(Week 4 Part 2) Visual Arts Redefined

Contextual Studies (CTX)

Is visual arts just merely portraying an artistic image? The unsatisfactory human behavior suggests that there is something more to just sight-seeing and aesthetics. In this week's lecture, we are given an opportunity to decode some paintings and find their purpose.

As an example, look at both of these pictures, which do u think has a higher value of meaning?

(left) Poster for ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaigne. Linda Evangelista by Francesco Scavullo

(right) Face painting by artist Marion Deuchars-1991 and photographed by John Davis.

Of course, it will be the first picture. The second picture is merely a fashion picture and it's sole purpose is to portray the beauty of a female. However, the first picture doesn't just merely portray a woman, it tells the viewers that there are many women who are hurt and abused in the inside by words or actions. Although the woman's face do not show tears or sadness, the words on her face suggest the need for more awareness and action of the society to be always there for those who are unknowingly hurt on the inside and stand against violence towards women.

Visual arts can effectively convey an impacting message to the viewers by engaging the viewers in a series of thoughts and pondering. But how can we identify and create a visual art that is impactful enough to stand out of the crowd? Discover it more in next week's topic of Visual Semiotics.