Melbourne Sports Museum Critiques

The Olympic Emblem - Beijing 2008
Name: Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing
Artist: A design team of 20, from the Art Research Centre for the Olympic Games, at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Medium: Vector Art.
Date: 24/8/2008
Description: The logo for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is made up of a bright bold, block of colour, with a simple knockout graphic over the top. It's simplistic and modern, yet its referencing a more historical time period as the graphic was derived from ancient Chinese letter forms.

Elements & Principles
Line, shape, colour, letter form, texture. The line work in this design looks as if its almost calligraphic, with slight texture to it. The shapes are irregular, and the colour is striking and bold.

Art Style/Philosophy/Ism
The art movement that is most relevant to this design would be Art Nouveau. The lines in this design are organic, like that of Art Nouveau.

Concept/Theme
The theme behind the design is Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing. It's a positive, modern approach at an ancient calligraphic style.

Personal Thoughts 
This logo was a lot stronger, than others that had came before it. The type is well integrated into the design. The colour choices are simple, and compliment each other. The overall design is effective to what it was trying to accomplish, and the style is relevant to the event that its advertising.



St Kilda Football Team - Logo Application - Football Jersey.
Artist: Unknown
Medium: More recent editions of the logo are vector art.
Date: 1977
Description: The St. Kilda Football has a strong use of bold colours, that equally contrast one another. Over the years changes have been made to the design, but none that are significant, and the style has always been very similar. The logo shares the same colour attributes as the material it's applied to. The shapes used in the logo are simplistic, with a light outline bordering the imagery.

Elements & Principles 
The elements and principles displayed in this design, are balance, colour, shape, and rhythm. Where these have been displayed are as following; Balance in the structure of the design, as it is evenly mirrored. Colour and shape are very prominent in the design, with the strong choices that have been made. Rhythm is incorporated with the curvaceous scroll, that suggests movement.

Art Style/Philosophy/Ism
The most relative art movements with this logo would be post modernism, because of its use of bold, contrasting colours. And Cubism, because of its use of geometric shapes.

Concept/Theme
The words written across the scroll read: Strength Through Loyalty, which is the teams motto. This has been represented in the logo by choosing a symbol of strength, - a shield. 
The scroll in the design is definitely a motif. 


Personal Thoughts
I think the logo is rather average and there definitely is some adjustments that could be made to make the overall composition stronger and more effective. The shapes could be modernised, and more contemporary.

Bibliography

http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/n214070081.shtml

http://en.beijing2008.cn/57/71/article211987157.shtml

http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/preparation/n214510154.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Kilda_Football_Club#Logo

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=17482469

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences/post-impressionists.html

Critiquing Tools

Art Vocabulary List
Transparent: Transparent describes something clear, see through or obvious.
Palette: The range of colors used by a particular artist or in a particular picture.
Demographic: Relating to the structure of populations.
Contrast: The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.
Negative Space: The space around and between the subject(s) of an image.


Adjective List
Geometric: Characterized by or decorated with regular lines and shapes.
Contour: An outline, esp. one representing or bounding the shape or form of something.
Hue: A color or shade, in its purest form. 
Prickly: Covered in prickles.
Sphere:  A round solid figure, or its surface, with every point on its surface equidistant from its center.


Principles and Elements of Design 


Elements:

Line: A line is a form with width and length, but no depth. Artists use lines to create edges, the outlines of objects. A line is created by the movement of the artist's pen.
Colour: Color or colour (see spelling differences) is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light
Texture: The feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or a substance.
Shape: The external form or appearance of someone or something
Form: The visible shape or configuration of something.


Principles
Dynamics: Dynamics is the arrangement of visual elements in a composition to suggest the illusion of movement or direction. The effective use of dynamics in a design can add an emotive characteristic to your design making it appear restful and calming or active and energetic.
Rhythm: a movement in which some elements recurs regularly.  Like a dance it will have a flow of objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.
Scale: Scale can attract in different ways. It can be use to draw attention to the unexpected or exaggerated
Stability: The state of being stable.












http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/tutorials/design/design/#seven
http://www.photoflashgraphics.com/articles/design_principles.htm
http://www.google.com.au

Style Time Line

- 1810 -

Dada

Dada began because of the First World War - Artists involved in this movement referred to themselves as non-artists, who created non-art, and believed that nothing had any meaning to it. It was a very pessimistic movement, in a very depressing time. It was against other movements such as rationalism, and materialism as they thought it had something to do with why the war began.

Well known artists during this period are Alice Bailly & Hans Arp

(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

- 1880's -

Pointillism

A technique of painting that was created in 1886, with the use of small dots, combined to create an overall image. 

Well known artists during this time are Georges Seurat & Maximilien Luce

(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

Symbolism

Symbolism stemmed from literature and poetry, with the belief that emotions could be represented though sound and rhythm, and that was conveyed through their paintings.  Well known artist during this period are Odilon Redon & Gustav Klimt (Click on their names to see examples of their work!)     - 1890's- Art Nouveau Art Nouveau was a style that was developed in Europe and North America, that focused on decoration, especially in architecture.  Well known artists during this period are Josef Hoffman & Friedrich Adler (Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

 - 1900's -

Cubism

Cubism is an abstract art style, where landscapes and people, where represented through the use of geometric shapes. Piece's of cubist art are often referred to "as if you where looking through life through a piece of fractured glass."

Well known artists during this period are Pablo Picasso & Georges Braque

(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

 - 1920's -

Bauhaus

In Germany, in 1919 - a school of art, design and architecture was founded by Walter Gropius. 

