Here are some key differences between mundane and uncanny:Mundane:- Ordinary, routine, commonplace - Things we encounter every day without much thought- Familiar, unremarkable- Boring, lacking interest or excitementUncanny: - Strange, odd, surreal- Provoking an uneasy feeling of familiarity with something unfamiliar - Seemingly supernatural, paranormal - Unpredictable, disconcerting- Provoking curiosity rather than boredomSome examples:Mundane - Doing chores, commuting to work, watching typical TV.Uncanny - Finding something bizarre in your home, encountering
Similar to Here are some key differences between mundane and uncanny:Mundane:- Ordinary, routine, commonplace - Things we encounter every day without much thought- Familiar, unremarkable- Boring, lacking interest or excitementUncanny: - Strange, odd, surreal- Provoking an uneasy feeling of familiarity with something unfamiliar - Seemingly supernatural, paranormal - Unpredictable, disconcerting- Provoking curiosity rather than boredomSome examples:Mundane - Doing chores, commuting to work, watching typical TV.Uncanny - Finding something bizarre in your home, encountering
Similar to Here are some key differences between mundane and uncanny:Mundane:- Ordinary, routine, commonplace - Things we encounter every day without much thought- Familiar, unremarkable- Boring, lacking interest or excitementUncanny: - Strange, odd, surreal- Provoking an uneasy feeling of familiarity with something unfamiliar - Seemingly supernatural, paranormal - Unpredictable, disconcerting- Provoking curiosity rather than boredomSome examples:Mundane - Doing chores, commuting to work, watching typical TV.Uncanny - Finding something bizarre in your home, encountering (20)
Here are some key differences between mundane and uncanny:Mundane:- Ordinary, routine, commonplace - Things we encounter every day without much thought- Familiar, unremarkable- Boring, lacking interest or excitementUncanny: - Strange, odd, surreal- Provoking an uneasy feeling of familiarity with something unfamiliar - Seemingly supernatural, paranormal - Unpredictable, disconcerting- Provoking curiosity rather than boredomSome examples:Mundane - Doing chores, commuting to work, watching typical TV.Uncanny - Finding something bizarre in your home, encountering
1.
2.
3. Immersive experiences
• School: forced into it when you’re young, and
it becomes a huge part of your life.
• Friends: they influence you in positive and
negative ways.
• Literature: you “get lost” in those books….you
“lose track of time.”
• Netflix: “You get Caught up…”
• Games: (nerd alert!!) lose your sense of time!
4. Techniques artists use to CREATE
immersive experiences
• Try to relate to the view through personal experience:
example: Damali Abrams vlog series OR….
• Create an emotional response in the viewer. example: Starry
Night: Enigmatic response
• Create a scenario that provokes the viewer into thinking of
LOTS OF STUFF ALL AT ONCE. example: Tino Seghal
• Find ways to trigger your senses: sight, sound,
temperature.
• example: breaking the cycle Betan Curth and Neumann
Virtual REALITY: a fake or false world that you get sucked into kinda
through the use of technology! example: Occulus Rift
• Provocative (causing arousal, alertness, or curiosity)
imagery: Kara Walker’s Sugar Baby
5. Immersive experiences
• Ash-SON: Anywhere in NYC, like Times Sq. or Riverside.
• LEO: Video Games…feel like you’re “IN the ARENA or
BATTLEFIELD.”
• Joe: sound in movie theaters for ACTION movies.
• Nicole-1: Immersed in TV shows. OR…Literally
immersed in Agua.
• Vinchenzo: Anything that creates a sense of nostalgia.
Being immersed in a memory may inform your
FUTURE. WOW.
• VANYA: Literature, like books like, you know you get
into it. Especially if you like read it a lot. You get
engulfed in it.
6.
7.
8. “A group of monks from Massachusetts organized a walking
pilgrimage to retrace the transatlantic slave trade. Because my
mom practiced Buddhism, it’s always been part of my life. I found
out about the pilgrimage and instantly knew that I wanted to go. I
was an assistant to photographer Walter Chin, and happy with the
job, but I left it and left a boyfriend to go on the journey. We went
from Massachusetts to New Orleans to Key West. From there we
took a boat through the Caribbean Islands, which have had a huge
impact on my work. There was an offshoot that went to Brazil by
boat, but I came back to the States for two weeks to fundraise
because we lived communally by donations and shared our
resources.
