Learning Through Massimo Bartolini Studio Matters +1

Transcription

1 The Fruitmarket Gallery Learning Through Massimo Bartolini Studio Matters +1 School Workshops, Family Fun, Group Activities Curriculum for Excellence / Creative Learning 45 Market Street, Edinburgh Mon Sat11am 6pm, Sun12 5pm Always free

2 Exhibition: Massimo Bartolini Studio Matters +1 Artist: Massimo Bartolini Born: 1962 in Cecina Nationality: Italian Exhibition at The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh Ireland United Kingdom Represented by Frith Street Gallery, London France Massimo Bartolini born and lives in Cecina, Italy Italy Portugal Spain

3 Here in the studio is where I really think, Massimo Bartolini Massimo Bartolini works with various materials and techniques, including sculpture, performance and photography. He works directly with the space that he is exhibiting in, whether in a gallery or outside, and the space becomes part of the work. Studio Matters + 1 explores the relationship between Bartolini s large-scale installations and his studio practice. The lower gallery contains the installation La strada di sotto (The Street Below) (2011), a field of coloured lights of the kind used to decorate towns in Sicily for celebrations, like at Christmas. The lights get brighter and dimmer in response to the voices in a film shown in a room next to the installation. The man being interviewed in the film is Don Valentino, who originally set up the decorative lights in Sicily. Upstairs the visitor enters the space through a hatch between large tables that have been placed over the stairway. This is part of the installation: the artist has worked with the architectural features to present his work. The objects displayed include sculptures, drawings and photographs that have been made in the artist s studio. They represent the different thoughts and processes that Bartolini works with in his studio practice. The title of the exhibition refers to the two kinds of art on display large-scale installation and studio work, and to Bartolini s approach to making art: he thinks through ideas by making small sculptures alone in his studio, but he realises large-scale installations by working outside the studio with other people at least one plus one. Snapshot: Bartolini s Artistic Practice Art works in the exhibition at The Fruitmarket Gallery are installation and sculpture In his wider practice Bartolini works in photography, video, drawing and performance, using various materials and techniques Bartolini thinks through making small sculptures Rather than just putting art work in a space, Bartolini tends to make work out of a space Bartolini is recognised for his experimentation with materials Bartolini creates real physical environments: as soon as the viewer walks into the space they become part of the work

4 Ways of Looking at Contemporary Art Viewing visual art starts with looking and thinking. Just looking and asking different questions can reveal a huge amount of information. The questions below can be used to view and think about the work in Studio Matters + 1. The After Thoughts are triggers for thinking about the work after a visit to the Gallery. Lower Gallery Installation: La strada di sotto (The Street Below), 2011 First Look What do you see? How does the work make you feel? Do you want to walk around the installation or do you want to stand and stare and have a closer look? How much time do you want to spend with the installation? Closer Inspection What does the work remind you of? Why does it remind you of that? What does the title of the work tell you? Does this change the way you see the work? What words come to mind when you are looking? Do you feel part of the work? How does it feel to be part of the work? Do other visitors in the gallery feel like they are part of the work as well? How are other people in the gallery behaving? Look closely at the framework. How many layers are there? What colours and different materials can you see?

5 Upper Gallery Studioworks First Look What do you see? Is there one work within the display that draws you to it? How are other people in the gallery engaging with the work? Closer Inspection Do you see a theme running through the gallery? e.g. in terms of: Scale Colours Found objects Look at how the artist has combined different objects together. What is the relationship between them? e.g. in terms of: Form Colour Material Size After Thoughts How do you feel after seeing the exhibition? What work/s in the exhibition can you remember the most? Did you like the exhibition overall? Did you have a favourite work? Why? Were there any works that you did not like? Why?

