Believing that ideas about evolution and genetics are playing an increasing role in popular conceptions of who we are and what it means to be human, I sought ways to express this through my art. In particular I tried to articulate these notions through figurative sculpture. As the role of figurative sculpture in expressing current ideas about being human has declined in the West, I saw this as a challenge. It was the intent of my Masters program to reposition the sculpted body back within contemporary western cultural contexts. For an understanding of those contexts I relied heavily on my own culturally embedded experience and observations. I took as background my readings of evolutionary inspired literature and linked it with my interpretations of the genetic mythologies so prevalent in recent movies. The result was an image of contemporary humans as multifaceted, yet subservient to their genes. These genes appear to be easily manipulated and the product of technological intervention as much as, if not more than, inherited characteristics. As part of developing a sculptural form able to manifest this, I investigated some non-western traditions. I used field trips and residencies to research Buddhist and Hindu sculptures of the body and developed an interest in the spatial and conceptual relationships between those bodies. Through making figurative work in the studio, I came to realise the figures' inadequacy in expressing temporal relationships. As temporal change is a fundamental element of evolution and genetics, I needed to explore this element. The result was a number of series; groups of works that create their own context of relationships. Not all these groups use sculptures of the body but they evoke the notion of bodies, naturally or technologically hybridised, mutating, transforming, evolving and related to each other generationaly through time.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2005. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Eve Wiederhold; submitted to the Dept. of English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-44, p. 96-97).

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os requisitos necessários para criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em imagens, no caso, a gravura artística, levando-se em conta as etapas do Ciclo Informacional. De abordagem qualitativa, caracterizada por pesquisa bibliográfica e pesquisa de campo, de natureza exploratória, a pesquisa foi dividida em três etapas: (1) pesquisa bibliográfica para preparação do quadro teórico de referência; (2) pesquisa de campo para conhecimento de instituições mantenedoras de acervos de gravuras; e (3) sistematização e análise dos dados, o que resultou numa lista de requisitos presentes na criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em gravura. Verificou-se que, como documento, a gravura brasileira é fruto de um processo que inclui diversas etapas e, por vezes, diferentes atores, e que esta tem integrado acervos de Bibliotecas, Arquivos e Museus. O trabalho identificou os seguintes grupos de usuários: (a) os especializados em Arte, como estudantes, pesquisadores, historiadores da Arte e artistas; e (b) o público em geral, ou seja, usuários sem um interesse específico. A partir de conversas (entrevistas) com pessoas de especialidades diversas, evidenciou-se variações quanto à definição de gravura, o que muito contribuiu para este trabalho. A pesquisa de campo, com base nas instituições visitadas e sites analisados, identificou a falta de acervos especializados em gravuras, assim como a necessidade de clareza a respeito das políticas de seleção e aquisição. Constatou-se que os acervos são criados, em sua maioria, a partir de coleções particulares e são ampliados a partir de doações várias, sem priorizar diretrizes ou políticas de desenvolvimento de coleções. Frente a isto, apresentou-se a proposta de um modelo com diretrizes para uso na criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em gravuras, considerando-se o Ciclo Informacional, o Desenvolvimento de Coleções e a Curadoria Digital. / The objective of this research was to investigate the necessary requirements for the creation and maintenance of image collections, in this case, art prints, taking into account the stages of the Informational Cycle. From a qualitative approach, characterized by bibliographical and field research, of an exploratory nature, the research was divided into three stages: (1) bibliographical research to prepare the reference theoretical framework; (2) field research for knowledge of institutions that maintains collections of engravings; and (3) data systematization and analysis, which resulted in a list of requirements for the creation and maintenance of specialized art prints collections. It was verified that, as a document, the Brazilian art print is the result of a process that includes several stages and sometimes different actors, and that it has integrated collections of Libraries, Archives and Museums. The work identified the following groups of users: (a) those specializing in Art, such as students, researchers, art historians and artists; and (b) the general public, i.e. users without a specific interest. From conversations (interviews) with people of diverse specialties, variations on the definition of engraving were evidenced, which contributed much to this work. Field research, based on the visited institutions and sites analyzed, identified a lack of specialized collections in art prints, as well as the need for clarity regarding selection and acquisition policies. It was found that the collections are mostly created from private collections and are expanded from donations, without prioritizing guidelines or collection development policies. Against this, a proposal was presented for a model with guidelines for use in the creation and maintenance of collections specialized in art prints, considering the Information Cycle, Collection Development and Digital Curation.