I was a year-and-a-half with the monks and then I hitched
throughout the east coast of Africa with a friend for another year.
So, I rejoined the pilgrimage in Gambia and we walked to Nigeria,
where we took a plane to South Africa. The pilgrimage came to an
end in 2000 when we met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of
the leaders of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We walked eight hours a day, everyday. It was a walking
9. Over 2,400
miles (just in
the USA..)
About 750
hours of
walking…
Over 2,200
miles (just in
Africa..)
About 680
hours of
walking…
11. Xaviera Simmons
Untitled
(still from Number 18/Number 19)
2015
Medium: color photograph
Simmon’s work considers the
language, physicality, and
circumstantial position of the
African American woman,
sometimes staging her into
seemingly parallel realities.
For the Bronx Borough Courthouse,
Simmons creates new work by
stealthily collecting a series of
images that emerge out of a hidden
dance performance in the building in
collaboration with Bronx-based
contemporary artists.
12. Xaviera Simmons
Untitled
(still from Number 18/Number 19)
2015
Medium: color photograph
We all gots different relationships with people.
These phyiscal acts are a way of SHOWING that relationship.
It’s a physical manifestation of EMOTION!
Physical contact is arousing in all senses of the word.
15. GuzzY: Simmons wants her
work to me “open” and more
about interpretation.
Tots: Her work is a
“continuation, rather than
chopped into pieces”
Luis: Wants her work to speak
by itself, without
assistance…with viewer
interaction.
LUPY: The viewer sees
multiple artworks, and the
meaning accumulates as they
see each work.
http://artpulsemagazine.com/surveyor-an-
interview-with-xaviera-simmons
To accumulate: To build up (in
quantity) through repetitive
actions.
Nostalgia
Human Nature
It’s like a story, a narrative.
Make choices,
Greg: All of our
experiences and problems
accumulate into our own
past.
16. Cierra: Open to interpretations about her
work…
Henry: text pieces are treated like
“landscapes” and “photographs.”
Kozak: Text= Imagery!
Bending one medium (material) into
another
Jackie: “photos as sculptures” molds
photos INTO 3d forms
Joe: the viewer should “get ideas” from
the photos and sculptures.
VANIA: reminiscent of Lawrence Weiner’s
artwork (text based artist)
Swiss CHARDO: “Everything should be
seen as a continuation and an
accumulation of images and textures to
create a nostalgic connection”
http://artpulsemagazine.com/surveyor-an-
interview-with-xaviera-simmons
Accumulate:
To acquire over time and
build up in amounts
18. Xaviera Simmons
Untitled (still from Number
18/Number 19)
2015
Medium: color photograph
None of Simmons’ works are self-
portraits, these are explorations of
characters in relationship to landscape
and other themes of “non-linear spaces”
and “in-between spaces,” things that shift
from one thing to another.
She describes herself as “electrically
inspired”, meaning the inspiration is
steady and constant and to that end she
is constantly trying to keep up with
herself and what she engages with.
Literature, news, music, design,
conversations, colors, textures, forms,
science, midwifery, art historical
references, travel, it’s all just “fertilizer”
for the works.
Put it in soil to add nutrients to help
plants grow….FEEDS a plant. To
encourage growth to Motivate!
19. Literature, news, music, design, conversations,
colors, textures, forms, science, midwifery, art
historical references, travel, it’s all just
“fertilizer” for the works.
What motivates you to…
Seeking praise and others’ approval…people’s judgments affect your
Approval from others…
Self esteem may be linked to motivation…
Motivated to keep that self esteem HIGH UP THERE!
Parental pride vs. PERSONAL pride
Make things?
”When those eyes look at my work, they like ‘that shit mad cool’.”
Get involved in things?
Competition
Family motivates me to raise the bar.
Investigate things?
Grades motivate me to investigate further.
Grades dictate your ACADEMIC future.
Sometimes it’s ALL WE CAN SEE, just the drive to get good grades but you may
lose your sense of SELF IMPROVEMENT
The way you treat your grades (and yourself) becomes a routine.
