Unit 10 Required Works

Global Contemporary Art: AP Art History Study Guide

Greetings, art enthusiasts! Imagine stepping into a time machine that doesn’t take you back to the Renaissance – but drops you right into the whirlwind of creativity from 1980 CE to the present. No tunics or togas here; we’re talking neon lights, digital installations, and mixed media madness! 😎🎨

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s "Horn Players" is like a jazz solo on canvas. Painted in 1983 using acrylic and oilstick, this artwork pulsates with energy, showcasing two Black figures playing horns amidst a chaotic burst of text, images, and symbols. It’s as if you’ve wandered into a lively New York nightclub while simultaneously flipping through a dictionary of social issues like racism and marginalization. Basquiat’s frenzied strokes and contrasting colors create a vivid commentary on the contemporary African American experience, cementing his impact on the art world.

Imagine a sculpture that seems to breathe and bend as you look at it. Magdalena Abakanowicz’s "Androgyne III," created in 1985, is all about the human form in its most abstract sense. Made from burlap, resin, wood, nails, and string, this figure stands as a testament to our shared humanity amidst the rubble of post-World War II turmoil. It’s like a visual whisper that tells you, “We’re all in this together.”

Faith Ringgold’s "Dancing at the Louvre" is not just a quilt; it’s a vibrant, fabric-bound revolution. Picture a group of African American women joyfully dancing in front of the Louvre – yes, that’s right, the iconic French museum. By using the traditional medium of quilting alongside modern social commentary, Ringgold stitches together themes of cultural appropriation and representation with a palette bursting with life. You can almost hear the laughter and see the lively twirls!

"Electronic Superhighway" by Nam June Paik is the ultimate road trip through America – via video screens and neon lights. This 1995 installation features a dazzling map of the United States highlighted with 51-channel video feeds, transforming the space into a tech utopia. Picture neon lights dancing across an array of screens, each displaying unique content, symbolizing the digital pulse of our interconnected world. Paik’s artwork is a digital symphony playing a tune of unity and connectivity.

When you look at Julie Mehretu’s "Stadia II," you might feel like you’ve just opened a time-lapse video of an Olympic stadium mid-competition. Painted in 2004, Mehretu's large-scale ink and acrylic masterpiece layers symbols and shapes to conjure the chaotic, energetic vibe of sports arenas. With a palette that strikes hot with red and yellow bursts amidst cool grays and blacks, Mehretu captures the essence of motion and power in a single, thrilling snapshot.

Maya Lin’s "Vietnam Veterans Memorial" is the epitome of minimalist poise materializing into monumental remembrance. Imagine a long, black granite wall set in the heart of Washington D.C., inscribed with the names of American soldiers who fell in the Vietnam War. That somber simplicity evokes a profound sense of loss and tribute, symbolizing the invisible scars of conflict and healing through reflective memorial.

Song Su-Nam’s "Summer Trees" is like stepping into a serene dreamscape. Created in 1979, this ink-on-paper painting brings forth a symphony of organic and geometric forms through flowing lines and bold brushstrokes. Picture hues so bright and vivid that you can almost feel the summer sun as the trees sway gently in a poetic dance of abstract expressionism. It’s a visual haiku capturing the essence of vitality and tradition in Korean art.

Xu Bing’s "A Book from the Sky" redefines language as we know it. Imagine stepping into a room lined with scrolls and books, all meticulously filled with seemingly traditional Chinese characters – except these characters are entirely invented! Created between 1987 and 1991, this installation challenges the foundations of communication and cultural identity, making you question everything you thought you knew about the written word.

Cindy Sherman’s "Untitled #228" isn’t just a photograph; it’s a whole identity crisis in a frame. Part of her famous "Untitled Film Stills" series, this 1990 chromogenic color print shows Sherman playing a character with a neutral yet haunting gaze. Through clever self-portraiture, Sherman tackles themes of identity, gender, and representation, making you wonder: who is the real Cindy Sherman?

"Earth’s Creation" by Emily Kame Kngwarreye is an explosion of color and form on four large canvases. This 1994 masterpiece, created with synthetic polymer paint, captures the creation story of the Anmatyerre people through thousands of dots and lines. The central motif, the "Ancestor Snake," symbolizes nature’s dynamic and interconnected essence. It's like nature decided to paint a selfie!

Frank Gehry’s "Guggenheim Museum Bilbao" is a building that looks like it danced straight out of a sci-fi movie. Completed in 1997, this museum in Spain boasts curved, metallic forms that shimmer and twist in the sunlight. Its fluid lines reflect Gehry’s boundary-pushing vision, proving that architecture can be as dynamic and expressive as any art form hung within its walls.

Mariko Mori’s "Pure Land" is your ticket to a futuristic utopia. This 1996-1998 installation features an ethereal chamber with glowing platforms and abstract forms, inviting you to ponder the harmony of humans, nature, and technology. Step inside and you might feel like you’ve accessed a peaceful realm where the future is bright and beautiful.

