[MATRIC] Early 20th Century International Art (1 Dada, 1 AE, 1 Pop, 1 surrealism and Polly Street/Rorkes Drift (1 each)

Question 1

For what movement and in what year was ‘Fountain’ created? By who?

Answer 1

Fountain was made by Marcel Duchamp in 1917 and is part of the Dadaism movement

Question 2

Describe ‘Fountain’ by Marcel Duchamp

Answer 2

A men’s urinal on the floor with a fake signature on it

Question 3

Why did Duchamp choose a urinal for ‘Fountain’?

Answer 3

Marcel Duchamp deliberately chose a urinal as one of his “ready-made” pieces randomly to question our definition of art

Question 4

In what way does “Fountain” adhere to Dadaism?

Answer 4

The piece neither applies nor can be described with any of the elements of art, has no aesthetic value, can be effortlessly recreated, and already existed before Duchamp found it and labelled it as art – going against the values of fine art

Question 5

For what movement and in what year was “No. 5” created? By who?

Answer 5

No. 5 was made by Mark Rothko in 1950 and is part of the Abstract Expressionism movement

Question 6

What kind of painter was Mark Rothko?

Answer 6

A colour field painter

Question 7

Describe ‘No. 5’ by Mark Rothko

Answer 7

A yellow field of colour and a darker field of orange, sandwiching a strip of red in the middle. Oil on canvas.

Question 8

What was the purpose of Rothko’s art?

Answer 8

To force the viewer to contemplate colour relationships and take the viewer away from reality, supposedly overwhelming them. Rothko also intended for a spiritual reaction from his audience

Question 9

What separates ‘No. 5’ from Rothko’s other works?

Answer 9

Gauging the paint’s surface before it dried, created strained, horizontal lines across the canvas. These lines served to contrast the soft outlines of lighter yellow around the edges of the canvas

Question 10

For what movement and in what year was ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ created? By who?

Answer 10

Harlequin’s Carnival was made by Joan Miro in 1924 and is part of the Surrealism movement

Question 11

Describe ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ by Joan Miro

Answer 11

A surrealist interpretation of Harlequin surrounded by bizarre characters in Miro’s studio. Oil on canvas.

Question 12

What contributed to the imagery of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?

Answer 12

Miro starved himself to the point of hallucination to tap into his subconscious mind and draw out the otherworldly characters in the painting

Question 13

How is the composition of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ structured? What effect does this have on the viewer?

Answer 13

The composition is dynamic and asymmetrical, with elements scattered throughout the canvas. This creates a sense of movement and energy, drawing the viewer’s eye around the painting and evoking a feeling of chaos and celebration. The feeling of celebration relates to the piece’s title of Carnival

Question 14

How does Miro represent himself in ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?

Answer 14

As Harlequin. With a brush in hand and a pipe in his mouth, as well as having a hole where his stomach would be, representing Miro’s poverty at the time as well as his starving himself to draw out his subconscious

Question 15

For what movement and in what year was ‘Whamm!!’ created? By who?

Answer 15

Whamm!!was made by Roy Lichtenstein in 1963 and is part of the Pop Art movement

Question 16

Describe ‘Whamm!!’ by Roy Lichtenstein

Answer 16

A fighter aircraft in the left panel fires a rocket into an enemy plane in the right panel, resulting in a red-and-yellow explosion. Oil, acrylic and magna on canvas.

Question 17

How does ‘Whamm!!’ reflect the Pop Art movement and Lichtenstein’s unique style?

Answer 17

The painting incorporates commercial imagery through comic book techniques – Ben-Day dots and flat colour, elevating the style to fine art

Question 18

What does the imagery in ‘Whamm!!’ symbolize? How?

Answer 18

‘Whamm!!’ is a commentary on the glorification of war. The comic book style distances the viewer from war, likening it to that of superhero fiction

Question 19

For what studio and in what year was ‘Two Friends’ created? By who?

Answer 19

‘Two Friends’ was made by Allina Ndebele in 2000 in Rorke’s Drift

Question 20

Describe ‘Two Friends’ by Allina Ndebele

Answer 20

A woven tapestry featuring two people surrounded by huts and other villagers, all in bright colours.

Question 21

How does Ndebele’s use of colour impact ‘Two Friends’?

Answer 21

Bright & bold; emphasises central figures & adds visual interest. The use of bright colours also contributes to the happy mood of the tapestry

Question 22

How does Ndebele use space in ‘Two Friends’?

Answer 22

She leaves little leftover space, making the tapestry feel full & busy upon viewing it. This ties into the themes of community and harmony in the artwork

Question 23

For what studio and in what year was ‘Township Scene’ created? By who?

Answer 23

‘Township Scene’ was made by Louis Maqhubela in 1961 in Polly Street

Question 24

Describe ‘Township Scene’ by Louis Maqhubela

Answer 24

A vivid depiction of the bustling life of a South African township, featuring expressive figures engaged in daily activities against a backdrop of vibrant colours that reflect the community’s spirit

Question 25

What themes are explored in 'Township Scene'?

Answer 25

Community life, social interactions, and the resilience of township residents under the Apartheid system

Question 26

How does Maqhubela convey energy in 'Township Scene'?

Answer 26

Through dynamic composition and expressive figures that depict movement and interaction among the characters

Question 27

How is colour used in 'Township Scene'?

Answer 27

Bright colours such as bright reds, yellows, and blues are used to evoke the lively atmosphere of township life and create a sense of energy, drawing attention to the figures and their interactions. The contrasting colours also help to define the characters and their surroundings

Question 28

Name a painting and its artist from the Early 20th-century South African art section, and describe it.

Answer 28

Walter Battis's 'Symbols of Life,' 1957. Oil on canvas. Against a cream background, seemingly random and organic rust red figures are scattered across the canvas, filling up mot available space. Across the centre, there is a chasm of brown, with dark brown geometric shapes on it. - Tells the story of the river and the life it sustains - 'Earthy' tones - river can represent life or blood (death)

Question 29

Name a work by Jackson Pollock and describe it.

Answer 29

Full Fathom Five, 1947. Consists of a number of various bits and bobs like coins, tacks , buttons, cigarettes etc, with oil paint, on canvas. - A wild and un-analysable work. Just consists of line/colour/space. - A good example of a painting by an action painter. - Used industrial paint - Put massive canvas on the floor - 'Action' was more important than result.

Question 30

What is an action painter?

Answer 30

Part of the abstract expressionism movement - manifesting the subconscious mind into physical actions. Influenced heavily by the surrealism movement.