Week 6-Landscape and the Sublime

 'Wanderer in the mists' (1818) Caspar David Friedrich

 'Untitled #2" (2002) Richard Misrach

 'Untitled # 394-03' (2003) Richard Misrach

Richard Misrach's photography reflects the concept of the Sublime, from the Enlightenment.

Research Misrach's work by reading about his intentions, and also by looking at the work. Then answer the following questions;

1. What and when was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment is the era in western philosophy, intellectual, scientific and cultural life, centred upon the 18th century, in which reason was advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority. Some scholars simply use the beginning of the 18th century or the middle of the 18th century as a default date

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The concept of the sublime is defined as the quality of greatness, whether is physical, moral intellectual, or spiritual. It is used to refers to things which nothing else can be compared with because of its greatness.
3. How did the concept of the Sublime come out of the Enlightenment thought?

The Enlightenment is held to be the source of critical ideas, such as the centrality of freedom, democracy, and reason as primary values of society. Which this starts to create the concept of sublime, people in the society starts to think things such as appeal and freedom is very important to them, so therefore the way how people think start to develop, and becomes sensitive to what they want, and their status.

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Add some more images of his work.

Misrach’s work has a very unique way of taking photos; specially some of his photos are taken in a wide perspective and from a great height. His art work gives a very calm and still feeling towards viewers, making the image is very approachable to everyone.

 

 

Richard Misrach
Untitled 1132-04 [Flippers], 2004
chromogenic print

When I saw this artwork, it gives me the feeling which refers back the concept of sublime, making myself to blend into the image as being superior lifted up high as I was looking down on to the ground from a great height, making objects/humans in the photo looks tiny.

 

Pyramid Lake (at night), (2004) Richard Misrach

 

5. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.

 

Somewhere in My Surreal Dreams : A Sus Pies, 2009

By: Luis Beltran

Luis Beltran is a Spanish digital photographer artist, he’s not only a photographer, but also a video artist; he created this artwork captured my attention once I had a glance on this image. This image gives a fantasy and a dream world feeling when I saw it, and also the idea of sublime as well, being on top of the city with the feeling of freedom. Especially the glowing flare in the middle of the girl, which gives me the idea of the girl, is the king/ the ruler of the world.

6. How does Misrach's photography make you feel? Does it appeal to your imagination?

His photography expresses to me as there are no end towards nature with his wide perspective photo images, just like referring to imagination, tells me that imagination are limitless,

7. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.

8. Reference your sources (books and websites).

http://www.amerindianarts.us/articles/concept_of_the_sublime_as_an_aesthetic_quality.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublime_%28philosophy%29

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2008/misrach/misrachinfo_fs.shtm

http://www.edelmangallery.com/misrach.htm

http://iconolo.gy/archive/somewhere-my-surreal-dreams-luis-beltr%C3%A1n/1411

http://luisbeltran.megashot.net/photostream/p/0#photo_1705