The cycle of getting good grades can actually cause your grades to decrease.
P8
20. Literature, news, music, design, conversations,
colors, textures, forms, science, midwifery, art
historical references, travel, it’s all just
“fertilizer” for the works.
What motivates you to…
Make things?
when I need something.
The satisfaction of completing something!
MOM
REWARDS
Get involved in things?
if it’s FUN and edible.
Curiosity, grades (has real world consequences)
productivity, experience in a thing!
Investigate things?
if it teaches me something, makes me curious
a desire to collaborate with others
to solve things before others (to be competitive, to be OPRAH-
RICH! And/or have an higher standard of living)
P3
21. When does the law apply to some
people and when does it not?
• Social Class and Financial class affects how the law is
applied to you (UNOFFICIALLY)
• Police officers are often “above” the law (see ANY
example of this, EVER.)
• RACIAL BIAS (Unofficially)
• Age - tried as a minor or tried as a legal adult (18+)
• Undocumented people (have like no rights) vs citizens,
inalienable rights
• Previous records (maximum or minimum sentencing)
• Diplomatic immunity: most laws of the country you’re
in don’t apply to you. For some serious crimes, the
diplomat may be extradited (sent back to their own
country to deal with THEIR justice system)
22. Who created
the legal
system? Who
does the
system serve?
http://www.duhaime.org/
2853 BC: Evidence of law during the reign of
legendary Chinese Emperor Fuxi
2350 BC: Urukagina's Code
2050 BC: Ur-Nammu's Code
1850 BC: The Earliest Known Legal Decision
1760 BC: Hammurabi's Code
1350 BC: Deborah (Israel)
1300 BC: The Ten Commandments
1125 BC: Eannashumiddina's Kudurru (Mesopotamia)
1000 BC: The Chou Dynasty Laws
800 BC: Lex Rhodia
700 BC: Lycurgus' Law
621 BC: Draco's Law (Greece)
536 BC: The Book of Punishments (China)
530 BC: Solon's Laws (Greece)
480 BC: Law Code of Gortys or Gortyn (Crete)
450 BC: The Twelve Tables (Rome)
399 BC: The Trial of Socrates (Greece)
400-350 BC: The Chinese Codes of Fa Jing and Li k'vei
(China)
286 BC: Lex Aquila
210 BC: The Qin Code (China)
206 BC: Han Code (China)
200 BC: The Laws of Manu
23. Who created the legal system? Who
does the system serve?
http://www.duhaime.org/
Thieves and adulteresses were to
be stoned to death with stones
inscribed with the name of their
crime.
Dismissal of corrupt men,
protection for the poor and a
punishment system where the
punishment is proportionate to the
crime.
Laws of Morality and Religion. The
King = godly / divine
Hierarchy of deities, religious rules
relating to social hierarchy
24. What is Mundane? What is Uncanny?
• Definition: Boring,
basic, non-descript,
common, ordinary,
routine.
• Landscapes,
#thomaskinkade
• Drake (basic)
• Taylor Swift (basic)
• Schools, some
architecture.
• TVs with BUTTS (not flat
screens)
• relaxing, vs boring
• Fries and pizza (for
Americans)
• Definition:
Unpredictable, strange,
Weird, Mysterious Out
of the ordinary,
spontaneously.
• Frank Gehry Archicture
• Lady Gaga
• The Universe!
• Haunted Houses
• Marta Minujín
• KD??
• The action of making
Abstract art.
25. What is Mundane? What is Uncanny?
• …Everyday, common,
basic, cliché, ordinary.
• …Comic Sans
• Radio stations
(92.3NOW!)
• Commercials (geico,
1800-paynow, kars 4 kids)
• Mona Lisa & Starry Night
(overproduced, and the
meaning is LOST.)
• MEMES
• The Appearance of
Abstract art is MUNDANE.
• Out of the ordinary,
extraordinary, hard to
explain, unbelievable,
perhaps spontaneous.
• mystical creatures
(unicorns, elves)
• Ghosts, Nicki Minaj’s
BUTT,
• Kim K’s ability to write
ANYTHING AT ALL.
