' Leaf Litter' (1999-2003)
'Tender' (2003-05)
Fiona Hall's contemporary work relates to the Renaissance concept of Mercantillism.
Research the two examples; 'Tender'(2003-05) and 'Leaf Litter'(1999-2003) to explain how they relate to this concept. First define mercantillism and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance. For each work you will need to describe the shape, form and materials of the work, and explain the ideas behind each example.
These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on Youtube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.
Mercantilism can be defined as an economic system of major trading nations during 16th,17th and 18th century.,which focused on the national wealth and power best served by making more exports and gaining precious metals in return that defined how wealthy an individual was.But since the Renaissance an individuals wealth is now judged on the amount of money one owns.
ReplyDeleteFiona Halls 'Tender' series of work relates to the concept of mercantilism as she incorporates an aspect of nature (being the leaf), with modernisation (the pieces of dollar bills). This is created by her use of materials which features shredded US dollar bills which have been crafted into fragile birds nest in assorted sizes to represent her ideas of the effects of modernisation, the advancement of global trade and deforestation which have deprived birds,animals and people of their own environments.
In her creation of 'Leaf Litters' this also relates to the concept of mercantilism by once again incorporating various currencies of money with a light use of gouache paint in her work to create an x ray image of a leaf.She brings forth the idea of how the leaf and the banknotes are linked by using the multiple banknotes to continue the whole picture and emphasizing the importance of nature through the use of an almost transparent leaf, whilst still revealing how society has become so modernised through the use of the money.
References
The Columbia Encyclopedia,Sixth Edition.(2005)Mercantilism. Retrieved Feb 11.2006,
From http://www.bartleby.com/65.me.mercati.html
Rebeca Cobb-Clark.(3.3.09) from
http://rebeccacobb-clark.blogspot.com/2009/03/fiona-hall-leaf-litter-materials.html
- http://dl.screenaustralia.gov.au/module/849/
Sunday Mornings Radio National with Rhiannon Brown
10:45 Sunday 04/09/2005 from:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/sunmorn/stories/s1451093.htm
Mercantilism defines the wealth,power and the importance of gold and silver showing a nations wealth which led to the obtaining of metals through trade (exports and imports). During the Renaissance the component of mercantilism marginalized artist to a point in which wealth was first to nothing.
ReplyDeleteWhen observing Fiona Hall' work I see how the environment suffers from society, being so corrupted by this so called "mercantilism" and wealthy image that everyone thinks they should live by.
By interpreting the use of money and combining it with homes of animals the piece slowly begins to engage the importance of how we are "depriving and endangering" animals and people of there homes. The nest being the home we see how Fiona Hall expresses this in detail as she describes as being fragile.
In terms of "leaf litter" the repetition of currency is used. Exploring the social decay in relation to mercantilism again. It covers the continuous message for me as being corrupted and destructive. Destroying natural resources that we can probably never have again.
References:
-Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
mercantilism
http://www.answers.com/topic/mercantilism
-http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/sunmorn/img/fiona_hall1.jpg&imgrefurl=http:
Comented on Ivy Railey
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