What is Instruction Based Art?
Instruction Based Art is when someone gives you instructions on how to create a piece of art, painting, photograph, etc. The 'Do It' project started with a conversation between two artists, Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier. For the project, they gave each other instructions to do and they'd take photographs of those things. I would describe the 'Do It' project as a unique project that is able to bring people together with photography to take fun photographs and it allows people to have fun and enjoy themselves while taking photographs. The 'Do It' project brings people together and gets them engaging with each other, and that was their aim. My views on instruction based art have changed as I see that it is a very collaborative project that is able to bring people together with the power of photography.
1. Can an idea be a work of art?
I think an idea can be a work of art. Photography is a form of art and you have to think and frame your photograph before you take it. The same way as you have to frame your artwork before you draw it.
2. Is good art always skilful?
I don’t think good art is always skilful. I think some good art can be accidental with little to no skill. But the best art is skilful and thought out.
3. If you don't make works of art can you be an artist?
It depends on what you call a work of art but I don’t think you can be an artist if you don’t make works of art. You can be artist and have ideas but if you don’t make works of art you can’t be an artist.
4. Why might artists ask other people to make work for them?
If they are unable to e.g. they are blind or disabled. They might have the creative idea but because of these issues they have to make someone else
5. What makes an instruction interesting?
The thing that makes an instruction interesting is the instruction itself. Something that's difficult and unique that makes you think about how you are going to execute the instruction.
6. Does a photographer always have to be the one who presses the shutter?
I think a photographer is the one who presses the shutter but there are people who can help frame the photograph and make the photograph but they are the artists not the photographer.
I think an idea can be a work of art. Photography is a form of art and you have to think and frame your photograph before you take it. The same way as you have to frame your artwork before you draw it.
2. Is good art always skilful?
I don’t think good art is always skilful. I think some good art can be accidental with little to no skill. But the best art is skilful and thought out.
3. If you don't make works of art can you be an artist?
It depends on what you call a work of art but I don’t think you can be an artist if you don’t make works of art. You can be artist and have ideas but if you don’t make works of art you can’t be an artist.
4. Why might artists ask other people to make work for them?
If they are unable to e.g. they are blind or disabled. They might have the creative idea but because of these issues they have to make someone else
5. What makes an instruction interesting?
The thing that makes an instruction interesting is the instruction itself. Something that's difficult and unique that makes you think about how you are going to execute the instruction.
6. Does a photographer always have to be the one who presses the shutter?
I think a photographer is the one who presses the shutter but there are people who can help frame the photograph and make the photograph but they are the artists not the photographer.
Photograph by Instruction
It was difficult to photograph by following instructions, especially in school. It was hard to find the right things to photograph. I tried to be as imaginative and creative as I could be. I think my images turned out ok. I could've done better if I was outside and maybe if I had more time. I took loads of images but I managed to select 55 pictures. I did start to look at the images in a different way. I would refine these images by editing them to hide a part of the image to make it more interesting. I could photograph different people
John Baldessari
Baldessari become popular 1960s and uses lot of different mediums such as, photography, painting, video, film, prints and more. Baldessari is an artist who likes to experiment with his work. He has created projects such as the 'Wrong' and he also covers faces with circles. He is interested in language and uses it in his art work. As well as being an artist he
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In the Prima Facie series, he uses text and places it with photographs to add more to the photos. It makes you think about the photographs in a different way then you would've originally. It adds adjectives the photos to describe the person in the photograph, labelling people as arrogant, confident, etc. It may also show the way they are feeling in the photograph or the opposite of how they are feeling but it changes the way you see the photo. Text can match photographs
John Baldessari type photographs
I think I successfully completed the assignment which John Baldessari set. The photos came out well, I was able to complete assignment #10 John Baldessari set. I think the images are different and some of them give an isolated feel to them as I only photographed one subject which I placed in the middle of the frame. If I were to do it again, I would take more photographs and try and be more experimental as my photographs were very safe and I should look at Baldessari's work again and see how I could improve my photos like his photographs.
I was asked to take 20 photographs of plants and animals. I was able to do so and I think the photos look good and some of them are quite interesting with the angles I used. However, if I were to refine this work I would try to find more interesting ways of photographing my subjects and try to be more creative and follow John Baldessari's style.
Erwin Wurm
Erwin Wurm created the project 'One Minute Sculptures' with whatever was available objects, people and backgrounds. In his early days, he couldn't afford to buy materials to make sculptures so he used wood because he lived above a wood shop and then when he moved he used cans and buckets from a factory. His 'One Minute Sculpture' series began in the 1990s, he created the works on the spot with what he had at hand. They were documented on film and on photograph. The playful and fun nature of the photograph was populated by ordinary people. Though, despite the fun improvised nature of the photographs some of them have dark connotations of violence.
One Minute Sculptures
I was asked to take my own 'One Minute Sculptures'. It was difficult to try and find interesting ways to manipulate a person into a sculpture. The photographs I took were not as Erwin Wurm inspired as I would've liked. They are good photos but they are not really quirky and weird photos like Erwin Wurm. I think the photos came out well, they are interesting. For my refinement, I would like to make them more like Erwin Wurm's style of photographs.
One Minute Sculptures Refinement
Photography Game - Mitch Match
My game is a matching game. The object of the game is to match up the zoomed in images you have in your hand to the images out of the playing field. For my cards and photographs, I used pictures I had taken for this project already and turned them black and white tot make the game more difficult. For the box, I used an already made box to put my cards and instructions into and decorated it to fit my game. I think my game was well made but for refinement, I need to redo the cards as they are flimsy and too big and I also need to type up the instructions.
Refinement
I changed the cards and the instructions. I typed and laminated the instructions and reprinted the images to make them smaller and the same size. I then laminated them to make them more sturdy and more presentable. I think this refinement made a big difference in the final product and makes the game look a lot neater and more professional.