Media Arts: MoMA Principles Of Design

The Gardener - painting- 2001- John Currin [Link to artwork on MoMA]

This painting titled "The Gardener" by John Currin has several examples of principles of design included within it. The one I wish to bring attention to however is the principle of unity. The two people featured in the painting are within close proximity and as such we naturally group them together. However, it is more than it seems. Take the tree to the right of the second person out of the painting and something doesn't feel quite as right with it. Like the balance has been cut off and that there is an wide and uncomfortable gap between the two characters near each other and the tree that balances the image out. By this regard proximity and unity are both high contributing factors to the overall impact of the image. It picture also mainly uses cool colors and has a light, calm and happy feeling. The bright hat and pants of the man though is what draws my attention to the painting first followed by the woman and her dark blue hat. Had the coloring or range of which the characters are portrayed varied from what it is now the image would have a completely different impact.

ETC - Chromogenic color print - 2010 - Roe Ethridge [Link to artwork on MoMA]

This photograph titled "ETC" by Roe Ethridge is an example symmetrical balance and emphasis. Without color the big white "&" is emphasized along with it dominating the photograph with it taking up most of the space. The reason I regard this photo as relatively even and symmetrical is that the artist decided to include a stick or pole in the photograph dividing it down the middle. Had these features not have been included the photograph, much like "The Gardener" would have a very different impact on the viewers. For example color  might strain the photo and take away from the attention that the "&" has. So it might be bland and tasteless simply because of it all being bold colors that pop. Considering this I have respect that the photographer decided to take the photo in black and white- or at the very least convert it to such a faze.

Air-Light-Shadow - Polychromed plaster - 1915 - Max Weber [Link to artwork on MoMA]

“to put the abstract into concrete terms” was what inspired Max Weber to create this structure. In terms of principles and design it has both rhythm and unity without variety involved in it. The repetitive side of it would be the triangle shaped figures on the top half of the sculpture. Repetition is also caused from the texture on the structure creating a "common" pattern on the work itself. In this light the structure is differently having element of design included within it- possibly intentionally. 

In conclusion these are the three different pieces from the Museum of Modern Art that I have selected to study and tell about how the different principles of Design are involved within to make them aesthetically pleasing to the human eye.