Instruction Based art
Here are some questions for you to think about
1. Can an idea be a work of art?
2. Is good art always skilful?
3. If you don't make works of art can you be an artist?
4. Why might artists ask other people to make work for them?
5. What makes an instruction interesting?
6. Does a photographer always have to be the one who presses the shutter?
1. Can an idea be a work of art?
2. Is good art always skilful?
3. If you don't make works of art can you be an artist?
4. Why might artists ask other people to make work for them?
5. What makes an instruction interesting?
6. Does a photographer always have to be the one who presses the shutter?
Your Task
Write an introduction on Instruction Based art. You can read more about it in this article. Here are some questions that could be answered in your introduction:
1. What is it and how did it start?
2. Explain what the 'do it' project was and how it started.
3. What specifically do the artists hope that we the viewer gain from participating in their project?
4. In a few words how would you describe the 'do it' project?
5. View some examples from the 'do it' project (there are 21 examples attached to the article).
6. What do you think of that particular instruction?
7. What do you think of the responses?
8. Have any of your views on Instruction based art changed?
1. What is it and how did it start?
2. Explain what the 'do it' project was and how it started.
3. What specifically do the artists hope that we the viewer gain from participating in their project?
4. In a few words how would you describe the 'do it' project?
5. View some examples from the 'do it' project (there are 21 examples attached to the article).
6. What do you think of that particular instruction?
7. What do you think of the responses?
8. Have any of your views on Instruction based art changed?
John Baldessari
The relationship of image and text has always been visible in John Baldessari's work whether its a combination of text and image paintings from his earlier work or later when he turned to photographic work incorporating found film stills with text or his text. He has also created photo compositions using images and text. Baldessari has always had an interest in visual language through his images and also through written text.
Tasks
View the image above and annotate it;
Describe everything that you see in the photo
Describe how the image has been composed.
What are your eyes drawn to in the image? How and why is this?
What do you think about the image being in black and white? How different would it be in colour? What would change about your view of the image?
How is the image composed in your opinion?
Is it a good photograph?
Is it an interesting photograph?
View the 2nd photograph that has been handed out?
What do you feel about the photograph now? Has your opinion changed? If so how so?
Describe everything that you see in the photo
Describe how the image has been composed.
What are your eyes drawn to in the image? How and why is this?
What do you think about the image being in black and white? How different would it be in colour? What would change about your view of the image?
How is the image composed in your opinion?
Is it a good photograph?
Is it an interesting photograph?
View the 2nd photograph that has been handed out?
What do you feel about the photograph now? Has your opinion changed? If so how so?
Artist Research
Read through the article and answer the following questions
1. What kind of artist is John Baldessari?
2. How did his art practice start?
3. What mediums does he use in his work?
4. As well as being an artist what else does he do?
5. What is the relation of text and image for John Baldessari?
6. Investigate the work of John Baldessari's Prima Facie series. Write a short paragraph about it add images to illustrate.
1. What kind of artist is John Baldessari?
2. How did his art practice start?
3. What mediums does he use in his work?
4. As well as being an artist what else does he do?
5. What is the relation of text and image for John Baldessari?
6. Investigate the work of John Baldessari's Prima Facie series. Write a short paragraph about it add images to illustrate.
Photo Assignment
View John Baldessari's assignments
1. Create 30 images from assignment no. 10.
2. Upload them to your website or print as a contact sheet in your book.
3. Annotate them.
4. Have you created interesting photographs?
5. Did you enjoy the project?
6. Did you find the project difficult?
7. Can you follow instructions and still make interesting photographs?
8. Which is your most successful photograph and why?
1. Create 30 images from assignment no. 10.
2. Upload them to your website or print as a contact sheet in your book.
3. Annotate them.
4. Have you created interesting photographs?
5. Did you enjoy the project?
6. Did you find the project difficult?
7. Can you follow instructions and still make interesting photographs?
8. Which is your most successful photograph and why?
Independent Learning
Assignment #1 Make up a photography game.
Structure a set of rules with which to play.
Design and make your game using your own photographs
The rules and their structure are important.
Do we in life operate by rules? Does all art? Or art rules, like tenant rules or art violations.
Design and make your game ready to present and display on 10th of November, 2020.
Some examples could be a set of playing cards with instructions on how to play, a photography board game, a general knowledge game, design and make a set of cards that give instructions for taking photographs, a set of instructions to make a camera, a set of instructions for an exhibition of photographs based on photographs inspired by Erwin Wurm.
Your game needs to be well made, think about using card, text (a typewriter?), a laminator or a found box. Make your own cards and laminate them.