• The MEANING of
abstract art is Uncanny
26. “New York is inspiring. It’s
got my heart and my
history and community. But
I’m more interested in a
larger cultural dialogue
that isn’t limited to NY.
Often I look for the
mundane or the uncanny
and try to undress such
social phenomena by
intervening in some
alchemical way (through
magic or sorcery) . I’m
going to Manila and Tokyo
soon and eager to see
how those cities will
inspire.”
31. Michelle Lopez
Smoke Cloud II
2014
Architectural glass, silver nitrate, ultraviolet
rays, walnut
All of these elements
build the artifice of the
‘pomp and
circumstance’ of an
important figure or
event.
Everything is really just
‘smoke and mirrors’,
which leads me to talk
about the Smoke Cloud
work, which were
partly inspired by
images of the recent
Ferguson riots of
people in protest
standing in the middle
of tear gas clouds.
“Smoke and mirrors” is a
metaphor for something that is
deceptive or fraudulent,
pretending to be something that
it’s not.
34. Michelle Lopez Video Installation
• Birds and Windows – How do they relate?
– We can see through windows…sometimes there’s a bird. Birds are
FREEEEEEEDOOOOOOMMMM
– Birds fly into windows….because they’re transparent. Because windex!! They’re
deceived into believing that the window isn’t even there in the first place.
– The window is “deceiving” the birds. It’s an ILLUSION to them.
– Greek Grandma feeding the birds…but then one day she didn’t feed them and
they crashed into the window.
– Ryan crashed into the door at H&M…and security made fun of him.
– Dealing with FAILURE: Give the world a STANK face.
– To err is human. ..you gotta cry…and throw excrement at people
– You may fail but you’ve gotta get back up (and hope it doesn’t smell)
– You LEARN from failure. …but you still are mad and disappointed in yourself,
shocked and chagrinned! .
– Remember your failures BECAUSE….
• You don’t wanna feel that way again.
• Use that failure as Motivation… .turn it into a learning experience.
35. Michelle LopezVideo Installation
• Birds and Windows – How do they relate?—POORLY.
– Birds sometimes “bump” into windows (fly INTO windows.
– Bird hit a building and it DIED.
– Windex commercial….birds don’t realize that there’s even a
window there in the first place.
– There’s a REALITY that birds are oblivious to. By believing in the
illusion, their necks get snapped and they DIE.
– WE ARE THE BIRDS, oblivious to illusions and lies until .
– Is it better to fly through the air as if there are NO windows to
crash into? Or be so scared of crashing into windows that you
never try to fly in the first place?
– If fear takes over you, that will guide your path.
– ‘waste of time’ not all rewards are immediately received.
– Risk Averse
– “You don’t wanna look back on life and think “what if…”
– You don’t know what success is like until you know what failure
is.
36. Michelle Lopez in her studio
in Bushwick Brooklyn
“I think relevance and
innovation are really
important. I don’t think
people though will tell
you if your work is
irrelevant or not
innovative. I’d like them
to.”
What do you think it means to be “relevant” or “innovative?”
Innovative: Taking something ordinary and making something NEW…doing
something for the BETTER of the world. Clean energy cars (like TESLA!! Elon
Musk)
Relevant: To be important in TIME, SITUATION, Relevant things advance
forward…irrelevant things get lost in the past.
P8
37. Michelle Lopez in her studio
in Bushwick Brooklyn
“I think relevance and
innovation are really
important. I don’t think
people though will tell
you if your work is
irrelevant or not
innovative. I’d like them
to.”
What do you think it means to be “relevant” or “innovative?”
TO IMPROVE ON SOMETHING THAT ALREADY EXISTS, TO MAKE IT
BETTER.
RELEVANCY CONNECTS TO A SPECIFIC TIME/PLACE /ISSUE - IT’S NEEDED,
IT’S NECESSARY. .
P3
38. ..Some of her work is a mix of mundane OBJECTS with maybe an uncanny
MEANING.
..Lana ACTUALLY likes her!! Lopez draws on experiences that may be
mundane to some or uncanny to others.
.Uniting opposites …it’s quite innovative, with an unexpected outcome.