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os requisitos necessários para criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em imagens, no caso, a gravura artística, levando-se em conta as etapas do Ciclo Informacional. De abordagem qualitativa, caracterizada por pesquisa bibliográfica e pesquisa de campo, de natureza exploratória, a pesquisa foi dividida em três etapas: (1) pesquisa bibliográfica para preparação do quadro teórico de referência; (2) pesquisa de campo para conhecimento de instituições mantenedoras de acervos de gravuras; e (3) sistematização e análise dos dados, o que resultou numa lista de requisitos presentes na criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em gravura. Verificou-se que, como documento, a gravura brasileira é fruto de um processo que inclui diversas etapas e, por vezes, diferentes atores, e que esta tem integrado acervos de Bibliotecas, Arquivos e Museus. O trabalho identificou os seguintes grupos de usuários: (a) os especializados em Arte, como estudantes, pesquisadores, historiadores da Arte e artistas; e (b) o público em geral, ou seja, usuários sem um interesse específico. A partir de conversas (entrevistas) com pessoas de especialidades diversas, evidenciou-se variações quanto à definição de gravura, o que muito contribuiu para este trabalho. A pesquisa de campo, com base nas instituições visitadas e sites analisados, identificou a falta de acervos especializados em gravuras, assim como a necessidade de clareza a respeito das políticas de seleção e aquisição. Constatou-se que os acervos são criados, em sua maioria, a partir de coleções particulares e são ampliados a partir de doações várias, sem priorizar diretrizes ou políticas de desenvolvimento de coleções. Frente a isto, apresentou-se a proposta de um modelo com diretrizes para uso na criação e manutenção de acervos especializados em gravuras, considerando-se o Ciclo Informacional, o Desenvolvimento de Coleções e a Curadoria Digital. / The objective of this research was to investigate the necessary requirements for the creation and maintenance of image collections, in this case, art prints, taking into account the stages of the Informational Cycle. From a qualitative approach, characterized by bibliographical and field research, of an exploratory nature, the research was divided into three stages: (1) bibliographical research to prepare the reference theoretical framework; (2) field research for knowledge of institutions that maintains collections of engravings; and (3) data systematization and analysis, which resulted in a list of requirements for the creation and maintenance of specialized art prints collections. It was verified that, as a document, the Brazilian art print is the result of a process that includes several stages and sometimes different actors, and that it has integrated collections of Libraries, Archives and Museums. The work identified the following groups of users: (a) those specializing in Art, such as students, researchers, art historians and artists; and (b) the general public, i.e. users without a specific interest. From conversations (interviews) with people of diverse specialties, variations on the definition of engraving were evidenced, which contributed much to this work. Field research, based on the visited institutions and sites analyzed, identified a lack of specialized collections in art prints, as well as the need for clarity regarding selection and acquisition policies. It was found that the collections are mostly created from private collections and are expanded from donations, without prioritizing guidelines or collection development policies. Against this, a proposal was presented for a model with guidelines for use in the creation and maintenance of collections specialized in art prints, considering the Information Cycle, Collection Development and Digital Curation.

Orientador: Marta Luiza Strambi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T07:36:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ribeiro_LindsayCarolinedeBrito_M.pdf: 125254615 bytes, checksum: a4b3389170cb274dc99bcee0a1d89c26 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Esta dissertação, inserida na linha de pesquisa em "Poéticas Visuais e Processos de Criação", consiste num relacionamento entre pesquisas prática e teórica, incluindo uma análise crítica através de textos sobre minha produção plástica que tem ênfase na problemática da autoimagem, uma distorção da aparência física, que surge como mais um sintoma das neuroses contemporâneas, acometendo, principalmente, as adolescentes que aspiram a um corpo construído, alimentado pelos sistemas da moda e do consumo. Considera ainda a ideia do desenho como conceito de intertextualidade e relaciona, entre os procedimentos e possibilidades de concepção e produção