Hector's Blog

        Where do I even begin with this film? Rarely does a cinematic work, let alone a documentary,  move me in such a way that I almost feel compelled to help those less fortunate than I. Never has the term diamond in the rough, resonated with me more clearly than after watching this. Vik Muniz delves deep into the human condition during his endeavor across a poverty stricken landfill community of his native Brazil. Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, just outside of Rio De Janeiro, is home to the world’s largest garbage landfill and a struggling contingent of people working the endless waste fields. The catadores, as they’re called, tirelessly toil in the harsh conditions of Jardim Gramacho just to barely maintain an impoverished existence. I was introduced to 6 very complex human beings in the garbage pickers that Muniz selected to photograph for his exhibit. When he first ventured to the landfill, Muniz was anticipating to see a group of people defeated by the system in which they’re marg

FÉLIX GONZÁLEZ-TORRES ( November 26, 1957-January 9, 1996) Intro  • Cuban born American visual artist (born in Guáimaro, Cuba) • openly gay sexual orientation often seen as influential in his work • sent to an orphanage in Madrid, Spain as a young boy • later relocated to Puerto Rico in 1957 • graduated from Colegio San George in 1976 and began art Studies at University of Puerto Rico in 1976 • moved to New York City in 1979 with a study fellowship • participated in the Whitney independent study program in 1980 • attended the program again in 1983 and received a BFA in photography from the Pratt Institute of Art • traveled to Europe and studied in Venice in 1986 • awarded the degree of Master of Fine Arts by the International Center of Photography and New York University in 1987 • in the same year joined a New York-based group of artist called Group Material  • worked collaboratively adhering to principles of cultural activism and community education • taught at New

        Do Ho Suh was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1962. He is a sculptor widely renowned for his complex sculptures which oppose most conventional ideals of specificity and scale. The majority of his work gravitated viewers’ attention to the way they perceived and inhabited the occupation of public space. His interest in the metaphorical and physical manifestations of the malleability of space influence the site-specific constructions he creates. Spatial and psychological migration have been key components in Suh’s emotionally inflected architecture, which manifest through the intricacy of his sculptures. These installations question the limitations of identity while simultaneously exploring correlations between collectivity, individuality, and anonymity.                                                       Rubbing/Loving c. 2016         In 2016, Do Ho Suh began a large scale, painstakingly complex process of completely wrapping every surface of his former apartment with w

Sky Catherdral by Louise Nevelson c. 1958         Ukrainian born sculptor Louise Nevelson shared an affinity with the works of Abstract Expressionism. Although Nevelson wasn’t primarily a painter, she exhibited a keen interest in composing large scale works that specifically experimented with line, flatness, and scale. Similar to a few of her contemporaries such as Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, she was deeply intrigued by spritual transcendence and the sublime. During the 1940s and 50s Nevelson traveled to Central America and was completely awestruck by the “world of geometry and magic” she saw in the Mayan Ruins. This style of reoccurring geometric patterns and shapes are very prevalent throughout Nevelson’s compositions. Sky Catherdral  evokes a sense of divinity. It’s structure resembles that of a temple or place of devotion to prayer. This piece is composed of wooden compartment filled boxes stacked against a wall. Each box consists of wooden materials including furnitur

The Assembly of Gods Around Jupiter’s Throne c. 1532-34 Giulio Romano                A centralized subject in a painting can be used to unify various components of the composition.  Unity is the appearance or condition of oneness, which can be utilized as a key principle in design to convey the feeling of togetherness between every aspect in a particular painting. When executed correctly the unification of subjects in a composition exhibit a coherent and harmonious image. Furthermore, the illusion of depth is achieved by using contrast of scale. This is also known as amplified perspective. Repetition is also a reoccurring theme in regards to unification. The painting shown above masterfully encompasses all of the aforementioned characteristics of unity. Jupiter’s throne at the center of this piece is representative of the focal point used to unify the surrounding illustrations. Romano also perfectly exhibited the illusion of depth by decreasing the size of the throne in scale an