Thursday, January 25, 2018

Art_The Perspective of Power

The third grades started the new unit sharing everything they knew about ancient Egyptian civilization. Then, they analyzed an Egyptian painting from the tomb of a man named Menna noticing how the style, symbols and story depicts the ancient Egyptian perspective as we understand it. They considered the systems of power and how it was very human centered.



Then, they were presented with artworks made by Australian aboriginal painters. They posited their perspective. Compared to the Egyptians’ style including fine lines, geometric shapes, size hierarchy of figures, symmetry, and power symbols, the aboriginal Australians used a dot method equalizing the figure/ground components. They are abstract and use symbols that express their relationship to the land. Another perspective difference is that the Egyptians prepared for the Afterlife while the aboriginal Australians honored their ancestry - a concept they call Dreamtime. The power perspective is much more land centered and community based in these paintings suggesting a shift to the concept “empower” instead.



The girls planned their own dot painting after doing some research using a contemporary art website www.kateowengallery.com. They are painting on large black paper using symbols they learned about or making up their own.

Here’s their start: