IDENTITIES QUESTIONS Flashcards
(147 cards)
1
Q
Who was Artemisia Gentileschi’s father?
A
Orazio Gentileschi, Rome’s most innovative painter
2
Q
What did Artemisia Gentileschi do for her father?
A
She was a model for a father, during a time when women were not allowed to pose naked for men
3
Q
Which artist taught Artemisia Gentileschi and what did he teach her?
A
Agostino Tassi taught her how to paint complex perspective effects
4
Q
What did Agostino Tassi do to Artemisia Gentileschi?
A
Tassi, along with a friend, harassed Artemisia. A year after she painted Susanna and the elders Tassi raped Artemisia and a lengthy and public case ensued
5
Q
Why did men want the painting of Susanna and the Elders in their homes?
A
Men wanted to have this painting in their homes to show their religiosity and admiration for Daniel’s heroism, however, in truth, they just wanted a source of a naked woman to look at
6
Q
What was Susanna and the Elders influenced by?
A
Caravaggio’ techniques, in particular the handling of light and subtle chiaroscuro
7
Q
What suggests the depiction of Susanna is loosely based on Artemisia’s body?
A
Susanna is depicted with a naturalistic figure, she has unusually realistic breasts and abdomen
8
Q
Where was ‘I Am A Man’ originally displayed?
A
The National Portrait Gallery, surrounded by portraits of heroes with a colonial undertone
9
Q
Give examples of the people Jazz’s sculpture was surrounded by.
A
Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, Lord Kitchener
10
Q
Why did Perry style ‘I Am A Man’ as a Benin bronze?
A
To deliberately draw parallels with what the bronzes historically represented: power, kingship and heroism
11
Q
Why was the portrayal of men in the Benin Bronzes very stereotypical?
A
Men were very masculine and depicted as strong and victorious. Women were also never depicted as they were not valued in Benin society
12
Q
What could the weight around Jazz’s waist be symbolic of?
A
The way in which Jazz is being dragged down by the stereotypes needed to fit into male expectations
13
Q
What objects does the figure carry around its waist?
A
A variety of stereotypical masculine objects and personal items to the sitter
- A football, a penis, a beer bottle, a pitbull terrier
- A guitar, a book ‘Jazz’s poems’
14
Q
Why was Elizabeth I’s reign precarious?
A
As a Protestant, unmarried, female monarch, Elizabeth’s position was precarious. Her reign was blighted by plots and attempts to overthrow her
15
Q
How old was Elizabeth I when the Armada Portrait was painted, and why is this significant?
A
It was painted when Elizabeth was 52 years old. She is therefore idealised, represented looking much younger than she actually was
16
Q
What did Elizabeth I’s speech say?
A
“I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king - and of a king of England too”
17
Q
What do the pearls in the Armada Portrait symbolise?
A
-The pearls symbolise her wealth and travels as pearls originated from distant lands
- They also had connotations of purity, virginity and chastity in her role as the ‘Virgin Queen’
18
Q
What does the ruff symbolise in the Armada Portrait?
A
The ruff extends outwards from her face like sun rays, as if she is the central source of warmth, beauty and goodness in her realm
19
Q
What does the bow symbolise in the Armada Portrait?
A
The bow over her genital area is a blatant display of her virginity
20
Q
What does the globe symbolise in the Armada Portrait?
A
Her fingers are crossed over the Americas, specifically Virginia, where she had been named as the ‘Virgin Queen’. This shows her desire for an empire
21
Q
What does the crown symbolise in the Armada Portrait?
A
The crown is a symbol of her royal lineage as it was originally made for her grandfather, King Henry VII
22
Q
What does the mermaid symbolise in the Armada Portrait?
A
Mermaids were believed to lure many a solider to their end, and the gilded mermaid might allure to Elizabeth’s similar ability
23
Q
What does the fan symbolise in the armada portrait?
A
The fan, made of exotic feathers - possibly a gift from a courtier, shows how she if favoured by her male subjects for her feminine beauty
24
Q
Why has Rembrandt long been considered the master of self-portraits?
A
Throughout his career he created between 80 and 90 self portraits in paintings, etchings and drawings
25
What were Rembrandt’s three-periods of self portraits?
- 1620s: developing his technique
- 30s and 40s: self-promotion (portraying himself as a successful artist)
- 50s and 60s: self-exploration (exploring the frailties and quirks of old age)
26
What technique did Rembrandt experiment with and when?
One of Rembrandt’s first self-portraits, painted around 1628, when he was 22 years old experiment with chiaroscuro, which incorporates light and shadow, he continued with this technique throughout the development of his self-portraits
27
What did X-rays of the Self portrait at the age of 63 show?
X-rays of the painting show he initially intended on depicting himself in the act of painting. He held a paintbrush and a white painters cap
28
What events had Rembrandt endured by the time he painted Self-Portrait at the age of 63?
He was suffering from bankruptcy and his wife, along with all four of his children’s deaths
29
Which artwork did Rembrandt’s portraits take inspiration from?
Titan’s ‘Portrait of a Man with a quilted sleeve”
30
What are the two incidents which occurred in Friday Kahlo’s life?
- She was severely injured in a car crash when she was 18; during this time she took up painting while confined to her bed
- Her tempestuous relationship with the renowned Mexican muralist artist, Diego Rivera, who was 24 years older than her
31
What event altered Frida Kahlo’s sense of national identity?
Her burgeoning sense of national identity was thrown into stark relief by her experience of living in the United States for almost four years
32
What was Diego Rivera commissioned to do in America?
He was commissioned to produce murals for the Detroit Institute of Art, depicting Ford production lines at the River Rouge
33
What happened around the time Diego Rivera was working at the River Rouge?
Kahlo’s suffered a miscarriage as a result of the long-term injuries she endured from the car accident. The River Rouge then became a potent symbol of her personal trauma
34
Explain the political situation during the time of Frida Kahlo.
Kahlo lived through the Mexican Revolution where she saw the establishment of a communist government and was exposed to communist thinking. As she was innately disdainful of capitalism and all it stood for, she found herself in the middle of two conflicting worlds: capitalist America and communist Mexico
35
What is Kahlo’s Self Portrait on the borderline between Mexico and the United states a manifesto for?
The painting serves as a manifesto for Kahlo’s Mexicanidad, a sense of pride for being Mexican
36
What did Kahlo say about her opinion of America?
“Although I am very interested in all the industrial and mechanical developments of the United States, I find that American’s completely lack sensibility and good taste. They live if in an enormous chicken coop that is dirty and uncomfortable”
37
What did Kahlo say about her style of painting?
“I paint my own reality”…”the only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration”
38
What did Kettemann say about Frida Kahlo’s self portrait on the borderline between Mexico and the United States?
“Kahlo becomes the personification of Mexico itself, building upon its history and exploring technological progress as if stirs its own course between two poles”
39
What Mexican symbols does Kahlo include in her self portrait on the borderline between Mexico and the United States?
- Skulls (day of the dead)
- Fertility gods
- Vegetation (cactus plants and lilies)
- A temple with Mexican gods above it represented by the sun and moon
- Roots of plants in contrast to USA’s wires
40
What did Kahlo sign her name as and why?
She signed the work with her married name, paying to the feminist power in the face of a patriarchal society. She stands on a plinth, inscribed with the words ‘Carmen Rivera painted this in 1932’.
41
What did the press often dub Frida Kahlo as?
The press often dubbed her merely as Diego Rivera’s ‘wife’ who ‘dabbed in painting’ rather than in her own artistic light
42
Explain Kahlo’s choice to paint on tin.
Kahlo’s choice to paint oil on tin is a traditional Mexican process. Small scale paintings like this are known as ‘retablos’. She uses retablos for reference her own religious background, and to celebrate her Mexican artistic heritage and culture
43
What is the Mexican flag in Kahlo’s self portrait a reference to?
Papel picado - a form of paper cutting in Mexican art
44
What does Shiva Nataraja depict?
Shiva Nataraja depicts the Hindu God Shiva as ‘Lord of the dance’, engaged in the dynamic, victorious ‘dance of bliss’ (ananda tandava) which he performed after defeating arrogant sages in the Chidambaram forest
45
What is the name of the dance that Shiva Nataraja engages in?
The ‘dance of bliss’, ananda tandava
46
What does Nataraja represent?
Nataraja represents Indian tradition, cosmic principles, Tamil identity, and classical dance
47
Explain the Hindu Pantheon.
Within the Hindu pantheon, there are a number of gods, goddesses and deities; however one entity is superior, Brahman. Brahman is traditionally said to manifest on earth as the Trimurti: Braha (the creator of god), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer)
48
What does the Trimurti consist of?
Braha (the creator of god), Vishnu (the preserver) and shiva (the destroyer)
49
What does the circular arch of flames represent in Shiva Nataraja?
The cycle of life, as he uses the cosmic fire to destroy the universe in its cycle
50
What do the multiple arms illustrate in Shiva Nataraja?
Divine power: they are all in different positions showing his strength and constellation of skills
51
Discuss Shiva Nataraja’s earrings.
On Shiva’s right ear is an earring depicting a makara, a mythical water creature. On his left ear, he wears a circular earring which was typically worn by women. This represents Shiva’s male and female aspects, illustrating the cosmic balance of female and male energies
52
What is the name of the drum that shiva Nataraja beats and what does it symbolise?
Shiva beats a rhythm into a damaru drum that brings the universe into creation. As creator, preserver and destroyer, Shiva and his drumming play an essential role in the cycle of the universe
53
What does the snake represent in shiva Nataraja?
In the story of shivas triumph in the Chidambaram forest, a snake was hurled at Shiva by one of the malicious sages. Shiva took the snake and coiled it around himself, thereby using it as a weapon
54
Explain what is under Shiva’s right foot.
The demon of ignorance is pinned down under Shiva’s right foot, who looks up at the conquering Lord Shiva. The demon was one of the weapons launched at Shiva, who crushed it, thereby declaring his triumph over ignorance
55
What does the lotus flower represent in Shiva Nataraja?
The lotus flower represents purity in Hindu tradition. It grows from the depths of muddy water to emerge above its surface, pristinely beautiful
56
Why does White Crucifixion mark a turning point for Chagall?
White crucifixion marks a turning point for Chagall as it was the first of an important series of paintings that feature the image of Christ as a Jewish martyr, not necessarily the son of god
57
When was White crucifixion painted?
In 1938, after Hitler had thoroughly consolidated power in Germany and had began his campaign of genocide against the Jews
58
Where was Marc Chagall from?
Marc Chagall was a Russian french Jew of white Russian Jewish origin
59
What was Chagall’s aim in White Crucifixion?
In this work, Chagall aims to remind Christian’s that Jesus was a Jew, and that the persecution of his brethren was an anti-Christian act, a perversion of Jesus’s teachings
60
List the Jewish symbols included in White Crucifixion.
- Prayer shall instead of a loincloth
- Four figures hovering above Christ (3 patriarchs and 1 matriarch)
- The wondering jew
- Synagogue on fire
- Soldier with swastika on armband
- Fleeing inhabitants of the town on an overcrowded boat with arms raised to the heavens
- Red communist flags
- Figure in blue with a sign
- A short headcloth
61
What is the significance of the prayer shall in white crucifixion?
Chagall used a prayer shall instead of a loin cloth. The prayer shall was a garment that would’ve been especially significant to the Jews
62
What is the significance of the figures hovering above Christ in white crucifixion?
Four figures hover above Christ’s suffering body in the way thay angels do in Christian paintings, however they are dressed in explicitly Jewish garments including a prayer shall and skull cap.
63
Who are the hovering figures in white crucifixion?
The three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the matriarch: Rachel
64
What is the significance of the figure in green in white crucifixion?
The figure in green may be the traditional figure of The Wondering Jew. It could also pay homage to Chagall himself who wandered from Russia to America to France
65
What is the significance of the synagogue in white crucifixion?
The synagogue is in flames which represents the attacks on synagogues and scared items within them
66
When was the destruction of the synagogues and when? (White crucifixion)
There was a destruction of the synagogues in Munich and Nuremberg in June and August 1938
67
What is the significance of the figure at the burning synagogues?
The figure is a soldier who wears a swastika on his armband. In the final painting Chagall chose to reverse the symbol as it was one that was feared by many
68
What is the significance of the inhabitants fleeing the town in White crucifixion?
Inhabitants of the town attempt to flee in an overcrowded boat, but since it only has one oar, it seems to be stuck in the white waters, unable to move. The figures raise their arms up to the heavens, perhaps seeking salvation from Jesus
69
What is the significance of the red flags in white crucifixion?
The red flags could be symbolic of the communist flags
70
What is the significance of the head cloth in white crucifixion?
Chagall depicts Christ wearing a short head cloth rather than a crown of thorns
71
What is the significance of the figure in blue in white crucifixion?
The figure in blue was originally painted with a sign reading ‘Ich Bin Jude’, translating to ‘I Am A Jew’, but Chagall wanted the meanings of the painting to be more ambiguous so he changed if
72
How does Chagall stress the duality of Christianity and Judaism in white crucifixion?
In his illumination of the scene: Christ is lit by a ray of white light on high, but the Christian halo around his head is balanced as his feet by the halo surrounding the menorah, one of the oldest symbols of Judaism
73
Who was Pauline Borghese’s husband and what did he do for Napoleon?
Camilo Borghese was an Italian prince, and the union was designed to help Napoleon realise his dreams of establishing a Pan-European dynasty and legitimise his claims to the Kingdom of Italy
74
Explain Pauline Borghese’s social position at the time.
When this was sculpted, Pauline Borghese was 25, living a worldly life and the height of her social powers. At the time, Camillo Borghese was a prince, so their marriage made her a princess. In 1804, Napoleon became the first emperor of France which means Pauline assumed an even higher title as Imperial Princess
75
Who is Pauline depicted as?
Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory
76
Who was the original sculpture meant to depict?
Camillo originally wanted her to be portrayed as Diana, the goddess of hunting, the moon and chastity, but Pauline insisted on being depicted as Venus as she thought that “No one would ever believe she was a virgin”
77
What did Canova base the sculpture of Venus Victrix on?
Canova based his work on Greek statuary - The sensuous pose and the semi-nude body recall Hellenistic works such as Venus de Milo
78
How was the sculpture intended to be viewed?
The sculpture was intended to be viewed by candlelight, and a mechanism in the base would cause the whole structure to rotate, so that the viewer could observe it from all angles without moving
79
Why was Pauline’s sculpture extremely lifelike and slightly stylised?
Pauline was ill at the time and she had also had a baby which would’ve changed the way her body looked, which suggests she wanted to be depicted as Venus to depart from her true identity
80
What is the patina called that Antonio Canova added to the sculpture of Pauline Borghese?
Acqua di rota, using wax and reddish water, which reflected the candlelight brilliantly
81
Where does the story of Venus come from?
The story comes from Ancient Greece whereby Paris judged Venus to be more beautiful than her rivals - Athena and Juno
82
What did Pauline Borghese have a reputation for?
For being a promiscuous character
83
Discuss the series that Marc Quinn’s ‘Self’ was a part of.
It is part of a series of five sculptures - which wain produced every years over a span of 20 years to catalogue the ageing process
84
How does Quinn literalltuse his own body as material?
It consists of 10 pints of his blood, which has been pasteurised. 10 pints is around the amount in an adult human body
85
How did Quinn describe the sculpture?
As a ‘frozen moment on life support,’
86
What did Quinn study at Cambridge University ?
Quinn studied Rembrandt’ self portraits during his History of Art course at Cambridge university and ‘thought it would be quite interesting to make a contemporary version of that’
87
Who was Quinn’s father and flatmate?
His father was a scientist and his flatmate, Damien Hirst, a fellow YBA, was also interested in the duality of life and death in his art
88
Why is there a theme of dependency is Marc Quinn’s ‘Self’
The sculpture is dependent on a refrigeration system as if the energy is switched off, the head will mutate into liquid pools
89
Where did Quinn’s interest of freezing and then thawing come from?
When he once saw a frog that although was frozen, was not technically dead and when thawed, came back to life
90
What was the quote that Quinn said about the sculpture he wanted to make?
“I wanted to make works that, in a way, regarded life and its fragility”…”I wanted something that was more alive than a normal sculpture, that was dependent, that could only exist in certain conditions and was completely made of ‘myself’.
91
What is the significance of the expression with eyes shut?
The eyes have to be shut when casting but the closed eyes also have links with mortality and death, like the death masks used by the romans
92
Who is the Huhne vase a portrait of?
The disgraced former Liberal Democrat Secretary of State and minister for climate change, Chris Huhne
93
Why was Chris Huhne imprisoned for 9 months?
Chris Huhne was imprisoned for nine months for pervading the court of justice after encouraging his (now estranged) wife of take the blame for his speeding offence. He was then caught in court lying about it
94
Aside from the speeding incident, what did Chris Huhne do that weakened his reputation?
His integrity was very much undermined when it was revealed that he had been having a long-term affair with his press-secretary, Carina Trimingham
95
Why was Chris Huhne selected for Perrys ‘Who Are You’ exhibition?
Huhne was selected as a ‘white middle class man facing a collapse in the power and status he enjoyed’, and as a ‘default man’
96
What was the aim of Grayson Perry’s ‘Who Are You?’ exhibition and documentary?
To explore people going through an identity crisis
97
How did Chris Huhne describe himself in his first interview with Grayson Perry, and what did Perry say about this?
“As a ‘Saint Sebastian’ figure, pierced with arrows, attacked from all sides” and Perry mused afterwards, “If Chris saw himself as a modern Saint Sebastian, I noticed how the arrows kept bouncing off him. I realised thay my portrait would need to reflect this seeming invincibility”
98
Who inspired Perry’s use of repeated motifs?
