Design in Our Lives

                Functional objects can be defined as anything that can be used one-time or repetitively to achieve some goal.  Non-functional objects cannot be used physically in the traditional sense, but can fulfill other types of needs besides utility.  Sculptures are perfect examples of low functional objects because they cannot be used for anything, but they might serve another human need of seeking atheistic objects in a hostile and uncertain world.

                The two functional objects I chose can be used repeatedly and both would be found in someone’s home were the “Tuttuno” and “Floor Tiles”.  The “Tuttuno” was essentially a piece of furniture which had a bed, shelves, storage space and an elevated area to socialize.  This piece was highly functional in the sense that it tried to accomplish many needs in one place by limiting the space actually used.  In cities like Tokyo and New York City where the apartments can be very small this type of unit would be very attractive.  IKEA can be viewed as the ergonomic furniture company because it also has similar types of furniture pieces by creating maximum utility in minimum space.

                The other functional exhibit I chose, “Floor Tiles”, has some very simple household or outdoor uses.  For example, people may install floor tiles in their home because it is more hygienic and easier to clean than other alternatives such as carpeting.  However, wood and tile floors are very similar and someone might choose tiles for a low functional reason because they think it looks better.

                The low functional exhibits I chose were “Stars and Doves” and “Welding Helmet”.  “Stars and Doves” is a sculpture and always should be considered low functional in normal circumstances because it can perform no real action.  However, under extreme conditions such as a robbery in your home maybe that same low functional sculpture can turn into a high functional object at that specific moment in time, if you use it has a weapon to protect yourself.   The “Welding Helmet” is only useful for a specific task which is welding metal, but it has no real use outside of this activity under normal circumstances.

                In conclusion, whether an object has a low or high functionality depends on how integrated it can become in our daily lives to help us achieve certain goals and / or needs.  However, low functionality does not mean any functionality because there could always be extreme conditions which could make the lowest functioning object highly functional.  Finally, some works of art themselves can be highly functional in our minds psychologically because it can help us heal emotionally and spiritually, but perform no real function in the physical world.

Carol Bimbi, Gianni Ferrara & Nilo Giocchini

“Tuttuno”

Plywood covered with plastic laminate

1971

Antoni Gaudi

“Floor Tiles”

Ceramic

1971

Antoni Gaudi

“Stars and Doves”

Plaster

1926

Eugene Walters

“Welding Helmet”

Fiberglass and plastic

1980

Illustrate a Story

     A.P. Tureaud Jr.'s story was very inspiring because he was the first African American student in Louisiana State University in 1953 which was before the Civil Rights movement started.  A.P. was very excited to start his university studies, but when he actually arrived there he realized that he was not welcome by both the students and the faculty.  He was the victim of racial prejudice which took on many forms of humiliation and harassment.  For example, the other students laughed at him in the bathroom when he was taking a shower and made loud noises at night so he wouldn't be able to sleep. Some of the Professors ignored him in class and others went so far as to refer to him as a "nigger".  A.P. made a 'friend' with a tiger because all the people in the University rejected or judged him based on the color of his skin.  A.P. felt that this tiger didn't deserve to be in prison, but in some ways they were very similar.
     The pivotal point in the story was one A.P. met a local African American truck driver.  The truck driver asked A.P. what his name is and when A.P. responded with his name the man was very pleased.  The truck driver told A.P. that he has to meet someone which was the truck driver's son.  The truck driver wanted his son to know that it was true that an African American was actually attending the University.  After, the truck driver's son saw that an African American was in the University, A.P.'s life took on a whole new meaning and significance.  It was not only about his own suffering anymore, but it was about being a role model for African Americans in the community and showing them that it is possible to attend and graduate the University.  This is what my picture tries to illustrate which the triumph and pain of a young African American male joining a community where he was not welcome, but representing a community that he depended on his success as a model for their own chance at achievement.

Art:21 Power Reaction

          Cai-Guo Qiang’s car bomb exhibit relates to the idea of power in many different ways.  In his exhibit, he showed a sequence of cars starting on the ground then flipping through the air and then ending back on the ground without any damage.  The car bomb exhibit was inspired by the attempted car bomb in Times Square, New York City.  The work seems to express that in our post 9/11 world the fear of acts of terrorism have a strong power over our daily lives.  This fear has changed our airports, government agencies and even the people of the United States and other countries, which suffered from acts of terrorism.  His sunken ship exhibit was very interesting as he showed the power and beauty that destructive acts could have on an object.   The ship was not destroyed, but transformed into another state that was still beautiful and natural.  

