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Explorations of the painted real : technological mediation in the work of four artists

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an investigation into the relationship between photorealistic painting and specific
devices used to aid the artist in mediating the real. The term 'reality' is negotiated and a hybrid
theoretical approach to photorealism, including mimesis and semiotics, is suggested. Through
careful analysis of Vermeer's suspected use of the camera obscura, I argue that camera vision
already started in the 17th century, thus signalling the dramatic shift from the classical Cartesian
perspective scopic regime to the model of vision offered by the camera long before the advent of
photography. I suggest that contemporary photorealist painters do not just merely and
objectively copy, but use photographic source material with a sophisticated awareness in
response to a rapidly changing world. Through an examination of the way in which the camera
obscura and photographic camera are used in the works of four artists, I suggest that a symbiotic
relationship of subtle tensions between painting and photographic technology emerges. This
results in visions of the painted real that may be meaningful to contemporary society and have
the ability to emotionally affect the viewer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die verhouding tussen fotorealistiese skilderkuns en die spesifieke
metodes wat die kunstenaar se vertolking van die werklikheid vergemaklik. Die term, 'realiteit'
word krities oorweeg te midde van 'n saamgestelde teoretiese aanslag tot fotorealisme wat
mimesis en semiotiek insluit. Deur 'n noukeurige analise van Vermeer se oënskynlike gebruik van
die camera obscura, hou ek voor dat fotografiese sig reeds sedert die 17e eeu teenwoordig is.
Hierdie gewaarwording dui op 'n dramatiese skuif vanaf 'n klassieke, Kartesiaanse perspektief en
skopiese regime tot die model van visie gebied deur die kamera, lank voor die ontwikkeling van
fotografie. Ek stel voor dat kontemporêre fotorealistiese skilders nie bloot objektief kopieër nie,
maar fotografiese verwysings met 'n gesofistikeerde bewussyn in reaksie tot 'n vinnigveranderende
wêreld gebruik. Deur 'n ondersoek na die wyse waarop die camera obscura en
fotografiese kamera in die werke van vier kunstenaars gebruik word, stel ek voor dat 'n
simbiotiese verhouding die subtiele spanning tussen skilderkuns en fotografiese tegnologie
meemaak. Dit lei tot visionêre weergawes van 'n geskilderde realiteit wat 'n betekenisvolle
posisie in die kontemporêre samelewing beklee en die moontlikheid besit om die toeskouer op 'n
emosionele vlak te affekteer.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6633
Date03 1900
CreatorsHeyer, Gina Margareta
ContributorsViljoen, Stella, Van der Merwe, Vivian H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format143, 16 p. : ill., port.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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