Connect- curate, design and propose
Explanation of my title/theme
I decided to name my exhibition ‘The Human Condition’ as i believed that all the artworks in this exhibition are connected by human experiences that people go through and their conditions that came along with those experience; which are evident in these pieces. Another way that they are connected is by their medium and their subject matter of human figures/portraits.
space/venue - where my exhibition will be presented
my exhibition will be presented at Australian Centre For Contemporary Art (ACCA), in their gallery 01 room.
= artworks
entry
exit
Entry wall text
Edgar Degas wall text
Vernon Ah Kee wall text
Kathe Kollwitz wall text
= walking path
plan
Artwork 4
Artwork 3
Artwork 1
Artwork 2
Artwork 5
Artwork 6
Explanation of the flow
I decided to design my exhibition in this way as i believe that the design creates a steady flow for people to walk through. I put in 3 walls to separate my artists and also put a couch in the middle of the areas so people can take their time to look at the artworks. I decided to put the wall text about the artist on the far wall of the area so they can make the choice to read that as they enter the area or when they leave. I then dedicated one wall for each artwork so that you can focus on one artwork at a time. I also decided to put the larger artworks on the larger walls so it takes up more of the space and does not look empty. I also decided to put the artists in that order as the further you go into the exhibition, the more prominent and confronting the theme becomes.
couch
I decided to choose this couch as it is a nice plain colour to put within the areas, i also chose a couch without a back as it allows more people to sit on it.
exit!
Plinth
Entering wall
THE
HUMAN
CONDITION
Artworks in this exhibition are all connected by the theme of human condition and also by the same materials, such as charcoal and pastels. Through these artworks the theme of how the human body is used and worked becomes present as you make your way through the exhibition. These artworks all focus on life and the events that people go through that makes them who they are, and how the body is able to adapt in times of stress and hardship. This is shown through the artists Edgar Degas, Vernon Ah Kee, and Kathe Kollwitz, who all present alternative ideas of human nature.
explanation
This is the last section of my exhibition with the exit on the left hand side. I put in the wall colours with the text that will be presented in the exhibition just so you could get the idea of what it would look like. I also added in the couch so you can picture where you would be able to sit down.�
conservation
I added some long slim plinths (underneath every artwork in every room) which run across the floor. This then creates a small barrier so that people don't get/stand too close to the work and accidentally damage it. Since 4 out of the 6 pieces are quite old, these need to be protected and will have glass over the top of these so nothing can happen to them. This means that is somehow if someone touches or spill something on it, it will be done to the layer of glass on top.
Lighting and sounds
The lighting that i decided to choose in 40 lux level, since these pieces are done with pastels and the majority of them are quite old, i didn't want to expose them to harsh light and i believe that the lower light goes with the theme and makes it more gloomy.
I decided to have this exhibition with no sound as i wanted the people to be alone with their thoughts while they ponder about the artworks.
roles
Invigilator- two-three invigilators that float around the area to help anyone if they have any questions about the exhibition or the artworks.
Technicians- set up all the artworks, put in the walls and designated text, put in the walls, and placed the couches.
Exhibition designers- i worked with exhibition designers to create the walls and make them the appropriate colours for the artists.
Conservators- helped put the glass over the pieces, put down the plinths and set the lighting to the suitable lux level that has been chosen.
Edgar Degas
Edgar degas was a french impressionist known for his pastel drawings and oil paintings. He was born 19th July 1834 and died 27 September 1917. Many of Degas pieces consisted of ballerinas or woman figures; he was obsessed with the art of classical ballet. Degas rejected the term ‘impressionist’ and he preferred the term ‘realist’. At first Degas wanted to be a history painter but decided against and changed courses in his 30’s. The pastels that Degas used were revealed to be Roche pastels. In the last 50 years of Degas life he suffered from retinal eye disease which affected the way he saw colour and how he saw in general, but still enjoyed his drawing and painting.