dos trabalhos, essas questões do corpo conexas à ordem cotidiana, à "brevidade e fragilidade da vida", refletidas nessa estética do corpo contemporâneo. O corpus imagético dessa pesquisa torna-se um elemento problematizador de articulações crítico reflexivas, envolvendo a ampliação de repertório na área da arte contemporânea / Abstract: This dissertation, part of the "Visual Poetics and Creation Processes" line of research, focus on the relationship between practical and theoretical research, including a critical analysis of texts about my artistic production that has an emphasis on the issue of self-image, a distortion of physical appearance, which arises as another symptom of contemporary neuroses, having as main target those teenagers who aspire to an artificial body, powered by systems of fashion and consumption. It also considers the idea of drawing as a concept of intertextuality and links between the procedures and possibilities for design and production work, these body issues related to the everyday routine, the "brevity and fragility of life", reflected in this contemporary aesthetics of the body. The image corpus of this research becomes a problematizing element of critical reflective relations, involving the expansion of the repertoire in the field of contemporary art / Mestrado / Artes Visuais / Mestre em Artes Visuais

Orientador: Hermes Renato Hildebrand / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T08:15:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_TarcisioTorres_D.pdf: 2111112 bytes, checksum: 92dccad6731c494051753412ef552c72 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho procurou investigar a utilização da imagem em manifestações ativistas contemporâneas com ampla repercussão mundial, considerando o impacto das novas tecnologias de comunicação sobre tais práticas, assim como sua relação com as mídias tradicionais. A ênfase dada ao campo da imagem é uma tentativa de propor novas perspectivas de análise a um ambiente de significação em transformação. Em sua composição, nota-se uma produção crescente de cunho amador, além de seu caráter híbrido que agrega ações físicas e virtuais, assim como a propagação em redes de comunicação horizontais e verticais. Para que o objetivo proposto fosse atingido, abordou-se inicialmente o potencial estético-político das imagens mecânicas e eletrônicas com o intuito de localizar elementos existentes em tecnologias de mídia anteriores ao digital que contribuíssem para a argumentação inicial. Em seguida, foi apresentado o campo da biopolítica, com ênfase nos trabalhos de Foucault, além de conceitos essenciais para as análises que se seguiriam, tais como "multidão" (Hardt e Negri) e "trabalho imaterial" (Lazzarato e Negri). Após esta localização teórica, foram propostos dois blocos analíticos. Em ambos, optou-se por observar movimentos que surgiram ao longo do desenvolvimento deste trabalho. No primeiro, destaca-se a Revolução Verde no Irã e a Primavera Árabe no Norte da África e Oriente Médio. Neste momento em especial, foi evidenciado o poder de afecção das imagens dessas manifestações, assim como sua participação na "partilha do sensível", conceito proposto por Jacques Rancière. No segundo bloco, enfatizou-se a ação da ativista egípcia Aliaa Magda Elmahdy e dos grupos feministas Femen e Pussy Riot. Além disso, foi proposta nesta etapa a atualização do conceito de biopolítica por meio das idéias de Nicolas Rose e Giorgio Agamben. Em ambos os momentos de análise, foi observado que o corpo aparece como um elemento central para a compreensão das imagens selecionadas, pois ele é a chave para que sejam entendidas as forças biopolíticas que agem sobre a sociedade contemporânea. Como conclusão, observou-se que as imagens ativistas, de cunho amador e que circulam pelas redes de comunicação digital propõem um novo olhar para a produção político-visual contemporânea em função das particularidades por elas apresentadas. Além disso, tais imagens denunciam um campo paradoxal em que ao mesmo tempo se observa a tentativa de transgressão e uma incômoda simbiose com os sistemas estabelecidos de controle da vida / Abstract: This research investigated the use of the image in contemporary activist expressions which echoed worldwide, considering the new communication technologies impact on such practices and also its relation to traditional media. The emphasis given to the image field is an attempt of proposing new perspectives of analysis to a changing environment of signification. It can be noticed in its composition a growing amateur production, in addition to its hybrid nature which assembles virtual and physical actions, as well as propagation on vertical and horizontal communication networks. In order to achieve the research goal, it was initially discussed the political-aesthetical potential of mechanical and electrical images. The intention was to situate existing elements in media prior to digital that could contribute to the initial argumentation. It was then presented the biopolitics field, emphasizing the works of Foucault and also essential concepts to the following analysis such as "multitute" (Hardt and Negri) and "immaterial labor" (Lazzarato and Negri). After this theoretical approach, two analytical sections were presented. Some of the main movements which emerged along with the development of this research are mentioned in both. In the first section, the