Medium of Art / Technique of the Artist
After completing my tour of the Harn, the two pieces of art that stood out the most to me were two etchings done by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Seeing these engravings in person made me fully understand and appreciate the extreme attention to detail that etchings require. One of the aspects of the work that struck me as the most skillful was how much detail can be reflected in only black and white. As aforementioned, the extreme attention to detail required to contrast the different components of the picture is crucial. One minor mistake could drastically change the end outcome. The medium, in this case etching, was so striking to me because of how different amounts of applied pressure create different outcome. The way the artist executed the technique to produce the end outcome genuinely impressed me.
Design of the Museum
The wing of the museum that I found the most aesthetically appealing was the David A. Cofrin Asian Art wing. The reason I found this particular part of the museum to be most appealing was the way in which it was structured and the unique design of it. The hardwood that can be seen throughout the exhibit was the first thing I noticed that made me particularly fond of the wing. As I continued to explore the wing, I soon found that the specific type of art displayed throughout the wing I enjoyed particularly more than any of the other art I had viewed previously in my exploration of the museum. The principal reason I enjoyed this wing and the exhibits within it was Asian art all emphasizes an extreme attention to detail. Additionally, in all of the exhibit descriptions I read, almost all of the work had a particular inspiration or meaning behind it. I really enjoyed reading the different motivations or reasonings behind the creation of the works and what they were meant to symbolize.
Art and Core Values
The piece of artwork that was the best reflection of my core values was "Dancing Ganesh." Ganesh is one of the most popular and well known Gods in the Hindu religion. Ganesh possesses both aspects of humans and also elephant characteristics. In my opinion, this represents one of the values I pride my self on the most: individuality and the ability to be unique. Similarly, Ganesh is well known for being a mediator and problem solver. When faced with adversity, he is always able to overcome the obstacles in his way efficiently. This is another very relatable value. Problems are always going to arise in life; how you decide to tackle and overcome them is what will truly define you. This piece of art gave me a sense of pride. I am prideful in what I believe in and how it defines me as an individual.
Art and the Good Life
The piece of artwork that resonated with me the most and is visible in my quest for the Good Life was the "Seated Buddha." Buddha was the principal figure in which the prominent eastern religion Buddhism was founded on. Buddhism is a religion that stresses self reflection, balance, and peace. All of these elements are prominent in my personal Good Life Journey. I believe all of these values and themes should be visible in my life and I strive to ensure that I implement aspects of each in my daily life. The piece of art itself communicates these themes by serving as a symbol more than anything else. Buddha is a figurehead, advocate, and commonly associated with all of these values. In that way, there is more of a figurative or metaphorical representation of these themes rather than a concrete or explicit expression.