Week 5 Selfie

SILENT CRIES

 

 I created a digital image titled "Silent Cry" inspired by the artist Mutu and a tragic incident involving a classmate who took her own life. The name "Silent Cry" signifies the hidden pain behind it. Just a week before her passing, I spoke with my classmate, and everything appeared normal. Her silent struggle shocked me, as there were no apparent signs. It made me realize the importance of recognizing people's inner battles and showing them that their lives are valued. The artwork draws from Wangechi Mutu's exploration of the blurred lines between reality and representation.

 

Wangechi Mutu Dress Cultural Critique in Freakishly Beautiful Disguises

 

Q1. "Mutu is drawn to the blankets as a signifier of economic contrasts between the West, where they're considered low-grade and often used for moving furniture, and Africa, where for many they serve the basic function of providing warmth."

 

This quote talks about how Wangechi Mutu uses blankets in her art to show the differences between the Western world and Africa. By using blankets, she's trying to tell us about the big gaps in wealth and resources between these places. It's like she's saying, "Look, in the West, blankets are just comfort items, but in Africa, they can mean something else, like struggling to stay warm."

Mutu's art is like a conversation about how societies and cultures are not the same. She uses these everyday things, like blankets, to show how they are seen and used differently in different parts of the world. So, it's not just about blankets; it's about how people and places can see and value things in very distinct ways.

 

Q2. "A Shady Promise (2006) is a large diptych that could be read as a present-day Annunciation scene and a tongue-in-cheek critique of religion, though Mutu is never so specific in her associations."

 

This quote talks about a two-part artwork by Mutu called "A Shady Promise" and how it can be understood in different ways. It suggests that this artwork might remind people of an old religious painting called the Annunciation, which is about the birth of Jesus. However, it's important to know that Mutu's art isn't meant to be super clear. She's kind of making a joke about religion, but she doesn't give you all the answers. Instead, she wants you to think about what it means to you. So, her art is like a puzzle where you get to decide what it all adds up to, which makes it more interesting and thoughtful.

How to see yourself  

 

         Q1. “Although the scene appears to show a minor reflecting the king, it actually shows the `mirror reflecting Velazquez's painting of King Philip."

  

This quote reveals that what seems to be a mirror reflecting the king in the painting is, in fact, a mirror reflecting Velazquez's own artwork of King Philip. This twist challenges our perception and introduces a layer of complexity, blurring the line between reality and representation. 

 

               Q2."So, the mirror misrepresents, but it also shows a world of possibility."

 

This quote recognizes that the mirror in Velazquez's painting "Las Meninas" doesn't show things exactly as they are in real life. Instead, it suggests that the mirror offers a doorway to different ways of looking at the scene. It's like saying that art can do more than just show what's in front of it; it can make you think about things in new and interesting ways.

 

It's a bit like looking in a funhouse mirror where your reflection gets all distorted. In this case, the mirror in the artwork doesn't show a perfect reflection, but it adds a creative twist to the whole picture, making you see it from various angles and sparking your imagination.