Green Revolution in Iran and the Arab Spring in North Africa and Middle East stand out. In this case, it was intended to demonstrate the power of affection inherent in the manifestation images, as well as their contribution to the "distribution of the sensible", a concept proposed by Jacques Rancière. In the second section, the actions of the Egyptian activist Aliaa Magda Elmahdy and the feminist groups Femen e Pussy Riot are emphasized. Besides these analyses, the concept of biopolitics is updated by means of the ideas of Nicolas Rose and Giorgio Agamben. In both moments of investigation, it was observed that the body emerges as a central element to the comprehension of the selected images because it is the key to understanding biopolitcs forces operating on contemporary society. In conclusion, it can be noticed that the amateur activist images circulating in digital communication networks provide a new look to the contemporary visual political production given their particularities. In addition, such images denounce a paradoxical field where it is observed at the same time an attempt to transgression and an uncomfortable symbiosis with established systems of life control / Doutorado / Artes Visuais / Doutor em Artes Visuais

Thesis (MA (VA))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation investigates forms of excess in representations of the body in specific examples of contemporary visual art in South Africa and internationally. Representations of excess are phenomena that have gained increasing prominence in recent art practice both locally and abroad. The discussion is focused on two artworks that are examples of this increasing phenomenon of excess in contemporary art: the Swedish video artist Nathalie Djurberg’s video installation Experimentet (2009), and South African performance artist Steven Cohen’s film Golgotha (2007-9). My discussion of the two artworks revolves around the central question: what is the signifying role of excess in representations of the human body in contemporary visual art? This central question is asked throughout the dissertation with two aims in mind: firstly, to situate within a theoretical framework the phenomenon of excess in relation to depictions of the body in contemporary art; and secondly, to situate my own arts practice within this framework. The analysis of Djurberg’s Experimentet and Cohen’s Golgotha is spread over four discussions, each relating to a specific aspect of the representation of excess in relation to the body. Firstly, I investigate the grotesque body with regards to Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of grotesque realism and Jacques Lacan’s psychological notion of the fragmented body, or corps morcelé. Secondly, I examine the ‘body spectacle’ as a cultural critique of capitalism, and make specific reference to Cohen’s use of real human skulls as shoes in Golgotha as a cultural critique of capitalism. In this discussion I also investigate George Bataille’s philosophical enquiry into the notion of expenditure as a critique of capitalism. The ‘body spectacle’ is situated in the context of late-twentieth-century theorist Frederic Jameson’s view of the postmodern and his exposition of the ‘waning of affect’. Thirdly, I investigate excess and mimesis in representations of the female body, with specific reference to Djurberg’s Experimentet. Here the discussion is situated within the context of French feminist psychoanalytical theory with Luce Irigaray’s concept of the role of excess in mimesis. The study then turns to investigating the experiences elicited in spectators by representations of excess in relation to the body. I draw from George Bataille’s writings of the function of taboo and Mikhail Bakhtin’s insistence on the ambivalence of grotesque imagery to explain my own observations on images of excess. Here I argue, in reference to both Experimentet and Golgotha, that excess is characterised by the paradoxical stance of being simultaneously attracted and repulsed. Lastly I discuss my own current art practice with reference to the theoretical framework outlined here around representations of excess in relation to the body. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die voorkoms van oordaad in die uitbeelding van die menslike liggaam in spesifieke voorbeelde van kontemporêre Suid-Afrikaanse en internasionale visuele kunswerke. Oordaadsuitbeelding is ‘n verskynsel wat opvallender voorkom in huidige plaaslike en internasionale kunspraktyke. Die verhandeling fokus primêr op twee kunswerke ter illustrasie van hierdie verskynsel: die Sweedse videokunstenaar Natalie Djurberg se video-instellasie Experimentet (2009), en Suid-Afrikaanse ‘performance’- kunstenaar Steven Cohen se film Golgotha (2007 -9). My bespreking van die twee kunswerke wentel rondom die sentrale vraag: watter aanduidende rol speel oordadigheid in uitbeeldings van die menslike liggaam in kontemporêre visuele kuns? Ter beantwoording van hierdie vraag het hierdie ondersoek ten doel om, eerstens, die verskynsel van oordaadsuitbeelding van die menslike liggaam in kontemporêre kuns binne ‘n teoretiese raamwerk te plaas. Ten tweede gaan ek my eie kunspraktyk binne hierdie raamwerk plaas. Die oorsig van Djurberg se Experimentet en Cohen se Golgotha word oor vier hoofstukke versprei. Elke hoofstuk bespreek ‘n spesifieke aspek van oordaadsuitbeelding rakende die menslike liggaam. Ten