G.C.S.E. EXPRESSIVE ARTS

UNIT ONE - AFRICA

CRITICAL ANALYSIS – APPROACHING PAINTINGS – 500 words

You are going to analyse two paintings by modern artists; one an African landscape (900mm x 1500mm) by LUCIE BILODEAU, the other a scene in a village in Uganda called Kibale (700mm x 450mm) by the artist KIM SIMMENS. Both paintings are in oil on canvas. You can choose just one of the paintings to base your critical analysis on or compare and contrast the two

· Look closely at the paintings. Think about what the artists intended and what affect the painting has on you – what does it make you think about the country? How does the artist achieve this? What aspects of African life do the artists express through their work?

Consider the following points in completing your Critical Analysis

· Where is the focus of the painting i.e. which part are you immediately drawn into? How do the artists achieve this?

· Discuss the composition of the painting i.e. where the people/objects are placed. What atmosphere is evoked and how is this achieved? In the painting of the village which groups of people are represented?
· The village painting is like a photograph. What do you think the people are thinking (choose two or three to focus on)?

· The village painting is like a photograph. What do you think the people are thinking (choose two or three to focus on)?

· Discuss the colours used i.e. the bright colours worn by the people, the earth colours, the reds and golds and pinks etc. What feelings/emotions do they evoke? What do they say about Africa?

· Who do you think is the intended audience? Why might these paintings appeal to them e.g. the scenery, the culture, the friendliness of the people? What aspects of Africa don’t the paintings show? Why do you think this is?

· How might you use these paintings as a stimulus for your work in Performing Arts e.g. as ideas for costume, props, scenery. Projected onto the back wall of the Dram Studio as a backdrop using power point or OHP

· What links do you see between these paintings, the Peter Gabriel song you listened to and the video you watched in dance for your other critical analyses

NB YOU MUST ATTACH A COPY OF THE PAINTINGS, DOWNLOADED FROM THE SCHOOL WEBSITE, EITHER STAPLED TO YOUR A4 SHEETS OR PASTED IN THE CENTRE OF YOUR A3 SHEETS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE WORK BY THESE ARTISTS OR OTHER CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ARTISTS YOU CAN VISIT THESE WEBSITES

http://www.a-gallery.de
http://www.luciebilodeau.
http://www.kimsimmens.com/ and click on NEW! AFRICA

IF YOU WANT TO BASE YOUR ANALYSIS ON A DIFFERENT PAINTING BY EITHER OF THE TWO NAMED ARTISTS, YOU CAN, BUT YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT IT’S SUITABILITY FIRST WITH MISS HODGSON