6 and Curriculum for Excellence This exhibition relates to the following areas of Curriculum for Excellence: Art and Design, Drama, Listening and Talking, Participation in Performance and Presentations, Planning for Choices and Changes. When listening and talking with others for different purposes, I can exchange information, experiences, explanations, ideas and opinions, and clarify points by asking questions or by asking others to say more. LIT 1-09a Question Time Ideas for group discussion after exploring the exhibition. Easy 1 What is the name of the Gallery? 2 What colour was the table that covered the stairs? 3 What goes on and off in the lower gallery? 4 What item would you usually sit on that was in the corner of the room upstairs in the gallery? 5 What animal did the stone look like? Harder 1 What was the translation of the title of the work in the lower gallery? 2 Where is the artist from? 3 What six small were clasped in the vice, the work titled The Sheep Smile? 4 What is the small object propping up the work Sala F Souvenir? 5 What is the difference between sculpture and installation? 6 What material does the cameo silhouette appear in? 7 How many different colours are in the installation in the lower gallery? What material and colours make up the framework of the installation?

7 Creative Recipes 1. Airplanes Looking at Distorted Airplane, 2012 Curriculum for Excellence Through taking part in a variety of events and activities, I am learning to recognise my own skills and abilities as well as those of others. HWB 1-19a I can create and present work using the visual elements of line, shape, form, colour tone, pattern and text. EXA 1-03a Ingredients A4 paper Coloured pens or pencils

8 Airplane (for Alberto and Amedeo), 2013 Directions 1 Everyone make a paper airplane For instructions, please see: TItRg0TWk9I/AAAAAAAAADA/EjUk4RI_WW8/s1600/ paper+airplane.png&gt the-design-history-of-portable / paper-plane-instructions/ 2 Let the group throw the paper airplanes around 3 After all the fun and some of the energy and excitement has been used up playing with the airplanes, unfold the airplanes 4 There will be fold marks where the plane has been made and also some other marks from when it was being played with 5 Taking a coloured pen or pencil, draw over all the fold lines on the paper as well as the marks that were made when playing 6 After the folded lines have been marked, lots of shapes will be revealed 7 At this point the project can be taken off in different directions see suggestions below

9 Taking ideas further Ingredients for the development Coloured paper Scissors Directions Idea 1 1 Cut out different coloured paper to fit the different shapes that have been marked out 2 Place the cut out shapes on top of where they came from. This will create a multi-coloured collage Idea 2 Looking at your airplane drawing, there are lots of shapes that have been made. Within these shapes follow one of the lines and keep drawing the line until the space is filled up. e.g. Distorted Airplane, 2012 Idea 3 1 Make an origami shape or animal and play around with the ideas above. For instructions, please see: origami-for-kids.html -for-kids.html

10 Curriculum for Excellence I can create and present work that shows developing skill in using the visual elements and concepts. EXA 2-03a 2. Colour Cityscape Looking at the Installation: La strada di sotto (The Street Below), 2011 Ingredients Plastic bottles Clear plastic cups Water Colouring for water try inks, paint, food colouring Jug Camera Torch

11 Directions 1 Fill all the plastic containers with different coloured water 2 Start to arrange them on a table in two lines 3 Turn off the lights and shine the torch through the bottles. This will light up all the different colours of the water in the bottles 4 Take photographs from different angles of the water bottle cityscape Taking ideas further Idea 1 Curriculum for Excellence Participation in Performance and Presentations I can respond to the work of artists and designers by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others work. EXA 0-07a/EXA 1-07a/ EXA 2-07a/EXA 3-07a 1 Work in small groups, depending on how many torches and filled bottles there are. One person will light the installation with the torch for periods of time and one person will start clapping. 2 The person clapping will clap non-stop when the installation is lit but will stop when the torches are turned off. Idea 2 1 Ask groups to use the internet to research other artists who have used light in their work. How have different forms of light been used? e.g. Olafur Eliasson, The Weather Project The Impressionists and how they represented natural light in their paintings Martin Creed, Work No. 227: The lights going on and off Terms to search for: Light art Light installation Sculptures with light

