Untitled from The Series Technological Reliquaries 1964
This piece was created during the Vietnam war by Paul Thek. During this time there was a great amount of tension which led to many people speaking out against what was happening. Many people did this through applying art.
- This piece in particular is made with wax, paint, polymer resin, nylon monofilament, wire, plaster, plywood, melamine laminate, rhoudium-plated bronze, and acrylic. All of this contributes to the gory lifelike appearance of it. It’s meant to represent an unidentifiable body part.
- The art’s message is not only is it meant to criticize the Vietnam War, that was said to fetishsize violence, it was also a commentary on other art at that time. Other art that was being made was centered around minimalism and neatness and Thek went against this by making a piece that’s the complete opposite.
- I liked this piece because it caught my eye immediately, I had to do a double-take and look closer because I wondered how he made it look so realistic, but at the same time alien. Reading the description really added insight on the meaning and added context to the time the piece was made.
- I think this shows the fake component, since he’s criticizing art that was only showing neat, minimalist designs, although that wasn’t a reflection of what was happening in the world. He was trying to show something raw and genuine. But, also it’s fake since he’s making something that at first seems very realistic until you look closer and figure out that it’s not what it seems.
Miss E. Knows 1967
- This painting was made around the same time as Thek’s piece, it was also a criticism of the Vietnam War. The painting is acrylic on plexiglass with aluminum and rubber.
- Although the painting is colorful and almost cartoonish, it depicts a woman very disfigured from what the viewer can assume is bombs. The description of the painting says that’s its meant to show the effects of the American Bombing Campaign that was currently taking place in Vietnam War
- This painting interested me because of the contrast, it was painted in very pastel colors, but was centered around a dark subject.
- This relates to the theme of fake because the artwork presents itself in a very happy tone, while battling dark subjects
The Societies on This Planet Bed, 1992
This bed was made by Ettore Sottsass. Much of the furniture/pieces he worked on had a similar distinct style, including this one.
- The materials used were pear-wood and laminate berth.
- The bed is meant to link modern elements with ancient ones. The headboard is meant to reference a medieval tower while the foot board is in his familiar style. The bed wasn’t meant to invoke a specific response like the pieces previous.
- I liked the bed mainly because of the design, it seemed to be futuristic and retro at the same time, like many of his other pieces.
- I wasn’t really sure if it could relate to themes of fake/real. Maybe in the time periods it’s meant to emulate, that could be considered fake.
Autobiographic Design, 1993
Although this wasn’t one of his large pieces like, his furniture or films, it’s still something that was very clearly his. There’s a clear style in these drawings that carry over into other things he made. Looking at this and reading them, makes him seem like a real person rather than a big artist. This was the main reason I liked it, it was so simple and personal.
I don’t think this was meant to bring across any message, since this seems more like an archival piece of work. Perhaps he wrote it just to show insight on his life and the way he thinks.
This could relate to the theme of fake when relating to how someone is precieved by the public and how they describe themselves. Since this is a personal piece from Sottsass himself, it could be showing a genuine side of him.
