For

Senior Years Students

Curriculum

VCE Art

Aim

To expand knowledge of the theme of Constructed Worlds and respond to commentaries on art.

Preparation

To do this activity you will need to:

• Read the information for Theme Eight – Contemporary Art : Constructed Worlds.
• View the work either online or in the exhibition.
• Research through the library or Internet.

Individual Task

Visually analyse the formal elements of the artwork including line, colour, perspective, movement and composition. Analyse the depiction of space, modelling and tonal structure in the work of Thomas Demand.

Research Questions

Analyse the meanings and messages you think are conveyed in Archive 1995.

Look at other work from the last decade by Thomas Demand. Why do you think he made a reference to Riefenstahl? What made her archive appealing?

Consider the following questions: Who was Leni Riefenstahl? Why did she become famous? What was her role in Nazi Germany?

Group Task

Given the plethora of images that bombard us everyday through advertising, billboards, magazines, newspapers, television and the internet, it is no wonder we question the ability of photography to tell the truth. Do you think that documentary photography still has a place in our society today? In what circumstances does our society still rely on the photograph as truth? Discuss.

Do you think there is a parallel between constructed photography and the popularity of reality shows? Where else is in popular culture is the word 'reality' taken for granted. Discuss.