Graffiti

Jayme Cudia

Art Appreciation

Professor Swain

Part 1 Essay

1. The work of art I chose is called Graffiti, by an unknown artist. There are a lot of little elements about the interface that are simple and powerful, such as the way that the available images are staggered along the chronological axis so that the timeline you've viewing can be taken in at a glance (artcyclopedia.com). The form of this piece is very strong and colorful, making the message stand out above everything else. I cannot quite see what the message says, but it's on an abandon wall or building, in an alley, with the color of the message standing out so a person does not notice the ground on the bottom that had garbage all around it. Subject is what the artist saw when he/she was walking, saw the building with the graffiti, most likely done by a gang or a person with nothing else better to do.

Content refers to the message or meaning of the work of art-what the artist expresses or communicates to the viewer (31). I'm not sure what the artist was trying to send out as the message because I cannot see what the word is that is on the concrete building. Every artist tries to send a message to the viewers; some are able to decipher it, while some art leaves people questioning what the artist is trying to say. One possible message is that the artist of the graffiti itself is letting people know that he or she is not going anywhere; they are displaying their talents because they feel that then the whole world will see their point of view. Content determines form, but form also expresses content; thus the two are inseparable (31). With this piece, the artist is giving the form in bright colors so it stands out, giving the message (content) a way for viewers to get the message of the piece.

2. Yes, I think art can be very therapeutic for a person. Art is a way for a person to express themselves, their feelings and thoughts. It has a way of informing our minds, inspiring our souls and the arousal of our feelings. There is a challenge with art that makes us develop a personal sense of beauty and truth (p.5). People can think of art as to be very calming and soothing for a person's mind, body and soul, because they can use art as a form of therapy through self-explanation.

Certain artists reveal themselves and their heritage so clearly that we feel we know them. Korean artist, Yong Soon Min, made a mixed media piece of art on the alienation and absence from her homeland of Korea, because of immigration