Andy Warhol, who made his name as the inventor of pop art, depicting icons such as the Campbell’s soup cans
99
What technique did Perry used after smashing the vase?
Perry gilded over the cracks, using the Japanese technique of Kintsugi, which means gold joinery
100
What is the significance of the repairing of the Huhne Vase?
The repairing of the vase can be read in reference to Chris’s vulnerability. When Perry said ‘If Chris wouldn’t show any cracks in his persona my portrait certainly would’ve been
101
What symbols are included in the Huhne Vase?
- Liberal Democrat party symbols
- Mercedes symbol
- Chris’s personalised number plate (H11HNE)
- Phalluses
- A portrait of his face in almost cartoon form, looking ashamed
- Mobile phones
- Prison bars
102
Explain the social context of the Benin Bronzes.
The Benin empire was founded by the Edo people and was originally known as the Edo Kingdom in a place called Benin city, which is modern day Nigeria
103
What happened in Benin during the 16th and 17th century?
During the 16th and 17th century it expanded prosperity through military conquests and trade with Portugal, Britain and the Netherlands (party due to trading in slaves)
104
What were the Europeans opinions of Benin City?
They were impressed by the city, describing the size, scale and magnificence of the city
105
How did Benin City come to an end?
In 1897, British colonial forces attacked Benin. They deposed the Oba, sent him to exile and burned down his palace
106
What were the Benin plaques used for?
The brass plaques were used to decorate the Oba’s palace and are made up of a collection of over 3000 bronze plaques, frequently referred to as the ‘Benin Bronzes’
107
What do the Benin bronzes depict?
The bronzes depict a variety of scenes: historical events, successful wars, Benin court life, animals and fish etc. They also celebrate battles won by the Oba, depicted as a hunter and/or soldier
108
What did the British colonial forces do with the Benin bronzes?
They took much of Benin’s artwork and sold it across Europe, putting a large portion of it in the British Museum, where it has remained ever since
109
What was the reaction of the benin bronzes?
The curator of the British Museum, Charles Hercules Read, one of the first people to encounter the plaques said “If needs scarcely be said that at the first sight of these remarkable works of art, astounded at such an unexpected find, we were puzzled at such a highly developed, an art among a race, so entirely barbarous”
110
How do the people of Nigeria feel about the Benin Bronzes?
People of Nigeria feel a loss of identity as part of their culture has been stolen and placed in the hands of the British
111
Discuss the figures in the Benin Bronzes.
The Oba is centrally positioned, flanked by two enobore (attendants). Above the enobore are two floating Europeans
112
What symbols classify the floating figures as Europeans in the Benin bronzes?
Long hair, helmets and manillas. Manillas were frequently used in trades between Benin city and Europeans
113
Who was the Oba (Benin bronzes)?
The Oba was both the spiritual and secular head of the kingdom as an important military, political and economic power in West Africa
114
What is Chris Ofili well known for?
Chris Ofili is well known for his references to his Nigerian heritage and playful exploration of black identity
115
What does Chris Ofili demonstrate an awareness of?
He demonstrates an awareness of ethnic categorisation which expects an artist to paint a certain way. He says “We’re the voodoo king, the voodoo queen, the witch doctor, the drug dealer, I’m giving them all of that”
116
How does music play a role in Chris Ofili’s ‘No woman, No cry’?
The title of the work is also the name of the 1974 Bob Marley song that entreats a female listener to not be sad. Ofili was heavily inspired by Bob Marley as well as Jazz and hip hop as he believed these music genres are a huge celebration of black culture
117
What happened to Ofili when he was 24?
When he was 24, he won a scholarship to paint and travel in Zimbabwe which reconnected him with his African roots and inspired him to reference African Music, culture, religion, textiles and experiment with unconventional materials
118
Who is the crying woman depicted in ‘No woman, No cry”?
The crying woman depicted is a representation of Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence who was murdered as a teenager in a racially motivated attack in south London in 1993
119
What did curator, Judith Nesbitt say about Ofili’s ‘No woman, No cry’?
“Ofili was deeply moved by the way in which Doreen Lawrence’s overwhelming silent grief at her son’s tragic death had been transformed with each successive interview as she became even stronger in spirit and emboldened to speak with great dignity”
120
Which artist’s works are used in the collaged circles in ‘No woman, no cry’?
British abstract artist, Bridget Riley
121
What is Suleymaniye mosque?