12 Curriculum for Excellence I can respond to the work of artists and designers by discussing my thoughts and feelings. I can give and accept constructive comment on my own and others work. EXA 0-07a/EXA 1-07a/EXA 2-07a /EXA 3-07a Inspired by a range of stimuli, I can express and communicate my ideas, thoughts and feelings through activities within art and design. EXA 0-05a/EXA 1-05a/EXA 2-05a 3. Playing with objects Bartolini uses objects in his studio to make art works. This is his way of thinking and coming up with ideas. Works to look at: Meeting, 2011 The White Belt, 2009 Enzo Mari, 2009 The Sheep Smile, 2012 Pearl Landscape, 2012 Ingredients Found objects these can be anything from day to day objects found at home or in the classroom. Jam jars Old bicycle wheel Hairbrush Marbles Pencils Dice The Sheep Smile, 2012

13 Plates Old Jewellery Trays Old Shoes Bits of wood or stone Old mobile phone Old ornaments Directions 1 Ask the group to each bring in two found objects from home, or find them in the room you re working in 2 Lay out all the objects on one table 3 Looking at the objects, have a conversation about them all. Do any objects relate to each other in their: Function Colour Shape Weight Size Meeting, Ask each individual to take two objects 5 Ask them to arrange their objects together in the way they would like other people to see them 6 When everyone has done this, ask the wider group how they see other people s objects together. Do they have any relationships? 7 Each individual should start to think about how they would like to present their paired objects. Will it be placed on one of the following?: Table Next to a wall Floor Window ledge Against a particular colour 8 Display the paired objects around the room and take photographs when the installation is finished The White Belt, 2009

14 4. Images from Natural Marks Group Activity Ingredients Paint Thin paintbrushes Different natural materials (these can vary in size to work on either a small or large scale) e.g. Clay (dry) Wood Stone Slate Cameo,

15 Directions 1 Select a piece of clay, wood, stone or slate (or any other natural material) that has an interesting surface pattern and/or some marks, breaks or chips in it 2 Investigate the object, looking closely to see if there are any marks, cracks or bits missing. What does the shape or the marks on the object remind you of? 3 Starting from a natural mark or crack on the object, paint a line from this point to form a shape that comes to mind, taking this mark and creating it into an image 5. Guess the object Use your senses and communication within a group to guess the object 1 Within a group sit three people together and ask them to wear blindfolds Family Fun 2 The others in the group are going to lead the activity and will have to look after the people that are blindfolded 3 Give them one object to pass between them and ask them together to try and think what it is

16 General Questions What is contemporary art? Contemporary art is the term used to describe art of the present day. What is The Fruitmarket Gallery? The Fruitmarket Gallery is an art gallery funded by the taxpayer displaying exhibitions of work that are not for sale. The Gallery presents art made by both Scottish and international artists in an environment that is welcoming, engaging, informative and always free. Gallery facilities include a bookshop and a café. The Gallery is physically accessible and family-friendly. What is an installation? Installation art is three-dimensional work that is often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces that the viewer can interact with and become part of the art work. What is the difference between sculpture and installation? Sculptures are designed to be viewed from the outside as a self-contained arrangement of forms whereas installations often involve the viewer in the space of the work. Resources The Fruitmarket Gallery produces resources that are available in the Gallery and online. Download the current exhibition guide: View publications in the resource room View the short exhibition film in the resource room or online on youtube: Talks and events are programmed for each exhibition: The exhibition is accompanied by a new publication including the artist s own descriptions of each of his studioworks: An educational discount is available: please enquire at the bookshop. Book a group visit Group visits are free and include a welcome and introduction to the exhibition. To book call or [email protected] Written by artist Carla Scott Fullerton and The Fruitmarket Gallery

17 The Fruitmarket Gallery Tell us what you think Are you a c Teacher Primary/Secondary Name of school c Group leader Name of group c Other Your feedback is important to us so we can make improvements to future resources. Tell us what you think about the learning resources and how you ve used them. Keep in touch Join our e-list By providing your address we can keep you updated about all Gallery activities including, talks, events and workshops. The address provided will be used by The Fruitmarket Gallery to send you information about our activities and will not be supplied to any other organisations. The Fruitmarket Gallery is a publicly-funded art gallery of national and international significance, which aims to make contemporary art accessible without compromising art or underestimating audiences. The Gallery is a Scottish Charity (No. SC005576) and is Foundation Funded by Creative Scotland for around 50% of its running costs and must fundraise to support its exhibitions, learning and publishing programmes.