       My favorite part was the end of the series when the two police officers were talking and one officer said to another, “If, you could hold on to your best moments in life as long as you wanted then let them go that would make all the difference”.  I think the point was that time keeps pulling us forward whether we like it or not and this is something which we have no power to control or change.

Listen | StoryCorps | Page 5

Listen | StoryCorps | Page 5

“MoMA PS1: The Good, the Bad, and the Misunderstood”

“Family Portrait” 

”Golden Ghost (The Future Belongs to Ghost)” 

        When I went to the MoMa PS1 museum with my professor and classmates, it was a nice experience. The museum itself is a very lively place and we can discover different and surprising artwork there.

         The artwork that was, in my point of view, a good work of art was “Family Portrait” (2006), by Henry Taylor. He painted his large family in a portrait and that showed me a lot about himself, like his social and emotional beliefs.  Family is a very important part of my life, when he choose to paint his own family I felt more of a connection with this artist. The child in the center of the painting showed me the importance of children in Henry's life, and at the same time this child could have been him.

         The artwork that I thought was bad was “Xenosphere”, by Lourraine O’Grady.  It is the type of art that depressed me.  However, I believe that other people can appreciate this type of art work. The art work was displayed on the three TVs and the movements portrayed that the artist was having a sexual relation with a chicken(animal), one woman and with vegetables and fruits. When I saw that, I felt like the woman was an object in the man's hands. I did not like how this art work produced these feelings in myself.

        

         The artwork I could not understand very well and why the artist put something there on the floor was ”Golden Ghost (The Future Belongs to Ghost)”  by Surasi Kusolwong. The artwork from Kusolwong produced the feeling that she made a nice and comfortable place for the kids and adults to have fun. This work of art had a lot of puffy things with color on the floor and it was a little confusing to me what it meant, but it was fun to look at people enjoy walking on the top of it. 

        In conclusion, my visit to the museum helped me find three different types of artwork I liked, I did not like and the one I did not fully understand.The artwork that I considered to be good, was the artist that created an artwork to show the connection with his family which I can appreciate. The artwork I misunderstood, but it was still interesting to look at and enjoy was the one with people walking on the puffs of colored things. The artwork I did not like and really made me feel like women were objects and I couldn't understood the sexual relationships between him and animals and fruits.

“Narrative Digital Collage”

“Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art”

"Figurengruppe"

"Frozen Assets"

"Nature-City"

             When I went to MoMa it was a good experience for me. I had been there two months ago, but I feel that every time we visit MoMa, we always discover many new and amazing works of art.

       The first artwork that made an impression on me was in the Sculpture Garden installation, “Figurengruppe/Group of Figures,” by Katharina Fritsch, which seems to be a cultural mix of art works and styles.  It was of nine sculptures that represent the human religions and the mythology.  The size and the color choose by Fritsch, gave me a strong feeling of reality that these sculptures were almost alive.

  

         The second artwork that I choose was “Frozen Assets” (1931-1932), by Diego Rivera. He showed us a historical moment in New York, the Great Depression in this painting. It is a clear, realistic and dramatic art, which tells us without words, all the social, economic and political problems in New York at this historical moment. 

       The need for humans to have a better life in the future was showed in the third artwork that I choose “Nature-City” by the team leaders, Amale Andraos and Danwoodi Workac .  There have been many architectural exhibits at MoMa, which I really enjoy because of my engineering major.  When I entered the exhibit room, I felt as if I entered into the room of ideas. So many ideas were all around me like how to make more designs that are efficient, how to construct designs with lower environmental imprints and how to use water in the architecture process. These ideas will probably become more mainstream as resources continue to decline and the population continues to grow exponentially.  Creating more of a balance between humanity and nature is very beautiful, but at the same time, it may be necessary for survival in the future.

     In conclusion, I enjoyed many different art exhibits at MoMa, but the architectural pieces made a lasting impression on me.  I think because I have developed a strong passion for math and engineering and see the process of building things as an art in itself.