Gottlin_Alexandra_610_F20_01.1A

Assignment 1.1A 

Alexandra Gottlin

10/01/20

Idea #1 Compositional Closure of Classical Western Buildings 

Classical buildings are characterized by compositional closure. Through the ages, these types of buildings have been added to, destroyed, rebuilt, and transformed, but still remain compositionally whole (i.e. an organic, symmetric feel and composition of the structure). Buildings, like St. Peter’s Church in Rome, have been added onto and rebuilt, but these additions contribute to the compositional closure. Here, these changes do not take away from it, which is quite a feat, considering that these are modifications made after the building was originally completed. The Church in Cordoba, which was originally a Mosque, has remained it’s compositional closure, even though it went through a transformation into a Church. The building still remains whole and it is centered on its Mosque-esc origins. 

Idea #2 Minimalism & Unity of Forms 

The idea of minimalism centers around stripping away any of the excess in the background and focusing on the form of the shapes. For instance, instead of a painting with women and men dancing in a ballroom, a spectacular buffet displayed in the back, and a gorgeous chandelier overhead, a minimalist approach to portraying a dancing pair would perhaps be two curved lines (or perhaps, one long curved line). In doing so, the work becomes singular and focused. 

Idea #3 Postminimalism & Control 

Postminimalism focuses on the medium, but not close control of the overall form. Many artists in the post-minimalism movement focused on controlling the environment for their artwork, such as a piece of cloth. They then can choose a material, such as sand. However, they lose their control when they let the medium of their choice, in this case sand, take wind and fall wherever it would like to in the environment. The art here lies in where the sand lands, and who the medium interacts freely within its environment. Therefore, this movement focuses more on the actual material instead of the great being that the material forms. The loss of control is in fact a big component to the art. 

Idea #4 Randomness & Meaning 

Often in nature, we find shapes and patterns that appear random, but when we further explore them, we understand that they are not random and have great purpose. A honeycomb is a hexagon shape, which may appear random at first. However, when you dive a little closer into the meaning, you will discover the hexagon is the strongest shape, which uses the least amount of material, that allows bees to make the form of their honeycomb. A moire is similar in the sense that there is a repeating pattern that might differ in scale and might appear random, but on a larger level their compositional whole makes them not random. 

Idea #5 Individuality vs. Whole

We saw the video of the “boids” who were given a set of rules on the local level, and how they ended up forming an almost ballet like dance on the whole. It was quite beautiful to watch. Similarly, every winter, I always find it amazing how birds intuitively on an individual level know to migrate South, and as a whole, they end up in the correct location (after each flying thousands of miles individually). It appears that there is this natural occurrence, whether it be in art, architecture, nature, music, etc., that individuals, each given the same set of rules, will act as one.