Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Ah Leon's Memories of a Classroom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Ah Leon's Memories of a Classroom - Essay Example This essay compares and contrasts two divergent forms of art -- Ah Leonââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËMemories of Elementary Schoolââ¬â¢ and James Sienaââ¬â¢s exhibit ââ¬ËCompare, Contrast, Connectââ¬â¢ ââ¬â in terms of emotional appeal, form, and theme. While Ah Leonââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËMemories of Elementary Schoolââ¬â¢ and James Sienaââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËCompare, Contrast, Connectââ¬â¢ are ostensibly divergent forms of artistic expression, there are a number of comparative aspects in terms of emotional appeal. Leonââ¬â¢s exhibit is a conceptual piece that recreates an elementary school setting; conversely, Sienaââ¬â¢s exhibit contains four etchings with juxtaposed images and colors. In terms of emotional appeal, Leonââ¬â¢s work harkens back to memories of childhood and the process of education. This is contrasted with Sienaââ¬â¢s work that is more highly abstract, as it depicts vague exploratory images. In these regards, Sienaââ¬â¢s work plays more on direct and int uitive emotions through its elaborate color design and vivid imagery. Still, itââ¬â¢s clear that both images share some emotional qualities. In these regards, they are both clearly concerned with challenging intellectual quandaries. Although Leonââ¬â¢s work contains emotional nostalgia, and Sienaââ¬â¢s direct emotional appeal, there is also a removed sort of intellectualism inherent in both works. Another prominent consideration in terms of these works of art is their form. Within this context of understanding, the works perhaps demonstrate their most divergent qualities. The first consideration in these regards is Leonââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËMemories of an Elementary Schoolââ¬â¢ as noted above this is broadly characterized through its depiction of seats and chairs of a Taiwanese elementary school. Within this work there is strong regimentation as well as etchings in the desks that further add expressionistic details to the art. In terms of categorical form, Ah Leonââ¬â¢s wo rk clearly falls under what has been termed conceptual art. In these regards, the art form but questions the nature of art, as well as expresses meaning. This aspect of form can be contrasted from Sienaââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËCompare, Contrast, Connectââ¬â¢. This exhibit can be categorically placed within the context of the abstract art movement and is divergent from Leonââ¬â¢s work in these regards. Indeed, Siena has frequently been characterized for his work in abstraction ("Harlan & weaver," 2010). The work functions less as a self-reflexive question on the nature of artistic expression and more of in terms of the artistââ¬â¢s personal vision. Still, both forms make demands on the viewer as they force them to consider subtle undertones. In Sienaââ¬â¢s work this emerges as the viewer is asked to consider the juxtaposition of the four etchings. Ultimately, both forms are on opposing artistic spectrums. A final consideration of these artistic works is in terms of theme. While t hese works seemingly exemplify divergent thematic structures, itââ¬â¢s possible to find similar thematic elements. One of the most notable thematic elements of Leonââ¬â¢s work is his exploration of the rigidity of Taiwanese education. Within this thematic concern is clearly Leonââ¬â¢s characteristic exploration of scale. Indeed, itââ¬â¢s been said of Leonââ¬â¢s other work that, ââ¬Å"The effect of Ah Leon's obsession with scale here is not simply to stun viewers but to move them" (Chung 2000). While Sienaââ¬â¢s work lacks a thematic investigation of scale, it does explore a similar mode of personal expression. In these regards
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