Zoomorphism Definition

Zoomorphism - Definition

1. Attributing a deity, person, or event with animal forms and characteristics

2. The representation of animal forms in decorative art or symbolism

Spoonbill - Feather Leather - Directed by Dropbear

An Example of Zoomorphism

Facts

It is an art developed in Ottoman Turkey, India and Qatar Iran as early as 1458.

Zoomorphic Calligraphy established itself late in Islamic art, when the taboos outlawing religious iconography had lost some of their power.

Zoomorphic presents a startling new trend in architecture in which buildings look like animals.

Animal resemblances arise for various reasons such as architects may wish to create a symbol.

Source: http://www.ask.com/question/what-is-zoomorphic

Sharon McCoy

Sharon McCoy

"Fixed on a portrayal of longing and a passionate desire to journey beyond the restrictive present, my figures embody the emotions of isolation and captivity tempered with the hope of escape"

Artist

A ceramics artist based in Colorado

McCoy received her art undergraduate and graduate degrees from Adams State

She has been a gallery and coffee-shop owner and taught at her alma mater, but now teaches high school in Monte Vista where she has her own studio

Has a heritage of seamstresses in her line which influences her work

Transformation; Hear No, See No, Speak No Evil

Artwork

Her work is layered with symbols from her past, cultures and their history, she also gathers symbolism from her travels to places such as Japan

Lately she places emphasis on figures within her work, the clothes that they wear are a representation of her seamstress lineage

Her layering of bold, vibrant colors invites the viewer to take a closer look

Satirical humor is a considerable portion of my narrative vocabulary

McCoy uses clay, the work is fired up to five times in an oxidation kiln to cone 03. It is then layered with underglazes, glazes, stains, oxides and gold luster

Audience

These works are meant to welcome the viewer to create their own story and interpretation 

It is not her intention to reveal the whole story, instead keep the viewer guessing

World

21st century, there is an increase in the use of technology which enables a more globalised society

This could mean more universal influences

Zoomorphism

McCoy uses a zoomorphism as a symbol for fantasy and reality

Her combination of animals with human features and characteristics is evident through the artworks she creates

Influence on my artmaking

The use of bold, bright colours to capture audience’s attention are evident throughout my entire body of work

The use of unrealistic figures that dapple in fantasy bear resembelance to my artworks though I do not use the same medium there is still evidence of the connections between fantasy and reality

The use of symbols from a variety of different cultures are also evident within my work

See Also

http://www.kitezh.com/texts/clay.html

http://www.sharonmccoyarts.com/latest-news.html

http://sharonmccoyarts.com/about-sharon-mccoy.html

http://www.adams.edu/news/jan1011.php

http://www.18handsgallery.com/bios/sharonMc.html

Don John

Don John

 "When you paint on the street the piece interacts with it’s surroundings, giving the piece extra life"

Don John

Artist

A Denmark based street artist

Began in 1983, heavily influenced by the film “Beat Street”

Was a member of a crew combined hip hop and rap with graffiti art

Began tagging trains etc but then decided to educate others towards a mural form of graffiti art

He never knew he would be an artist but became one professionally after he found that people liked his stuff enough to make a living from it

He is inspired by Jeremy Geddes and Conor Harrington

Artwork

Early work consisted of merging animals and humans together

He works a lot with the themes such as Civilization Vs Nature, Human Vs Animals and transformation.

He works with stencil graffiti and linocuts, using wood for his stencils and Fabriano paper for the lino cuts and illustrations.

Audience

He has an audience based both at exhibitions as well as in the streets

“They are like pieces straight out from a dream; some kind of surreal and oniric tales where their subjects are full of magnetism and strength, yet they ooze a beautiful blend of darkness, fragility and innocence.” CFYE

World

21st century, new emerging ideas, street art is becoming and is extremely popular

Wolf beard

Zoomorphism

John uses the type of zoomorphism that combines human and animal feature

He works with a number of themes such as nature vs civilization and this is a key feature within his morphing artworks

Morphing is an effective way of showing the relationship between animals and humanity

Influence on my artmaking

While I do not do the same morphing artworks as him I believe that the strong emphasis on line is evident within my artworks

The use of bold lines is also evidence within his artworks and mine

The unrealistic nature of his art is also a parallel between his artworks and mine

Note

Many of his artworks are contained on the street and have not been given names

See Also

http://vaeg-gallery.dk/?p=162

http://cfye.com/don-john-6629

http://welldonedaphne.com/masculine-intricate-and-raw-don-john-a-danish-street-artist-on-the-rise/

http://www.upfest.co.uk/artist/don-john

Henri Rousseau

Henri Rousseau 

"When I step into the hothouses and see the plants from exotic lands, it seems to me that I am in a dream." 

Interactive of Henri Rousseau
(National Gallery of Victoria)

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/orangerie/stylesa.html

Artist

Rousseau, Henri, AKA Le Douanier Rousseau (1844-1910) was the most renowned of naïve artists, a Post- Impressionist painter, though he aspired to be a traditional French painter

Henri Rousseau became a full-time artist at the age of forty-nine, after retiring from his post at the Paris customs office

Rousseau was fascinated with the dream life of the subconscious, many of his artworks reflect this idea, therefore making his paintings relying highly on the subjective frame

Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!)

Artworks

Known best for his jungle scenes such as “Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!)”, The Sleeping Gypsy and

Influenced by a combination of "high" and "low" sources - academic sculpture, postcards, tabloid illustrations, and trips to the Paris public zoo and gardens

His works are characterized by heavy dependence on line, stiff (and unrealistic) portraiture, wild juxtapositions and flattened perspective

Audience

His Self taught artistic techniques and unusual compositions left him criticized by art critics and the public but respected by modern artists like Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky as he revealed "the new possibilities of simplicity."

The fantastic imagery that resulted from these hybrid influences of both traditional and tribal means gained popularity with the Surrealists as well.

World

There was a fascination with the exotic during its colonial expansion in late 1800s which would have influenced Rousseau’s work

Zoomorphism

Rousseau uses the animals as a symbol of the dream life of the subconscious

His juxtaposition of elements are shown particularly within his painting, The Dream containing a human relaxing on a sofa in a jungle while a tiger looks on.

The juxtaposition is used to create an emotional response within the viewer thus the use of animals as symbols is reflective of the zoomorphism style

The Dream

His Influence on my artmaking

Rousseau’s reliance on line and unrealistic displays definitely reflect a similar style of art

His use of bold colours as well as his focus on animals is reflective of my artmaking process

The symbolism of the animals is reflective of my large works such as the griffin and the wolf who are both juxtaposed to the background that they are contained within

See Also

http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com.au/2008/02/henri-rousseau.html

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-rousseau-henri.htm

http://www.class.uh.edu/courses/engl3322/tlbonnet/Best%20Rousseau's%20Admirers.htm

http://arthistory.about.com/cs/namesrr/p/rousseau_h.htm

http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/teachers/video/20th-c-european.html

http://www.michaelarnoldart.com/Henri_Rousseau.htm