An ottoman imperial mosque, located in Istanbul, turkey. It is the second largest mosque in the ciry
122
Why was Suleymaniye mosque built?
As a testament to Suleiman’s greatness and the greatness of the Ottoman Empire.
123
What happened to Suleiman by the late 1540s?
His health was deteriorating. He also became more sober, choosing to give up drinking wine, listening to music, he also wore more humble robes made of cotton and wool
124
What elements were included in the complex of The Suleymaniye Mosque and why.
To show the generous nature of the Sultan
- An elementary school
- 6 madrasas (Islamic schools)
- A hospital
- A hospice
- A mausoleum (where Suleiman would’ve been buried)
125
What was the Suleymaniye mosque used for?
It is used throughout the week for prayer, study or simply as a place for rest and reflection
126
Where was Mimar Sinan buried?
In a tomb that he built for himself in the northeast corner of the complex in his garden
127
Which elements of Suleymaniye mosque convey Islamic identity?
- Minarets (where Muzzins would announce the call to prayer)
- Qibla wall
- Mihrab (facing the direction of Mecca)
- Quabba (domes) which guide our eyes up, looking to the vault of heaven
- 294 windows (for natural light in the day) and lamps for at night
- Patterned carpets in the shape of prayer mats
- Ablution fountain (to wash hands before entering the mosque)
- Phrases of the Quran
128
Which elements of Suleymaniye mosque convey the patron’s identity?
- 4x minarets as he was the 4th ottoman sultan to rule Istanbul
- 10x serefes as he was the 10th ottoman sultan
- Blue and white colour palette to convey his sobriety
- The sheer size and multiple minarets shows his status and importance
- Mausoleum
129
Which elements of Suleymaniye mosque convey the identity of the Ottoman Empire?
- Floral iznik tiles encourage civic pride in the Turkish empire
- Inscriptions by the most famous Ottoman calligraphers - Ahmed Karahisari and his pupil, Hassj Celebin
130
What does MAXXI stand for?
National museum of 21-century arts
131
Who was Zaha Hadid?
An Iraqi British architect who was born to an upper-class Muslim family in Baghdad. She loved maths and obtained a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut
132
What has Zaha Hadid been described as and why?
She has been described by The Guardian as ‘The queen of the curve’ as she focuses on weightlessness and fluidity in her designs
133
Where is the MAXXI gallery built?
In the Flamino neighbourhood north of Rome’s historical centre
134
What did Zaha Hadid say about the MAXXI?
“I see the MAXXI as an immersive urban environment for the exchange of ideas, feeding the cultural vitality of the city”
135
How does the MAXXI interact with the historic city of Rome?
It is built on top of old military barracks, following the multi-layered style of Rome where buildings are built on top of each other
136
What words are written in the front of the MAXXI?
More than meets the eye
137
What could the staircase and walkways in the MAXXI gallery be a reference to?
The winding walkways in Piranesi’s Prison etchings where the staircases seem to move in every direction and with endless multiplications
138
Where is the Heydar Aliyev centre?
In Baku, the capital of the republic of Azerbaijan
139
Who is Heydar Aliyev named after?
The first president of independent Azerbaijan. It also legitimises the presidency of the present day President, Ilham Aliyev (Heydar Aliyev’s son)
140
What was the aim of the Heydar Aliyev centre?
To break away from the architecture of the Soviet era, to create something that promotes the Islamic history of Azerbaijan and incorporates European aspects in its latest cycle of development aimed at tourism
141
What style is the Heydar Aliyev centre, and what does it focus on?
Parametric style which focuses on the use of advanced technologies to create complex, non-standard forms and structures
142
What does parametricism reject?
Rigid forms (e.g cubes and pyramids) and pushes for soft forms, with links to organic architecture
143
How did Hadid describe the Heydar Aliyev Centre?
As a “completely seamless building” and “very calming” for its fluid qualities
144
What did Yentob say about the Heydar Aliyev centre?
“It melts, it slides, it whooshes, it juts, it moves”
145
What are the three main areas in the Heydar Aliyev centre?
- Large atrium
- Conference centre with an 1000 seat auditorium
- Library
146
Where did the inspiration for the elements that bleed into each other come from in Heydar Aliyev?
Hadid spent most of her childhood in traditional houses where carpets flow from wall to seat to floor
147
What is reflected in the organic lines of the Heydar Aliyev centre?
The mud volcanoes and mountain ranges of Azerbaijan alongside the sand dunes of Hadid’s Iraqi childhood
