The four pieces selected for this portfolio are a reflection of the “four humours.” The “four humours” comprise of Phlegm, Blood, yellow bile and black bile. Phlegm relates to water, with moist and cold qualities. Blood relates to related to air, with moist and warm qualities. Yellow Bile relates to related to fire, with dry and warm properties. Black Bile relates to related to earth, with cold and dry properties. The ancient man viewed the world as one concrete and connected sphere of life. The innocence of the world and all the elements in it lie oblivious of times when some women, though to look suspicious, were deemed to be witches and burned on stakes side by side with the heretics. Images of mentally ill people chained into the ground are nothing short demonic.
Initially, the term “humour” denoted the trait of being fluid. It refers to the four fluids that power the human body, and these include Phlegm, black bile, yellow bile and blood (Miller, 2014) . Many religious, cultural and social dispensations view blood as a life -giving fluid. In many cultures, sacrifice to the gods or other mysterious deity is sealed with the blood of a clean animal to make it complete (Miller, 2014). A proper balance between the four humours signifies an ideal situation of survival. However, if one fluid overpowers any of the others, the body loses the divine sense of balance.
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The four humours are further defined in terms of the four human character traits exhibited by all humans on earth. The four humours were thus easy prototypes for explaining sickness, psychosis, moods, and personality types. Some humans are introverted and secretive whereas others are extroverted and open-minded. Some portray all the character traits of introverts and extroverts in equal measure.
Reading Context
The quote inspires my portfolio, “one could spend an endless amount of time looking at the sheer complexity of layering on the surface, and enormous investment of energy (Varnedoe, 2006)." The four pieces selected are the epitome of abstract art and speak to the tremendous roles that art plays in shaping the human understanding of the world around. The very definitions of the “dour humors” are abstract and subjective. They cannot be coined to adapt to any specific meaning or perceptions. A perfect balance between the elements can define a state of wellness and good health, whereas the lack of balance between them can denote imbalance and unwellness.
The development of ancient art into modern forms has seen the craft develop into an essential facet of expression. On the one hand, they can define the four types of human character traits. On the other hand, they can define the various forms of nature and harmony and balance that exist between them. First, art reflects the culture and is an illustration of man’s understanding and perception of the world. Abstract art is essential since it reflects a human culture that is always on the move and thus strives to keep up with it. Abstract art is confused with lacking objectivity. However, the confusion that comes with the attempt to understand the art is part of its aesthetic.
The development of abstract art is a process in which the artist removes all the superfluous as well as the irrelevant material and information to the point that the artist arrives at the most significant rendition of the object. Abstract art aims to pack a wealth of meaning into minimalistic art forms and maintain these forms for future prosperity. For instance, the signification of the “four humours” of nature arrives with a wealth of knowledge and minimalistic art that aims to convey the message in the most natural ways simply
Research Context
Lesley Risby forms the primary inspiration for my work in the way she works with ceramics. The work of Lesley embodies minimalistic abstract art in which it employs minimal, targeted art to attain a given outcome. The following diagram shows an example of work by Lesley Risby.
The piece contains a simple, minimalistic art that captures the viewer’s attention and excites the emotions. Risby’s art defines the aspect of separating one thing from another to create a new meaning. Her artwork applies the definition of this term based on the object in the picture. The portrayal of the images in the artwork derives their meaning from the conception and the fact that the specific elements have no connection to the physical world.
The origin of abstract art accrues from the middle of the 19 th century. The art of the 19 th century was the type in which artworks are characterised by vast and elaborate representation of art (Paul Crowther & Wünsche, 2012). The period also gave rise to several artists who understood the role of lighting in new art forms and hence learned to manipulate different life forms to create new meaning. There is a difference between abstracting form from meaning and creating a new rendition of the same object at the same time. The use of ceramics in the making of art is an essential component of abstract art since it helps to convey the symbolic use of clay in making art forms. Clay is considered the best alternative for making earth objects since it is relatively sustainable and has a high density. Therefore, the use of the soil in the formation of different forms of art lays the foundation for an abundance of meaning.
Reflection- Content and the Future
I aspire to take my work to the museum so that many lovers of art can get the chance to have a look at it and appreciate the artistic nature infused in it. I want people to look at my work and see the freedom of interpretation of art. I believe that the right to the abstract of art, the true beauty of art lies in the ability of different people to interpret multiple meanings when looking at the same piece of art. I consider artwork a kind of poetic artistry. Poets exercise an abundance of freedom in the compositions they make and any particular form does not constrain them. The real beauty of poetry lies in the fact that every reader of a poem interprets it in a unique form. Art should also follow in the same line. I would change the form of my work to explore the various dynamics of art further since art is dynamic in the same way as the people that appreciate art. Since art is not a creation in vain, it must exist within a set-out context to acquire meaning.
References
Miller, M. (2014). The Four Humors and the Integrated Universe: A Medieval World View . Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Four-Humors
Paul Crowther & Wünsche, I. (2012). Meanings of Abstract Art: Between Nature and Theory. New York: Routledge.
Risby, L. (2019). Lesley Risby Ceramics . Retrieved from http://www.lesleyrisby.co.uk/home
Varnedoe, K. (2006). Pictures of nothing: abstract art since Pollock. New York: National Gallery of Art (U.S.).
