Week 1- Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Week 1- Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

'Tender' (2003-05) Fiona Hall

Fiona Hall's contemporary work reflects ideas that come from the Renaissance concept of Mercantilism.

Research the two examples; 'Tender'(2003-05) and 'Leaf Litter'(1999-2003) to explain how they relate to this concept.

1. First define mercantilism, using material from your ALVC handbook, and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance. Merchantilism is an economic system of the major trading nations through the sixteenth to eighteneth centuries based on the idea that a nations wealth and power would best increase from the increase of exports and collecting precious metals (also known as bullion) in return. Merchanitilism has progressed since these times until now, where society measures a person's 'success' by their monetiary wealth and personal posessions more than how much buillon they own.

2. Identify the ideas or concepts in Hall's work that relate to Mercantilism? Hall shows and compares the human systems, which is the dollar bills she has used to create the sculpture and the bird nest, relating to nature the main idea in Hall's 'Tender' is to demonstrate how nature and money have become linked through to the modern cultures. Though merchailism was very and still is very important in society Hall is trying to point out that nature is neccesary for both current and future generations.

3. For each work describe the shape, form and materials used, and also explain the ideas behind each example.  Hall has designed 86 bird nests and specified what species lives in each one. The nests have been carefully crafted to look as realistic as possible. The nests have been made out of shredded US dollars.

4. In your opinion do the materials communicate the ideas of the work? Please explain your answer. In my opinion the US dollars that Hall has used to put together the birds nest thoroughly communicate the ideas of the work. With the idea being though merchailism was very and still is very important in society Hall is trying to point out that nature is neccesary for both current and future generations. 

5. Fiona Hall's recent project The Kermadecs focuses on issues around the Pacific ocean. Research this project to summarize the importance of the area and upload an image to your blog for discussion. 

 ' Leaf Litter' (1999-2003) Fiona Hall

These works were part of an art show titled 'Force Field' which can be viewed in one of the exhibition spaces on Youtube - Part Three: Fiona Hall: Force Field.

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h622.html
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mercantilism.asp#axzz1xp9IByNB
http://www.bos17.com/biennale/artist/47
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/fiona-hall