to Historical Abstraction

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Visual Arts in Context: Introduction to the historical trajectory of abstraction. Examine early modern art's move away from strict representation (e.g., late Impressionism, Post-Impressionism's emphasis on subjective experience). Introduce Wassily Kandinsky and his theories on spiritual resonance in color and form.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk introduces students to the historical development of abstraction in art. It discusses how early modern artists moved away from realistic depictions to embrace more subjective expressions of their experiences. Particularly, the text highlights Wassily Kandinsky, a significant figure in abstract art, and his belief that colors and forms could convey spiritual and emotional meanings. As students explore this transition, they will learn about the evolution from late Impressionism, which focused on personal experience of light and color, to the more radical ideas of abstraction that Kandinsky and others championed.

Examples & Analogies

Think of how we might describe a beautiful day. A realistic painting of a landscape might show trees and sunshine, but an abstract piece might use bright colors and flowing shapes to evoke feelings of joy and warmth. Just like a musician uses notes to express emotion in music, abstract artists use form and color to express their inner experiences.

Distinction Between Stylistic Approaches

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Discussion: The distinction between art that simplifies reality (stylization) and art that removes it entirely (non-representational). How can art be meaningful without showing "something"?

Detailed Explanation

This chunk addresses the difference between two artistic approaches: stylization and non-representational art. Stylized art simplifies forms to focus on certain aspects while still referencing reality, like a cartoon character. In contrast, non-representational art completely removes recognizable forms, challenging viewers to find meaning without obvious subjects. This segment encourages students to think critically about how meaning can still be conveyed in art that doesn't depict real objects or scenes.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a piece of music that makes you feel happy even though it doesn’t have lyrics. The emotion comes from the melody and rhythm, not a story told through words. Similarly, in non-representational art, meaning comes from the use of color, shape, and line rather than from a recognizable subject.

Curated Viewing and Extended Learning

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Extended Learning: Curated viewing of short documentaries or virtual museum tours focusing on early abstract works. Students compile a small collection of images they find "abstract" in their environment, annotating why.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk encourages students to engage with abstract art through practical exploration and observation. By viewing documentaries or virtual tours of museums, students can see the historical context and development of abstract art. The assignment also asks students to find and consider what abstract art looks like in their everyday lives — this layers their understanding by connecting classroom learning to their own experiences and environments. Annotating their findings helps solidify their grasp of what makes art abstract and reinforces their analytical skills.

Examples & Analogies

If you've ever noticed the patterns in nature, like the spirals of a shell or the shapes of clouds, you’ve encountered abstract forms. This activity is like a treasure hunt where you seek out what might normally be overlooked, thus discovering the art in the world around you. It's about finding that beauty and meaning in the unexpected.

Understanding Abstract Movements

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Factual Inquiry Focus: How did artists develop techniques to deconstruct perceived reality into abstract forms?

Detailed Explanation

This chunk introduces students to the methodologies used by artists to take apart the way we perceive reality and transform that perception into abstract forms. Artists employ various techniques to break down traditional views of their subjects. This inquiry stimulates curiosity about how abstract techniques emerged, prompting students to think critically about how artists manipulate elements like color, form, and line to create new forms of expression.

Examples & Analogies

Think about taking a photo of a busy street and then deciding to paint it with just colors and shapes. Instead of showing cars, people, and buildings, you might focus on the rhythm of the lines and the energy of the colors. That's what these artists did — they expressed reality through abstraction, making viewers see things in new ways.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Abstraction: The removal of literal representation in art.

  • Visual System: A systematic approach in art to arrange elements according to a planned layout.

  • Cubism: Art movement focusing on breaking forms into geometric structures.

  • Abstract Expressionism: A method of expressing emotional experiences through non-representational art forms.

  • Generative Art: Utilizing technology and code to create art.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Jackson Pollock's drip paintings exemplify non-objective art that conveys emotion through movement.

  • Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' represents Cubism, showcasing multiple viewpoints within a single figure.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In art's abstraction, feelings take flight, colors dance freely, shapes ignite sight.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a world without boundaries—a canvas where emotions flow like rivers, artists paint with feelings, not just color. A forest of shapes and beats, creating art without limits.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember 'C.E.A.' for Cubism, Emotion, and Abstraction—keys to unlock the world of abstract art.

🎯 Super Acronyms

Use 'P.A.I.R.' - Personal, Abstract, Innovative Representation, as a guide to explore abstract concepts.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Abstraction

    Definition:

    The process of distilling an artwork to its fundamental characteristics, often stripping away recognizable forms.

  • Term: Visual System

    Definition:

    A coherent organization of visual elements used to convey meaning or emotion in art.

  • Term: Cubism

    Definition:

    An art movement that depicts subjects from multiple angles simultaneously, using fragmented geometric shapes.

  • Term: Abstract Expressionism

    Definition:

    An artistic movement emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation, focusing on conveying emotional experiences.

  • Term: Generative Art

    Definition:

    Art created using algorithms or rules defined by artists who allow computers to produce variations based on those guidelines.