Bridge 1

Part One : Initial Research

The Original Artwork from Whitney Museum


 

He is Pope Clement VII in pietra dura designed by Jacopo Ligozzi. Pietra dura is a technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images which is having kind of similar texture with the beads used in the sculpture I chose. I chose this artwork because of the technique and the crown in the drawing which is also called Palpa Tiara. Since the colored stones are sliced and cut in different shape sections, they give more drastic expression of delicacy. The effect of using different materials is that this allow the artwork to contain more depth in it which can’t be represented through using just one material. This applies to the techniques and materials used in the palpa tiara too. The combination of different colors and patterns of gems is enough to catch the viewer’s attention. Moreover, the emotionless face of the pope is quite similar to the sculpture because the sculpture itself is motionless and without a face. This led the viewer to get a question about the artwork and try to deep into the artist’s previous purpose on it. 

This photograph is from the film “The Seventh Seal” in 1957. To shortly summarize this scene, the knight encounters Death, personified as a pale, black-cowled figure resembling a monk. The Knight, in the middle of a chess game he has been playing alone, challenges Death to a chess match, believing that he can forestall his demise as long as the game continues. Death agrees, and they start a new game. When I saw the 5 sculptures and the stained glass, this scene popped-up immediately because of not only the visual component, but the meaning and the symbols as well. The match of death and life, especially ‘trying to continue his life, in same scene was quite similar to the main theme from the artwork ‘life and death are omnipresent’. For me, Death’s part in the film depicts the stained glass at the background of the sculptures since they are sharing the common symbol of ‘death’. Moreover, the reflected light on the knight’s hair and face is kind of similar to the reflected lights in the beads of the sculpture.

 


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In visual point, Gustav Klimt’s “Life and Death” is clearly related to the original sculptures that I chose from Whitney Museum. The contradiction of life and death is perspicuously shown in the painting through the composition and usage of colors. The circle of life likewise repeats itself in the diverse, wonderful, pastel-colored circular ornaments which adorn like a garland, and this looks similar to the way the artist adorned the clothing for the five individual sculptures too. Surprisingly, this depicts the never-ending circle of life which is the same theme both arts are sharing with. Moreover, the delicacy of usage of patterns and colors are comparatively almost identical to the details of the artist construct the sculptures.

 

 

Part Two : What If?

If this artwork is painted in oils, this painting won’t have this much drastic impact. Since it is drawn using computer programs, this artwork can hold much detailed informations and be delicate.

Since this drawing was painted through computer programs, this gives this much drastic impact. However, if this is painted in oils or water color, there will be lots of limits to express the depth of colors and textures. Computer painting is the best way to delicately represent all the symbols and subjects such as the wrinkles of the patient and those hospital machines without breaking the entire mood of the painting. Last but not the least, if the artist uses water color, all the subjects which creates the entire mood of the painting such as, the lights from ring on top of the angel, the smog from cigarette, and so on, would be demonstrated too much or too lightly.

If this painting was designed through the patient’s viewpoint, not seeing the drawing as third person, it would be more interesting. Moreover, using different temperature of light through colors would be helpful to emphasize the characteristic of angel and devil. For instance, use warm tone of color for the left side light which comes from the backside of the angel, and use colder tone of color for the light from right side.   

Part Three : My Response

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