.using TONS of different materials (questions what is art…)
Sometimes she’s kinda mundane.
.
P8
Final Thoughts…
39. The past two days everyone had something to say since it was related to
them.
Lopez’ work can be related to our lives because of our interpretation.
Her work evokes serious and complex issues through something so simple.
These conversations don’t work if you’re “immature” and not ready to face
this issue (if you’re in denial.
P3
Final Thoughts…
40. With his signature linoleum floor tiles, David Scanavino’s work explores
the mundane designs of institutional spaces. Whether a state hospital,
a public school, or a bureaucratic agency, Scanavino’s work transforms
its language into what curators call “an abstract, seductive form.”
What do you see?.
Creepy opening
Looks like a mirror
Narrow tall rectaaaangular doorway.
Multicolored tile floor
It bothers jackie…she don’t like it. “the
ugliest kitchen floor in the world.”
_Prince Henry
“Wacky Uncle’s Tie” – Tio Jackie
Dirty walls of public showers.
Looks like it is under construction.
41. With his signature linoleum floor tiles, David Scanavino’s work explores
the mundane designs of institutional spaces. Whether a state hospital,
a public school, or a bureaucratic agency, Scanavino’s work transforms
its language into what curators call “an abstract, seductive form.”
What do you see?.
.Alice in Wonderland
Two lil’ dots (so cute!)
Abandoned Shower Room
Communal: dirty, abandoned, like it’s
been used a whole bunch
Pattern on the floor
Small entrance…but a bigger space
Ny Hall of Science (queens WHAT!)
Optical Illusion
LIKE A PSYCHOOO PLACE! WHAT!!
HOSTAGE HOLDING CELL
Mental asylum
Weird mirror room
AHHH IT’S NOT A PATTERN AFTER
ALL.
42. With his signature linoleum floor tiles, David Scanavino’s work explores
the mundane designs of institutional spaces. Whether a state hospital,
a public school, or a bureaucratic agency, Scanavino’s work transforms
its language into what curators call “an abstract, seductive form.”
David Scanavino
Untitled
2015
Linoleum tile
44. David Scanavino
Candy Crush
2014
St. Louis, MO
I’ve done a lot of floor pieces before, but this is the
first one that climbs the wall and engages with the
architecture in an aggressive way. Usually the floor
pieces are passive because they’re, you know, on
the floor.”
48. Donald Judd,
Untitled
1989
Douglas Fir Plywood,
Dia:Beacon, NY
MINIMALISM!
THE ACT OF REDUCING
ART DOWN TO AS FEW
PARTS AS POSSIBLE!
SUBTLEY!
RAZOR SHARP
DETAILS!
PRECISION
49. With his signature linoleum floor tiles, David Scanavino’s work explores
the mundane designs of institutional spaces. Whether a state hospital,
a public school, or a bureaucratic agency, Scanavino’s work transforms
its language into what curators call “an abstract, seductive form.”
David Scanavino
Untitled
2015
Linoleum tile
ANYWAY….
50. Born in 1978 Denver, Colorado. Lives in New
York City.
“[My work is]
almost like a
kindergarten
classroom,”
Scanavino
explains. “It’s
bright greens,
and yellows,
and reds.
Hopefully it’s a
very engaging
social piece
that people are
going to want to
walk on and run
up and down
on.”
51. David Scanavino
Untitled
2015
Linoleum tile
With his signature
linoleum floor tiles,
David Scanavino’s
work explores the
mundane designs
of institutional
spaces. Whether a
state hospital, a
public school, or a
bureaucratic
agency, Scanavino’s
work transforms its
language into what
curators call “an
abstract, seductive
form.”
52. Why do you think institutional spaces are
designed the way they are?
.Almost like jail: Closed in, not enough
space,
Not the happiest place on earth
Basic, so you’re not distracted. You’re there
for a PURPOSE.
Bland Colors, neutral, not flashy, not bright.
Consistent color design.
TRADITIONAL – Orthodox, mundane,
Intentional color work (light babyblue) but
then it starts to fade and becomes kinda
GROSS.
Describe institutional
spaces.
School
public,
JAIL
Hospital
Old apartment
buildings (hallways)
Old folks home.