Kara Walker’s "Darkytown Rebellion" is shadow puppetry with a punch. This 2001 installation uses cut paper silhouettes and projections to create a dynamic narrative addressing race, gender, and power. Walker’s deeply engaging work forces viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths of slavery and its enduring impact on society, all while transforming a gallery wall into a stage for profound dialogue.

Doris Salcedo’s "Shibboleth" makes you look down – literally. This 2007 installation at Tate Modern features a long crack running through the gallery floor, symbolizing divisions and exclusions caused by conflict and displacement. It’s as if the museum itself is cracking under the weight of historical and cultural trauma, inviting you to step carefully and reflect deeply.

Designed by Zaha Hadid, the MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts is an architectural marvel in Rome, Italy. Opened in 2010, this museum is a fluid, dynamic structure where interior and exterior spaces flow seamlessly. It’s like walking into a sculpture that happens to house world-class contemporary art, blurring the lines between art, architecture, and innovation.

Ai Weiwei’s "Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds)" might just be the world’s most interactive pile of seeds. This 2010 installation consists of 100 million hand-painted porcelain sunflower seeds spread across a gallery floor. Each seed represents individuality within a massive collective, commenting on power dynamics and individual freedom in China with a resounding crunch underfoot. Step carefully – it’s art, not a snack!

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s "Trade (Gifts for Trading Land with White People)" combines mixed media to critique the historical exploitation of Native American lands. Imagine a colorful collage of paintings, found objects, and text on a massive canvas – it’s a visual protest, exploring cultural identity and environmental justice with every brushstroke and found trinket.

Shirin Neshat's "Rebellious Silence," part of her Women of Allah series, is a stark, powerful image of a veiled woman holding a gun. This 1994 photograph dives deep into gender, identity, and political resistance in Iran, challenging the viewer to confront the complexities of the Islamic Revolution and its restrictions on women. The woman’s eyes – intense and unyielding – tell a story worth a thousand words.

Pepon Osorio’s installation "En la Barbería no se Llora (No Crying Allowed in the Barbershop)" transforms an everyday barbershop into a colorful arena of cultural exploration. Created in 1994, it’s a mixed media extravaganza with barbers' chairs, photos, objects, and videos, exploring themes of masculinity and community within Latino culture. Step in and feel the buzz – both literal and metaphorical.

Michel Tuffery’s "Pisupo Lua Afe (Corned Beef 2000)" takes recycling to a whole new level. This 1994 installation features sculptures made from flattened tin cans of corned beef, critiquing the impact of Western diets on Pacific cultures. It’s as if your lunch just had an existential crisis and came back as thought-provoking art. The tin can sculptures highlight resilience and resourcefulness in a world of cultural challenges.

Kiki Smith’s "Lying with the Wolf" feels like stumbling upon a fairy tale. This 2001 artwork, drawn with ink and pencil, shows a woman lying in serene harmony next to a wolf. It’s a gentle, mystical exploration of human-animal relationships, identity, and spirituality. Smith’s work invites you to lie down and contemplate the delicate balance of nature and myth.

Yinka Shonibare’s "The Swing (after Fragonard)" reimagines a classic scene with a twist. This 2001 sculpture replaces the figures from Fragonard’s Rococo painting with mannequins in African-inspired textiles, highlighting the legacy of colonialism. Picture a genteel lady soaring on a swing in vibrant Ankara fabrics – it’s a playful yet critical take on race, class, and artistic tradition.

El Anatsui’s "Old Man’s Cloth" is pure handwoven magic. Made in 2003 from discarded bottle caps and wire, this textile sculpture glitters and undulates like a golden river. It’s a dazzling commentary on cultural heritage, globalization, and environmentalism, proving that one man’s trash is another man’s breathtaking artwork.

Bill Viola’s "The Crossing" immerses you in a slow-motion meditation on life and death. This 1996 video installation features two figures emerging from water, walking towards each other in a dream-like dance. Set to a haunting score composed by Viola himself, the piece evokes thoughts of spiritual rebirth and transformation with every shimmering drop of water.

Imagine strolling through Central Park in 2005 and finding yourself amidst 7,503 towering gates draped in saffron-colored fabric. That’s Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s "The Gates," an environmental installation celebrating the park’s beauty and providing a transformative experience for visitors. This two-week spectacle, entirely self-funded by the artists, left an indelible mark on New York’s landscape and the hearts of over 4 million spectators.

So there you have it! A whirlwind tour of Global Contemporary Art from 1980 CE to the present. From Basquiat’s bold social commentaries to Ai Weiwei’s collective porcelain seeds, these works challenge, inspire, and provoke thought like never before. Dive deep, get lost, and let the art speak to you – it’s a wild ride through the modern world of creativity! 🚀🎨

Good luck, and may your AP Art History exam be as colorful and dynamic as the artworks you’ve just explored! 🖌️🌟