By: Nicholas Campagna IDENTITY & THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

What did they bring to the art World?  Part of an artist’s role is to reflect what it means to be human – our experiences, emotions, personalities, and lifestyles. Each of the following examples illustrate how artists effectively convey a sense of identity and / or the human experience.

Rejected / what did they not like?:  Was not truly a movement more a theme or part of an artists journey. Each artist has individual views so it would be difficult to say what they rejected.

Influences: Chuck CloseDorothea Lange  In the 1960s, Close was influenced by the Pop Art movement.  Pop artists celebrated images from television, movies, and print media.  Using a photo realistic technique that showed a lot of detail, he painted mostly himself as well as family and friends.  Artist Maynard Dixon, a dashing figure 20 years her senior. Lange and Dixon were married about six months later.  Dixon’s influence on Lange, as an individual and photographer, was profound.

Influences: Annie LeibovitzFrida Kahlo  Influences included Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank and Richard Avedon.  Robert Franks and Cartier-Bresson were at the San Francisco Art Institute at the same time as Annie Leibovitz.  She liked the way their photos were taken in a style of personal rampage, taken in a graphic yet composed way.  Kahlo was deeply influenced by indigenous Mexican culture, which is apparent in her use of bright colors and dramatic symbolism.  She frequently included the symbolic monkey.  In Mexican mythology, monkeys are symbols of lust, yet Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective symbols.  Christian and Jewish themes are often depicted in her work. She combined elements of the classic religious Mexican tradition with surrealist renderings.

Common Characteristics  Usually a portrait of someone  Have more intense emotions than they seem  Artists individuality and originality is extremely apparent

Visual Examples:

Artists Frida Kahlo Dorothea Lange Annie Leibovitz Chuck Close

Thinking Activity: Discus why you think I zoomed in on these specific parts of the of the works

Identity & the Human Experience 45) Frida Kahlo. The Two Fridas. (1939) Oil on canvas.  Much of Frida’s work was self portraits  Painted at the time of her divorce from Diego – believed to reflect her emotional state  This painting is a double self-portrait showing Frida in fancy European dress, while the other one she is dressed as a peasant (refers back to her dual roots: Jewish-German & Indian / Spanish)  The left is the Frida not loved by Diego – see broken heart & severing ties Dripping blood may refer to her miscarriages, surgeries & physical pain  The right is the Frida loved by Diego with an intact heart, holding a miniature portrait of him

Identity & the Human Experience 46) Dorothea Lange. Migrant Mother. (1936) Photograph.  Lange was known for her photojournalistic photography during the Great Depression of the 1930’s  This image became synonymous with the Depression as it captures the hardships of the time – showing the care / worry on the face of this mother (aged 32) with her children  Lange was recording the hardship and exploitation of displaced farmers, rural poverty and migrant workers during the Depression

Identity & the Human Experience 47) Annie Leibovitz. Lance Armstrong (1999) Photograph.  Contemporary photographer Annie Leibovitz is known for her offbeat and unique portraits of celebrities for magazines such as Mademoiselle and Vanity Fair  This portrait of Lance Armstrong features the seven time winner of the Tour de France  He is shown nude but healthy on his bike, part of his identity – his personal fight with Testicular cancer were highly publicized leading to his Livestrong campaign that continues today

Identity & the Human Experience 48) Chuck Close. Self-Portrait. ( ) Oil on canvas.  Chuck Close is known for his portraits using a variety of media, particularly acrylics  He painted himself a variety of times – capturing the changes in his face from the 1970’s to today  Although all of his portraits are considered photorealism and very superficial in style, his self portraits have arguably come to show his confidence and experience as an artist

Thinking Activity: Discus why you think I zoomed in on these specific parts of the of the works

Something Special: … other than the fact that I presented… Frida Kahlo  The Two Fridas and Trotsky's Assassination – Movie Clip  “I hope the exit is joyful and I wish never to return” – Frida Kahlo 

Something Special: Annie Leibovitz Photography

Something Special: Chuck Close  A portrait in progress trailer 

Something Special: Dorothea Lang  Dorothea Lang's Famed Photo of a California Migrant Mother   “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding a still.” – Dorothea Lange

Evaluation: You will be marked on how well you explained each of the 10 sub- headings (indicated in orange). 1. The “look” of your presentation is very important. Don’t make it cluttered with busy backgrounds, select easy to read fonts. 2. Thinking Activity – Did you plan an engaging and creative activity? 3. Bonus (2) marks for having your presentation ready the day before you present for me to look over.