Artist 1 wall text - in this font and colour
---
true wall colour
106cm x 108cm
Edgar Degas
Born 1834, Paris, France
Two dancers in yellow and pink
1910
Pastel
Two dancers here are seen after a performance sitting down while exhausted and resting, after a demanding performance. Degas liked to capture the raw feeling and unglamorous side of ballet, and what it does to the body and its condition
Artwork 1
true wall colour
eye level
57.8cm x 41cm
Artwork 2
true wall colour
eye level
Edgar Degas
Born 1834, Paris, France
Group of dancers
1900
Pastel
These dancers here are seen backstage with one girl holding her foot and the others are standing beside her. With the light hitting their shoulders and the shadows on their faces, capturing the pure exhaustion experience by these ballerinas.
Explanation of colours
I chose to pick this wall colour because i believe that the colour compliments the artworks as they both contain a similar kind of colour in the shadows. I also put a white border around the artworks to make it pop a bit more and make it stand out on the wall.
Vernon Ah Kee
Vernon Ah Kee is an Australian Aboriginal artist who was born in 1967 who lives and works in Brisbane Queensland who is a part of the Kuku Yalanji, Waanji, Yidinji and Gugu Yimithirr people. He does many large scale drawings that focus on his ancestors and his family. As he is part of the Aboriginal community his ancestors are a very important part of his life that he brings to his art. Vernons art is about Aboriginals finally becoming seen and visible, and becoming ‘more human’ to the western culture.
Artist 2 wall text - in this font and colour
true wall colour
102 cm x 67.5cm
Artwork 3
true wall colour
eye level
Vernon Ah Kee
Born 1967, Queensland, Australia
George drahm (uncle george) from fantasies of the good
2004
charcoal
This piece was done of his uncle, with the photo reference from the Palm Island Mission between 1921 - 1957, which was to document the Aboriginal people, and labeled them as numbers. Vernon wanted to capture the emotional intensity of their gazes and show they are more than a number
102 cm x 67.5 cm
Artwork 4
true wall colour
eye level
Vernon Ah Kee
Born 1967, Queensland, Australia
Leonard Andy from fantasies of the good
2004
charcoal
This piece was done from a photo reference from the Palm Island Mission between 1921 - 1957, which was to document the Aboriginal people, with only labeling them with numbers. Vernon wanted to capture the emotional intensity of their gazes, showing that they are human.
explanation
I decided to choose the colour for the wall as it also compliments the artworks. Since the pieces are already on a white background it makes them stand out on the walls
Kathe Kollwitz
Kathe Kollwitz was a German artist who was born in 1867, who completed many of her artworks through World War 2. In Kollwitz’ work she usually used the subject matter of women. She often uses hands in her pieces to signify greed, taking, helping etc. In Kathe Kollwitz’ work all her pieces can fall under the broad term of universal human experience. Her work was about the war and how that affected people no matter if they were innocent or not.
Artist 3 wall text - in this font and colour
true wall colour
64.18 cm x 53.1 cm
Artwork 5
true wall colour
eye level
Kathe Kollwitz
Born 1867, Kaliningrad, Russia
Death seizes a women
(tod packt eine frau)
1934
lithography
In this piece death in the form of a figure has crept up from behind, with the women's facial expressions shocked and frightened as she begins to feel death as it takes over her as she grasps her baby even in her weak body.
49.9 cm x 67.4 cm
Artwork 6
true wall colour
eye level
Kathe Kollwitz
Born 1867, Kaliningrad, Russia
The mother
(die mütter)
1919
lithography
In this piece mothers are all huddled together while holding onto their children and protecting them, with the middle women being Kollwitz herself with her two boys. This piece shows the absolute exhaustion that these women are feeling.
explanation
I decided to choose this colour background as these pieces contain warmer colours in them, so i went with the muddy brown coloured grey as it compliments the pieces and makes them stand out on the wall.