Task: Project 9 – ‘Issue Based Art’

VISUAL CULTURE 1

Name: Tegan Effie Mitchell        ID: S00080224

Task: Project 9 – ‘Issue Based Art’

Lecturer in charge: J. Cunningham

Due date: 3^rd June 2011

Artist: Colin McCahon (National Gallery of Australia, 2011)

Title of composition: ‘Crucifixion – the apple branch’ (National Gallery of Australia, 2011)

Year: 1950 (National Gallery of Australia, 2011)

I selected this art work because of the message that I believe it portrays; in my opinion the art work is divided into 2 separate subjects– which includes the subject of Jesus Christ being crucified (left of the composition), as well as the subject of 2 people with the apple tree above them. Although the artwork shows 2 different subjects, I believe they both complement one another in terms of the message i would see this image is trying to portray for example; through my understanding of the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus was the son of God who was sent to not only teach and guide the word of Christ, but to also sacrifice himself as a result of our sins. While on the other hand the subject of the 2 people with the apple tree above their heads, in my opinion is the idea of Adam and Eve – with Eve looking at Jesus being crucified in a sense of sadness, etc.  with the story of Adam and Eve representing the beginning of sin (Eve ignoring God and eating the apple from the ‘tree of life’to Jesus Christ in the New Testament; where God had to sacrifice his own son for our salvation. Moreover the subject of Eve looking at Jesus being crucified suggests the idea of guilt, .      

The way the persona has structured this composition, has allowed me to interpret the art work the way I did because of the following key methods/devices:

-       Jesus being crucified with a halo on top of his head symbolising his holiness,

-       The dark colours and scenery utilised in the subject of the crucifixion suggests an evil,

-       The brown curved line which separates the 2 subjects imposes different time frames (present, past, etc). Moreover the lighter colours and scenery (clear blue sky) within Adam & Eve’s section also supports this.   

-       The 2 people and the apple tree above them, effectively supports my interpretation of Adam and Eve.because Eve ate the apple and disobeyed God,

I believed the response the persona aimed  its audience, is a sense of understanding and reflection for example; demonstrating that link between the begining of sin (story of Adam & Eve), as well as the impact of sin (Jesus being crucified); but more importantly I believe this is an opportunity for viewers to utilise this gained understanding, to reflect on their own actions and behaviour etc. However it’s important to understand that this is my own interpretation and opinion, which has ultimately been guided by my Christian values and beliefs .    

I consider this art composition to be a ‘postmodern’ piece, because postmodernism was also an era that focused on exploring the different styles of composing art, as well as a focus on landscapes. These ideas complies with this art work, as the composition is divided into 2 separate subjects which work together to portray the same meaning – as well as the landscaped background.    

The following is the actual purpose of the composition which states:

‘On the left of the painting McCahon painted a self-portrait looking in towards the crucifixion set against a Canterbury landscape. On the right, his wife Anne Hamblett stands under the apple tree alongside her son William, set against the hills in Nelson. The division of the painting into two main aspects represents different frames in time and place when McCahon was separated from his wife and children due to difficulties he experienced earning a living as an artist and providing for his young family. Although he had worked in apple orchards and tobacco fields on and off for years, his income was not enough for them to live on. The situation was exacerbated by a severe housing shortage in the postwar years. Reflecting on the painting William McCahon recalled:

“Dense with narrative meaning, the painting shows two landscapes. One, containing a portrait of McCahon, is a Canterbury landscape; the other is in a remembered place in Nelson next to a raupo (bulrush) swamp, where he and Anne, his wife, had been happy and the family lived together. Across time, Anne looks to McCahon and Christ with anguish while the child looks out at the world, unconcerned and trusting … Unable to provide or commit to a place in the ordinary workforce by giving up his spiritual quest, McCahon placed his hopes in his spiritual beliefs that all would work out for his family”’ (National Gallery of Australia, 2011).

References:

National Gallery of Australia 2011, Colin McCahon, viewed 18^th May, 2011, <http://nga.gov.au/mccahon/1.cfm>