Surrealism Project Theme

For my surrealism project, I want to get the message across that the only people that you should listen to in life is those who care about you.  In life, there are always those people who are going to try to put you down, andthose are the kind of people who should have no effect on you.  In my photograph, I will have my head placed in the center of the piece, and on one side there is someone who is negatively communicating with me, but on that side of my head, my ear is missing to represent my blocking of those negative thoughts.  On the other side of my head, I will have someone in my life who I can trust, and of course on that side, my ear will me present.  The piece represents how I do not care what others think of me, just those who I can trust. 

Surrealism Artist Biographies

George Grie was born May 14, 1962.  In 1985, he graduated from the State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Applied Design Education, but once he was done with college, he decided that choosing a domestic art style was not for him, so he took a more “surreal” route.  His artistic career was relatively short, only spanning from 1985 through 1995, but he brought a measurable amount of success in such a short time period.  Many people consider Grie’s work to be a portrayal of strong and powerful images relying on visual impact.  The techniques that he had used made for eye grabbing pieces of art, as they had stillness in the themes but the messages were so influential.  Once Grie had settled in Toronto, Canada, his career had turned dramatically.  He had decided to pursue a career as a professional Multimedia Graphic Design artist joined with the IBM Corporation, as he still applies his previously learned surreal knowledge to his work today.

Vladimir Kush was born in 1965 in Moscow, Russia, and by the time he was the age of three of four, he was already taking an interest in the world of art.  His father, an artist as well, would always let him complete the pieces of art that he was not able to finish.  He began to expand his world of art by entering Moscow Art Institute at the age of 17 and by the time he reached 18 and was sent to his mandatory military duties, he was painting murals and paintings for the Russian infantry.  After his military duties were needed no longer, he expanded his career by moving to California and creating art on his own time, but after years and years of creating artwork in his garage in Los Angeles, he almost came to the realization that he would never be noticed for his art, that is until, he was recognized by the Asian continent who spread the word across to the American people.  His career is still going strong.

Artist’s Name:  George Grie

Title:  Panic Attack

Date:  June 2007

Description:  “Panic Attack” is a piece of surreal art done by George Grie.  The title really suits the piece because just by looking at the scenario, you feel a sense of anxiety and panic which really makes the artwork dramatic.  In the picture there is a train in a place a train usually would not be obviously trying to escape the giant tidal wave or tsunami which follows It.  The night is dark and cloudy and the intensity of the moon really sets a great background for the piece.  I feel that the title is a perfect fit for the piece because you could feel the emotion that the passengers of this train are feeling. You somewhat wish that this art was a video so that you could see how the scene ends. 

Analysis:  This piece has various aspects that string it together nicely.  For one, the piece is symmetrical which gives you that focal point that is the train and then moves your eye outward to the waves.  It also has a leading line which is the train.  You could clearly see the front of the train on an angle that you see all the way down the side which eventually disappears in the water.  The piece is overall one of the most successful I’ve seen based on the artistic aspects of it. 

Interpretation:  The way that I interpret this piece is that, although the scenario is unrealistic, there is always something worse.  When you think that you have it bad, you should always think that someone else out there has it worse than you do. 

Judgment:  Like I stated before, this is one of the greater pieces of surrealism I have seen after doing tons of research.  Every artistic aspect is there to make it a successful piece of art as well as the aspect of surrealism.  All in all, I think whatever Grie was trying to get across to his audience, he did it with an impact.

Artist’s Name:  Vladimir Kush

Title:  Star Target

Year:  2001

Description:  This piece is very powerful.  When you first look at it, you see a man looking through a telescope at the starry sky, but what Vladimir Kush really was trying to get across was that it was actually a gun looking out the window pointing at the stars.  

Analysis:  The piece really is centered and I feel like it doesn’t take away from the message at all.  What really makes the piece successful is the illusion of whether the focal point is a man looking through a telescope at the stars or a large gun pointing at the stars.  Everything that is around the focal point I feel is just there to be there and to fill up the extra space of the artwork.  The main point is the man/gun.

Interpretation:  I really feel that Vladimir Kush was intending you to see the gun rather than a man, although the man is meant to be there.  The gun pointing at the stars is meant to be a representation of shooting for the stars. 

Judgment:  I fell like all in all, this is a very successful piece.  The message is very powerful and if you look further within the image, you will be able to see the gun and therefore, understand the “shooting for the stars” message.  With every aspect of a good artistic piece there, the piece really pulls together and becomes a masterpiece.

When looking at both of the pieces of art side by side, you can really see a gigantic difference in the styles of the artists.  Aside from the fact that the art done by George Grie is way more realistic as far as visual graphics go, I feel that Vladimir Kush really is more focused on getting a message across to his viewers.  Grie is also in the lead with impact on his audience, since not only “Panic Attack” is dramatic, but all of the work he has hone could have an impact on the viewer.  All together, I feel like the two artists are the best at what they do, which is surrealism, and nothing can be compared to what they have done. 

Partner Project

Nolan Emme '11

This is a photograph of myself playing Marvel vs. Capcom and my friend, Adam Buongiovanni, is one of the characters in the game, who I happen to be playing as.

I'd Rather Be

Nolan Emme '11

This is a picture of me hanging off a very high spot on the Chrystler Building in New York City.



Photo Montage

This is a David Hockney inspired photo mosaic.  When the landscape is pieced together, it a a photograph of St. Cecelia's church located in Iselin.

This is also a David Hockney inspired photo mosaic.  The portrait shows my friend, Mike Drozd, who is patiently waiting to get out of school so that he could go participate in some fun activities.