eerste bespreek ek die groteske liggaam aan die hand van Mikhail Bakhtin se idée van groteske realisme en ek verwys ook na Jacques Lacan se psigoanalitiese idée van die gefragmenteerde liggaam, of corpse morcelé. Die tweede ondersoek in die verband van oordaadsuitbeelding verwys na die ‘liggaamspektakel’ as kulturele kritiek op kapitalisme, met spesifieke verwysing na Cohen se gebruik van egte menslike skedels as skoene in Golgotha. Ek bespreek ook George Bataille se filosofiese ondersoek na die idée van ‘uitgawe’ as kritiek op kapitalisme. Die ‘liggaamspektakel’ word geplaas binne die konteks van die laat-twintigste-eeuse teoretikus Frederic Jameson se opvatting van postmodernisme en sy verduideliking van die afname in gevoelsinhoud. Ten derde ondersoek ek oordaad en nabootsing in uitbeeldings van die vroulike liggaam, met spesiefieke verwysing na Djurberg se Experimentet. Hier is die bespreking geplaas in die konteks van die Franse feministiese psigoanalitiese teorie van Luce Irigaray se konsep van die rol van oordaad in nabootsing. Die studie verander dan na die ondersoek na die ervarings wat by die gehoor ontlok word deur die uitbeeldings van oordaad rakende die menslike liggaam. Ek verduidelik my eie observasies oor oordaadsuitbeelding deur gebruik te maak van George Bataille se skrywes oor die funksie van taboe, sowel as Mikail Bakhtin se aandrang op die ambivalensie van groteske beelde. Hier argumenteer ek, met verwysing na Experimentet en Golgotha, dat oordaad gekenmerk word deur die paradoks van gelyktydige aantrekking en walging. Ten einde bespreek ek my eie kunspraktyk met verwysing na die teoretiese raamwerk uiteengesit rondom uitbeeldings van oordaad rakende die liggaam.

Ill-posed sets of linear equations typically arise when discretizing certain types of integral transforms. A well known example is image reconstruction, which can be modeled using the Radon transform. After expanding the solution into a finite series of basis functions a large, sparse and ill-conditioned linear system occurs. We consider the solution of such systems. In particular we study a new class of iteration methods named DROP (for Diagonal Relaxed Orthogonal Projections) constructed for solving both linear equations and linear inequalities. This class can also be viewed, when applied to linear equations, as a generalized Landweber iteration. The method is compared with other iteration methods using test data from a medical application and from electron microscopy. Our theoretical analysis include convergence proofs of the fully-simultaneous DROP algorithm for linear equations without consistency assumptions, and of block-iterative algorithms both for linear equations and linear inequalities, for the consistent case. When applying an iterative solver to an ill-posed set of linear equations the error usually initially decreases but after some iterations, depending on the amount of noise in the data, and the degree of ill-posedness, it starts to increase. This phenomenon is called semi-convergence. We study the semi-convergence performance of Landweber-type iteration, and propose new ways to specify the relaxation parameters. These are computed so as to control the propagated error. We also describe a class of stopping rules for Landweber-type iteration for solving linear inverse problems. The class includes the well known discrepancy principle, and the monotone error rule. We unify the error analysis of these two methods. The stopping rules depend critically on a certain parameter whose value needs to be specified. A training procedure is therefore introduced for securing robustness. The advantages of using trained rules are demonstrated on examples taken from image reconstruction from projections. Kaczmarz's method, also called ART (Algebraic Reconstruction Technique) is often used for solving the linear system which appears in image reconstruction. This is a fully sequential method. We examine and compare ART and its symmetric version. It is shown that the cycles of symmetric ART, unlike ART, converge to a weighted least squares solution if and only if the relaxation parameter lies between zero and two. Further we show that ART has faster asymptotic rate of convergence than symmetric ART. Also a stopping criterion is proposed and evaluated for symmetric ART. We further investigate a class of block-iterative methods used in image reconstruction. The cycles of the iterative sequences are characterized in terms of the original linear system. We define symmetric block-iteration and compare the behavior of symmetric and non-symmetric block-iteration. The results are illustrated using some well-known methods. A stopping criterion is offered and assessed for symmetric block-iteration.

The thesis deals with visual culture and digital photography in art education of pre-school children. The main objective is to uncover children's ability to work with a specific type of picture - photographic picture. The educational project is based on theoretical knowledge of digital media provided in the first part of the thesis and on practical experience gained during several years of practice with pre-school children. The project offers children to use digital photographs as another form of art expression. Talking with children and monitoring their reactions have shown that working with digital photographs is equally beneficial to them as any other art technique.