Barbara Kruger & Mercantillism

1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.

She has created a graphic and collage style type of artwork using magazine images which altogether looks quite simple but still has a huge impact. Large, bold texts are placed in front of the images containing pronouns such as you, I, we, and your, are used to include the audience in her work.

2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?

 

Some of the ideas that Kruger is trying to display are about material possesions, consumerism, the struggle for power and status through material means and wealth

3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.

 

Yes I believe they do. The text in the first image "I shop therefore I am" is explaining how important wealth and appearance is in today's modern society. In the second image it shows the reality of this materialistic concept through the text "This garment won't make you rich or beautifaul" and "Face it!" The colours and text used are as plain and blatant as possible to contradict these ideas of wealth and appearance.

 

4. Define the concept of Mercantillism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.

 

Mecantilism was an economic system used during Europe during the 16th, 17th and 18th century, which involved increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return. Because of this trading system, people such as merchants became more wealthy which in turn began the trend of people showing of their wealth. This idea is shown through the two images which shows how todays society puts too much value on owning expensive items because they think it makes them more important or beautiful.

5. Upload a more recent example of Kruger's work where she has used a new medium, that is not graphic design. Title your image of the chosen work and comment on your response to the work. How do you think the audience would experience this work?

 

 

The Globe Shrinks (2010)

 

 The Globe shrinks is a four-screen digital video installation, which is currently on view at the Mary Boone Gallery. This piece shows the artist's “engagement with the kindness and brutality of the everyday, the collision of declaration and doubt, the duet of pictures and words, the resonance of direct address, and the unspoken in every conversation.” The projections interact with each other and viewer in different ways: in one section a fan blows a woman's hair from across the room: in another, two men tell jokes to each other, only their mouths in view. So to experience this would be as if you were actually in the movie instead of just watching it, as you are surrounded by these four walls which contain experiences which all people can relate to.