This document discusses themes related to belief systems in contemporary visual art after 1980. It provides examples of artists who incorporate spirituality and religion into their work from a variety of cultural traditions. The document examines how artists express their own belief systems and values through their work, and how globalization has influenced the incorporation of non-Western religious motifs and practices. It highlights several artists such as Bill Viola, Shirazeh Houshiary, and Angelica Mesiti who reflect on themes of faith, ritual, and culture in their multimedia installations and videos.

1. KVB127 Visual Art Open Studio 2
Week 8: Belief Systems

2. Robertson, J., & McDaniel, C. (2017). Themes of contemporary art:
Visual art after 1980 (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Belief Systems
Historically, art and spirituality have had a strong bond and
have frequently been mutually reinforcing.
To some degree, all art expresses the values and views that of
the artist – their belief systems.
In light of the increased globalization of culture, non-European
motifs, practices and cosmologies are now part of the
language of contemporary art.
• Experience
• Materiality/Process
• Iconography

3. Bill VIOLA (American b. 1951)
The crossing, 1996
two-channel color video installation, four channels of sound, 10 min 57 sec
We have to reclaim time
itself, wrenching it from the
"time is money" maximum
efficiency, and make room
for it to flow the other way
– towards us. We must take
time back into ourselves to
let our consciousness
breathe and our cluttered
minds be still and silent.
This is what art can do and
what museums can be in
today’s world.
Bill Viola, as quoted in Buddha Mind in
Contemporary Art, Jacquelynn Baas and
Mary Jane Jacob, eds. (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 2004),
p. 254

4. John MARTIN
The Great Day of His Wrath 1851–3
Oil paint on canvas, 1965 × 3032 mm
Tate Gallery

5. Malevich’s Black Square, 1916 Rothko’s Chapel, Houston, Texas, 1971

6. Pipilotti RIST (Swiss b.1965)
Pour Your Body Out (7563 cubic feet), 2009, MOMA New York

7. Kimsooja (South Korea b. 1957) | Lotus: Zone of Zero, 2008
Approx. 2000 lotus lanterns; Tibetan, Gregorian, and Islamic chants; Steel
structure and cables.

8. Lindy LEE
(Australian b.1954)
The Tenderness of Rain, 2011-2012, burnt paper
Unnameable, 2017, Mirror polished bronze

9. Timmy PAYUNGKA Tjapangarti
(Pintupi people, c.1940–2000)
Sandhill country west of
Wilkinkarra, Lake Mackay, 1971
Timmy PAYUNGKA Tjapangarti
(Pintupi people, c.1940–2000)
Tingari cycle at Wilkinkarra, 1996

10. Shirazeh HOUSHIARY
(Iranian b. 1955)
with Pip Horne Studio
Right of Spring, 2012
Pencil, pigment and black
Aquacryl on canvas and
aluminium 190 x 190 cm
Commission for St Martin-in-
the-Fields, London, 2008
Etched mouth blown clear
glass and shot peened
stainless steel frame

11. Gerhard RICHTER (German b. 1932)
Window for Cologne Cathedral, 2007

12. Sigmar POLKE
(German 1941 – 2010)
Grossmünster Cathedral: Zurich, Switzerland, 2009
Sigmar POLKE
(German 1941 – 2010)
Higher Forces Commanded: Paint the
Upper Right Corner Black!, 1967

13. Xenobia BAILEY
(African American b. 1955)
Mothership 1: Sistah Paradise’s Great
Wall of Fire Revival Tent, 2002

14. Fred Tomaselli (b. 1956). (n.d.). Retrieved September 13,
2021, from https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5496997

15. Fred TOMASELLI
(American b. 1956)
Untitled (Expulsion), 2000
leaves, pills, mushrooms,
photocollage, acrylic and resin on
wood panel

16. Kiki SMITH (German American. b. 1954
Born, 2002
bronze

17. Michael RILEY (Wiradjuri/Gamilaroi 1960-2004)
Untitled (Cloud series), 2000
Inkjet on banner paper, 86 x 125cm

18. Angelica MESITI (Australian, b. 1976)
Rapture (Silent Anthem), 2009
single channel digital video, colour, silent (10:10)

19. Week 8 Reflection
All art reflects, to an extent, the artists world view.
What belief systems does the work convey?
• Is the artist reflecting a genuine religious belief in
their work? OR
• Are they proposing different, layered notions of
faith, ritual or culture?
• Are they speaking about a personal viewpoint, or
seeking to reflect broader, external cultural
tendencies?
• How is religion or spirituality conveyed by their
materials, processes, motifs, references,
symbolism, subject matter?
Make notes in your blog…. as necessary
Michael RILEY (Wiradjuri/Gamilaroi 1960-2004)
Untitled (Cloud series), 2000
Inkjet on banner paper, 86 x 125cm

20. 1.3 OBJECT (Week 7/8 Task)
Produce a 3D print of a digital composition
using the applications Metashape and
Blender.
Preparation
Before exporting from Metashape:
• Use the selection and delete tools to
remove all unwanted parts of your model.
• Use Tools>Mesh>Close Holes to close any
holes in your model (Blender can do this,
but it is a little erratic for some forms)
After exporting:
• If your OBJ is larger than 15MB,
use Tools>Mesh>Decimate Mesh to
reduce the number of polygons (500,000
should be fine).
This Week:
Blender: download the application from
blender.org and familiarize yourself with the
interface and key tools. (See online tutorial
links in last week’s announcement)
Frank BENSON
American b.1976
Various 3D printed figures 2011-2018

22. HINDU TANTRIC PAINTING
Rajasthan, India
From Tantric Song by
Franck Andre Jamme,
2011