A museum is a nonprofit making organization that is established in a certain locality and dedicated to serving society. It contains a collection of exhibits of animals and artwork. These exhibitions are used for various purposes such as education, enjoyment and research work. In addition, they help people to appreciate humanity. People who visit museums pay some money as an entry fee which is used for its maintenance. This essay gives answers to questions given during a visit to a museum. The questions focus on an exhibition produced between 3200 BC and1300 AD.
The intended focus or subject of the exhibition is a wheeled figurine. This piece of art is well drawn on a piece of stone. This exhibition is kept in a gallery where the viewer can be able to get a full view of the figure and shape of the wheeled figurine. The space allocated to this piece of art is in proportion to the size and shape of the figure. In addition, the artist has used the principles of design together with the elements of art to enable the viewer to understand the figure and hence have a good mental picture of the exhibit. A good application of elements and principles of arts and design, such as scale enables the viewer to view the work from different angles. This also enables the visitors to get a full image of the exhibit.
The works in the exhibition are symmetrically arranged. This enables the viewer to see most of the parts of the figure. At an aerial view, the viewer is able to view the body’s depth and this is also enhanced by the use of contrast in color shades. The arrangement of the body handles, and the wheels enable the viewer to understand the original historical context of the wheeled figurine. The position of the wheels and the handles shows that the exhibit was pushed for it to move to where it is. The circular shape of the wheels and the rectangular shape of the body demonstrates that the wheeled figurine could have been used to carry goods or people by pushing or pulling them.
This is because in ancient days animal carts or agricultural tools with wheels were not in use. The wheeled figurine could therefore have been used as a means of transport. Therefore, the arrangement of the works helps the viewer to understand the original historical context of the works.
The arrangement of works creates an interesting comparison. The works ‘speaks to’ each other. This is because the shape of the exhibit is demonstrated by the use of shape, color, proportion, balance, and contrast. The works complement each other because depth is shown by the use of lines, form and shapes. In addition, scale and proportion creates an interesting comparison between wheels, body, and handles. Moreover, the balance of the exhibit is demonstrated by the use of proportionality and scale. On the exhibit, contrast complements color, line and shape. Therefore, the arrangement of works ‘speaks to’ or compliments each other.
In an informal analysis of a chosen work of art, the principles of design such as balance proportion, rhythm, contrast, variety, pattern, unity, and emphasis are applied. In addition, the elements of art which are color, value, shapes, forms, texture, space, and line are very important during a formal analysis of artwork. The chosen works is an artwork of a wheeled figurine. The artist has used different kinds of lines to create shapes both regular and irregular ones. The lines have been used to demonstrate depth as well as the figure or image of the exhibit. In this figure, texture has been used to demonstrate the roughness of the wheels and the smoothness of the handles and the inside part of the body. The artist has also applied value to the wheels and the body to show the space between them.
Furthermore, some forms such as cylinders have been used to demonstrate the shape of the handles and also the real image of the figure. The artist used shapes like circles to demonstrate the shape of the wheels and an irregular shape for the body of the exhibit. Space is created between handles and also between the body and the wheels. Space helps to demonstrate distance. Moreover, the artist has used black shades to demonstrate the depth of the body.
Other than the elements of art, the artist has applied some principles of design for the viewer to get the mental picture of the figure, color, forms, texture, and different shapes have been combined harmoniously. This has created the balance of the exhibit. The texture of the wheel’s contrasts with the texture of the handles. On the exhibit, emphasis is created by the use of texture, color and shapes. For example, the color of the wheel’s contrasts that of the body and therefore the attention of the viewer is drawn to the depth and shape of the body.
Moreover, due to the harmonious combination of elements used by the artist, the principle of creation is created. Therefore, the exhibit appears as the viewer would expect it to be. The artist uses another principle of pattern, created by the repetition of shapes, textures or forms. For example, smoothness is applied to the handles and the inside part of the body. In addition, the principle of movement of the viewer’s eyes to the areas of emphasis is created by the use of color, texture and various shapes. Finally, the artist created unity in the exhibit. This was possible due to the availability of contrasting colors, patterns, textures, and proportions that created balance and unity in the exhibit. The scale used creates balance and proportionality of the exhibit. The artist has also placed the exhibit at the center of the slab and hence the eyes of the viewer are attracted to it.
During the visit to the museum and specifically visiting an artwork of a wheeled figurine, I came to appreciate the artwork. This is because the artist of the wheeled figurine exhibit has applied the various principles and elements of art and design to help the viewer understand the exhibit. This has helped me to have an experience of how artwork can be used to send a message concerning a subject to the viewer. Therefore, art work is also a form of communication. In addition, the artwork is not only for aesthetic value, but it can still be used for research work or study. I have also learned that to create unity and balance in artwork, the elements should be harmoniously created. Moreover, for the artwork to be proportionate a good scale should be used and the figure or demonstration should be placed in such a way that it will attract the viewer’s eyes.