Students that attended this school were taught about designing, while keeping mass production in mind. The school was shut down in 1933 by the Nazi's. But its style and influence is still around today - in furniture and architecture, to typography and design.

Well known artists during this period are Paul Klee &Wassily Kandinsky
(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

Art Deco

Art Deco began in Paris in the 1920's and lasted until the 1930's. Art Deco style was imminent in a range of different mediums, from architecture to fashion, interior design to jewellery, film and industrial design, to art and design itself. 

It was a streamlined art movement, and was a mix between glamour and functionality. It was about travelling the world, living it up and looking expensive.

Well known artists during this period are George Barbier & Georges Lepape

(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

 - 1950's -

Postmodernism
Postmodernism was a movement in architecture, where the artists involved tried to be unique, different, new. Diminishing other styles such as Avant Garde, and Modernism. They wanted to mix old styles with new.


Well known artists during this time were Umberto Boccioni & Roy Lichtenstein




Pop Art:

An art movement, that was mainly popular in England and America in the 1950's. Pop art included fine art, and updated it by including imagery, advertising, and news that were popular at the time. A common trend in pop art, was to remove a visual component, isolate it or merge it together with something unrelated. 

Pop art was about the attitude shift the world was having before the movement came about, it was about commercialism and consumerism.

Artists well known during this period are Andy Warhol & Roy Lichtenstein

(Click on their names to see examples of their work!)

- 1960's -

Minimalism:

A design trend, that references the De Stijl Movement, and was influenced by Japanese traditional design, that began post-World War II in the late 1960's early 1970's. The motto for this movement is, as said by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe - "Less is More"

Extreme Simplicity is what this movement entails, which is very obvious when you look at the works done in this period of time.

Artist famous during this art movement are Jo Baer & Ad Reinhardt.

(Click on their names to see examples of their work)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_art

http://www.getpopart.com/pop-art-artists.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco

http://www.ask.com/questions-about/Famous-Art-Deco-Artists

http://artophile.com/Artists/BarbierGeorge_ArtDecoandPochoir.htm

http://www.georginakelman.com/artist_bio.php?artist=14

http://toffsworld.com/lifestyle/art-information/bauhaus/

http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/graphics.php
http://www.theartgallery.com.au/kidsart/learn/cubism/
http://www.artmovements.co.uk/symbolism.htm

http://www.huntfor.com/absoluteig/klimt.htm
http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/dada.htm
http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=11
http://www.georgesseurat.org/
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/elab/hfl0242.html

Greek Research - Medusa

A Gorgon in Greek Mythology;

(A fierce, frightening, or repulsive woman)

Illustration of a Modern Day Medusa - Hanneke Bates

Appearance

When artists depict Medusa, its usually only her head that is shown. 

Although she was born beautiful, as time went on she turned into a monstrous creature with hair full of serpents.

In some portraits she is seen with wild boars tusks, a long black tongue, wings made of serpents and long sharp claws. 

Famous sculpture of Medusa by Gian Lorenzo!

History

There are different version of the stories, in some version's Medusa was a very beautiful woman, who seduced Athena's husband, the sea god Poseidon, and then fell pregnant. Athena was so enraged by this that she turned Medusa into an ugly creature, and any man who set eyes upon her turned to stone. 

In the different variations of the story, Medusa was ugly all along, or she was once beautiful - but provoked Athena by constantly speaking of her beauty and how it was far superior to others. And in other stories Medusa did not seduce Poseidon, but she was in fact raped. 

Adventure

Medusa's head was a prize, and who-over was brave enough to behead her would become a hero. Everyone was too afraid to risk being turned to stone, until Peresus decided he would give it a shot, in the hopes that Polydectes would keep lusting for his mother in secret, and marry Hippodamia instead. To convince him to marry Hippodamia even more so, he offered Medusa's head as a wedding present. 

Relationships

Medusa was one of three sisters, including Sthenno and Euryale, she was the only one out of the three that was mortal. She was parented by Phorcys and Ceto. 

Symbols

Medusa is symbol of feminism, and is commonly seen emphasising the serpents in her hair, and her piercing evil eyes. She's even used as a logo for Versace.

Have a look here!

Evolution

Medusa is a very recognisable character, and has been seen advertising all sorts of things. From hair extensions, to Greek taverns and restaurants, and even the mining industry. Medusa also plays a big role in music culture, rock songs are written about her, and bands have even been named after her. 

Art based around Medusa has definitely evolved throughout the ages as well, it began as stone carvings and paintings, and now a days Medusa's story is being portrayed in tattoo art in alternative culture. 

She even had a role in the children's from the 60's called "The Mighty Hercules"

Video of The Mighty Hercules cartoon - feat. Medusa! Created by Joseph Orilio

Tattoo of Medusa by Laotchi!

List of Sports

• Roller Derby
• Women's Boxing
• Cage Fighting 

                                                                                             Bibliography   

http://monsters.monstrous.com/medusa.htm

http://www.helium.com/items/975844-story-of-medusa-in-greek-mythology

http://www.dibonsmith.com/per_con.htm

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

My goals for 2012.

In 2012, I do solemnly swear to try and upkeep the following list as my goals for 2012.

• I will not go to bed past 2am in the morning.
• I will not live off energy drinks and potato cakes. 
• I will not leave research and/or thumbnails till the last minute, I will do my work in the correct order. 
• I will aim to try my hardest at all times, and keep my head above water.
• I will take up yoga, to deal with the stress.
• I will make sure I pick doing homework, over watching television every time the choice presents itself in front of me. 
• I will actually be organised, and keep my things in places like a folder - then leaving it on a bus. Especially USB's.
• I will make the most out of this year, and get the marks I deserve.