The Art of Pieter Schoolwerth - what is art and what isn't?

 The Art of Pieter Schoolwerth - what is art and what isn't?

Art can come in many forms. The internet made art certainly not obsolete. But does the internet contribute to more art? More creativity? Or does the internet and its easy access to all forms of art contribute to art becoming a caricature of itself? Is art for easy consumption like a hamburger? Could the internet be considered a perversion of art and its initial intention? 

Many questions could, and should, be asked when it comes to art in its digital form. Not all of them have to be answered. However, I will try to find an answer to the question: In what way could Pieter Schoolwerth's work reflect digital art?

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I chose this painting because it strikes me as especially fascinating and I feel like it reflects the topics concerning internet and digital art quite well. On the left, we see the world and a man dressed as a buffalo on it. He looks exactly like one of the people that stormed the Capitol in the USA. The so-called "Storm on the Capitol" basically happened because Donald Trump spread conspiracy theories online. He used Twitter in order to spread his ideology which influenced events like these in the real world. We have to ask ourself: Do we live in times where politicians can spread hate online without consequences?

We also see other scenes such as a man taking a photograph of a woman in front of beautiful mountains. Has taking selfies become more important than admiring nature? Are there more selfies now than meaningful art? In the background we see a giant frame with a painting of mountains. This is what art used to be like. There used to be sculptures and nowadays there are instagram models and influencers wearing branded sport clothes that are named after the classic goddess Nike. We also see a man being influenced by his tablet. Pieter Schoolwerth's art reflects digital art but he also distorts it by showing differences and by comparing past to present. He talks about digital art and raises questions. 

The art of Danh Võ

Topic: The art of Danh Võ

Student name: Denise B.

Student number: 59378586

On Consumerism and Brands

Danh Võ often works with found objects, brand logos and fragments of history. With my personal background in advertising, I notice especially how he uses letters, numbers and corporate signs. In advertising, logos and typefaces are meant to persuade and sell. In Võ’s work, the same signs point to memory, identity and politics.

For my research this week, I focused on his use of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton trunks and his reworking of Coca-Cola logos. In these works, Võ takes symbols that usually stand for consumerism, wealth or sugary refreshment and gives them a new context. They are tied to personal stories. I find this interesting because it shows how unstable the meaning of a brand can be.

On Food and Animals

Inspired by this, I looked at my own daily smartphone images as an international student in Hong Kong. I often take photos of my meals. As a vegetarian, food feels tied to culture and identity, and each picture becomes a small memory. I also began to notice and photograph animals in the city, especially cats, birds and butterflies. Over time, these images became a kind of archive.

All pictures are taken by me and have been taken in Hong Kong. 

Food:

Animals: 

I arranged them in two groups, one of food and one of animals. Some I placed neatly like a catalogue, others I grouped more freely. This made me realize that everyday images can shift in meaning once they are re-arranged, similar to how Võ reuses corporate logos.

On My Own

For future projects, I want to explore this idea further. Food photos, animal pictures and even selfies can work as personal databases. They may look simple, but together they show how we live, what we notice and how we connect to a place. By rearranging them, I can ask what they really reveal, not only what I eat or see, but also how I build identity and belonging in a new environment.

Hello on my new Blog

 My name is Denise and I'm a Creative Media student in Hong Kong.

I love art and I am going to use this Blog for discussing various artists and their work.

Join me on my journey and discover my passion for art with me.