SOCIAL ISSUES & ETHICAL

QUESTIONS

Social critiqueArtists have & continue to highlight

problematic issues in society.Raise public awareness – can lead

to change for the betterFocused on conveying a messageSome artists experiment with the

ethical limits of art in order to get attention & shock the general observer

OVERVIEW

Tries to make the viewer evoke emotionPossibly shock the viewer

Addresses an important issueSymbolism is used within the workCan have one interpretation or open-

ended/ambiguous

CHARACTERISTICS

58) THE ABORIGINAL MEMORIAL

By: Paddy DhatanguCreated to correspond with the 200 th

anniversary of the European Settlement in Australia

Marked past tragedies & current inequality for the aboriginals of Australia

Consists of 200 traditional coffi ns (hollowed logs – dupun) each decorated with unique designs & images

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-LSea6zAqo

58) THE ABORIGINAL MEMORIAL (1988) NATURAL PIGMENTS ON 200 LOGS

59) NICKEL TAILINGS #30 SUDBURY, ONTARIO

By: Edward Burtynsky - Contemporary Canadian Photographer

Main theme: nature transformed through industry

Open-ended interpretationSubjects are often torn between

beauty & repulsion/attraction & fear

Explores dilemma of consuming materials to improve our lives, but harming the earth & our own health in the process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7oDeUyYj0Y

59) NICKEL TAILINGS #30 SUDBURY, ONTARIO. (1996)

PHOTOGRAPH

60) MOTHER AND CHILD DIVIDED

By: Damien Hirst – Contemporary British Artist

Believes art is in the mind – has assistants to create his work

Plays with the concept of what is art – aims to shock the viewer

Attempts to create attraction & repulsion towards his subject

Tries to create metaphors to religious themes

Often accused of plagiarism by other artists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh42L1dtGE4

60) MOTHER AND CHILD DIVIDED (1993) STEEL, GRP COMPOSITES, GLASS, SILICONE

SEALANTS, COW, CALF, FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTION

61) THE DINNER PARTY

By: Judy Chicago Massive ceremonial banquet on a triangular

table with 39 place settings – each commemorating an important woman from history

Includes embroidered runners, gold chalices/utensils & painted porcelain plates with raised motifs (butterfly & genitalia forms) that reflect on each specific woman

999 names of other women inscribed on tile floor

61) THE DINNER PARTY (1979) CERAMIC AND HANDWOVEN CLOTH

Women featured from primordial times to Georgia O’Keefe (20 th Century)

Meant to highlight the fact that women are often overlooked in written history

62) WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO

By: Barbara Kruger Comes from 2 pop culture

concepts: Norman Rockwell’s image of “Dick & Jane” and Tina Turner’s lyrics from the Mad Max movie set in a post-nuclear war future

Works are somewhat ambiguous & allows for more than one interpretation

Questions concept of heroism & the role of boys vs. girls in society

62) WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO (1987) PHOTOGRAPHIC SILKSCREEN /

VINYL

Uses advertising techniques to attract people’s attention & make them aware of issues

From mid 1970’s+, belonged to Artists Meeting for Social Change – wanted to create art with more intellectual challenge & political content

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wTb7pOSPG4