53. Why do you think institutional spaces are
designed the way they are?
.Designed to be isolated
.You usually only go inside if you have a reason
to go in.
Designed to contain something (books, people,
forms, plants).
Schools: meant SHOULD to make the student
comfortable.
Jails: no frilly designs
Libararies: comfy chairs, wifi,
Made SIMPLE: UTILITY. PURPOSE. 90
DEGREE ANGLES.
IF YOU COMPARE SCHOOLS THAT ARE BUILT
NOW, THEY’RE DESIGNED TOTALLY
DIFFERENTLY: FRANK SINATRA SCHOOL.
Describe
institutional spaces.
SOMETHING VERY
REGULATED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
JAILS
PUBLIC USE
(SCHOOLS
LIBRARIES,
COMMUNITY
GARDENS, CITY
HALL)
54. David Scanavino
Untitled, 2015
Linoleum tile
“The museum is
such a beautiful
environment and I
think more people
should experience
it, It should be
really inclusive to
all types of people,
and it’s great when
they encourage a
younger generation
to come experience
the arts.”
55. Ramifications (consequences) of these
ideas?
.increased curiosity from visitors.
….economical: museum may need to lower
price$ in order to be more inclu$ive.
.some Museums are expensive!!
To give “more access” to people is
empowering. They can explore new topics
and learn cool stuff.
It’s like a cycle! The more people involved,
the more they encourage others to
experience the arts.
And it IS cyclical!
Younger folks may be exposed to NEW stuff
that they may not want to see? OR that they
want to see.
You’ve gotta see stuff that challenges you if
you also wanna see stuff that you LIKE.
If the art doesn’t challenge you, you may
lose interest….you lose appreciation for it.
“The museum is
such a beautiful
environment
and I think more
people should
experience it, It
should be really
inclusive to all
types of people,
and it’s great
when they
encourage a
younger
generation to
come
experience the
arts.”
P3
56. Ramifications (consequences) of these
ideas?
“Broaden the horizons” of the public - open
up their plane of thinking.
“How do you make EVERYONE feel included?”
Have the OPPORTUNITY to see it…whether or
not you like/dislike
Variety in art helps, also easy to
understand art.
Free services (wifi, toilets)
The higher the price of entry, the more
affluent the people in the museum (thus,
free-museum nights)
Younger people can help “balance out” the
museum audience.
Make younger people more interested in
museums..and not excluded.
“a certain type of attitude at the museum.”
HOW YOU CONNECT WITH THE ART.
“The museum is
such a beautiful
environment
and I think more
people should
experience it, It
should be really
inclusive to all
types of people,
and it’s great
when they
encourage a
younger
generation to
come
experience the
arts.”
P8
61. Shellyne Rodriguez is a multi-media artist
born and raised in the Bronx. She creates
environments inhabited by her sculptures,
collages, drawings and paintings, which
work together in a manner that is reflective
of hip hop culture.
Her work explores the tension between
hope and despair using autobiographical
content as well as socio-historical markers
to examine the passions of the soul as
understood and examined through the
Baroque. Shellyne graduated with her BFA
from The School of Visual Art and
completed her MFA at Hunter College. Ms.
Rodriguez is currently based in New York
City.
65. Shellyne
Rodriguez
Prototype for
Belphegor’s
Eye
2014
Medium: 168
flesh-tint dyed
mousetraps,
rhinestones,
gold chains,
copper wire,
plywood
In demonology, Belphegor is a demon, and one of
the seven princes of Hell, who helps people make
discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them
ingenious inventions that will make them rich. In
Christian mythology, he is most closely associated
with the sin of Sloth.
J.A.S. Collin
de Planc
Dictionnaire
Infernal
1863
71. Shellyne Rodriguez
Allegory for Hope and Despair
2014
Medium: ceramic
Allegory: a story, poem, or
picture that can be
interpreted to reveal a
hidden meaning, typically a
moral or political one.
72. Shellyne Rodriguez
Allegory for Hope and Despair
2014
Medium: ceramic
Allegory: a story, poem, or
picture that can be interpreted to
reveal a hidden meaning, typically
a moral or political one.
Question….