Entry 11: Art vs Design

Up until now i have learnt that it is rather difficult to find a definite line between Art and design, in fact they share more similarities than differences. For my last week's research i looked at the purposes of the works of my researched references and i find that depending on the work's intention, it can define if a work is more of an artwork than design or vice versa.

For this week's entry i want to begin my research with an artist to analyse the attitude of one's self towards the works they do and what they view themselves as (artist/designer wise). The artist i looked was Mark Rothko. To me Rothko is an definite artist and his works are the definition of art，his works are revolutionaryand he view himself as an true artist.

http://www.nga.gov/feature/rothko
The above are some Rothko's most well known works, which are large paintings that consists of a limited pallete and angular shapes. The shapes's suppose to resemble windows ordoors that are sealed/briked off, to create a sense of entrapment
His works are to trigger an sense of fundamental human emotion, as i stated in my first couple blogs. However, now i learnt that this quality dosen't neccessarily make an work an artwork, as many design can also stir senses, therefore there won't be a definite line between art and design. But Rothko was a true artist, whom want to change the world through using his artworks, and his works are truely original and unique.
"We assert that the subject is crucial and only that subject matter is valid which is tragic and timeless. That is why we profess spiritual kinship with primitive and archaic art." -Rothko.
His intentions and purposes, as well as the way he sees himself (as an artist) make his works artworks, and not designs.

To continue my last week's search for more references much like Billy Apple i looked at was: Martin Poppelwell.



Poppelwell is a New Zealand painter that is inflenced Ross Mitchell's pottery, whom he studied under, also there's a resemblence of Gavin Chillcott are also apparent:


I personally really like Poppelwell's use of colors, it have a collage hand-made appeal. It also remind me of cubism as well with the block of colors.
Popplewell is not only an artist but also a designer, as he designed the labels for wine bottles.
However differently to Billy Apple, who come up with concepts let others base their design on his concepts, Poppelwell actually designed and stylized the label himself. The labeel designs reflects the style of his artworks, espeically witht he use of colors and the hand-made aesthetic with the hand written like texts.
"
In terms of an artist working in this point of time and this point in history- I choose not to be too sarcastic, or too cynical, or too ironic." - Poppelwell.
Poppelwell see himself capable in many different areas and only stick to paint on canvases, he is a comtemporary artist that also practice in ceramics as well as designs. This is interesting as it poses a contrast to Mark Rothko who views himself as a pure art genius, while Poppelwell not only pursues his ideas in fine art, but he can also be versatile and work in different areas.



This week i learnt that it not only depends on the purpose of the work but also how the makers of the works view themselves that can determine an work as art or design. While i know through looking at the references for the past 11 weeks that there's no definite line that cuts off art from design there are somehow a much less amount of artist that view themselves as designers. However there will always be exceptions, such as Billy Apple, who also consider himself as a deisgn as well as an artist. Therefore, how an artist/designer view themselves is also very important that can define if their works art artworks or designs.