Chapter 3 Artist Analysis

In the first comparison we take a look at Ryoan-ji Temple, Kyoto and Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty. Ryoan-ji created stone and gravel garden in 1480. Where Smithson created a spiral Jetty in 1970. Both artists utilized rocks and other natural resources to create 2 very different themes. The rock garden was created as a place to meditate and has to be continuously maintained. Although there are certain changes over time that cannot be prevented (moss growing on the rocks). On the other side the Spiral jetty was created in order for it to change over time without being maintained. Creating it in Salt Lake the natural elements there are constantly changing the colors and looks of the rocks. For a long period of time the rocks were submerged under water and you could not view them.

The second two artist we will look at is Thomas Cole's, The Oxbow and Wang Jian's, White Clouds over Xiao and Xiang. Both artists are depicting there expression of a real place. Cole depicts a sort of war between two sides. On one side you have a mountain with lots of overgrowth and storm damage trees being depicted with storm clouds rolling over. On the other side you have a prairie that looks to be used by farmers and sunlight is shining on the fields. Seems peaceful compared to the other side and they are separated by a river. Cole painted what he saw. Jian depicts a real place but is his own rendering of that place not a recreation of an image like Cole. Jian's painting makes it almost seem dreamlike the way the mountain stands above the clouds in the background and the land mass in the foreground looks soft, cloud like. The two artists took a different approach as to where you were viewing them from as well. Cole is sitting on the mountain looking out and Jian has you up in the air looking down on the river with the mountain and clouds set straight out from you.