Assemblage
Assemblage
-is
an artistic process in which a threedimensional artistic composition is
made from putting together found
objects.
In 1916, French artist
Marcel Duchamp shocked
the world with his readymade art pieces like
Bicycle Wheel. He
challenged the definitions
of traditional art. This
paved the way for
possibilities of using
ordinary “found” objects
in art.
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Fountain
• Duchamp’s most notorious readymade
was a manufactured urinal entitled
“Fountain”. Conceived for a show
promoting avant-garde art, “Fountain”
took advantage of the show’s lack of
juried panels, which invariably excluded
forward-looking artists.
• Under a pseudonym, “R.Mutt,”
Duchamp submitted “Fountain”. It
was a prank, meant to taunt his avantgarde peers. For some of the show’s
organizers this was too much—was the
artist equating modern art with a toilet
fixture? –and “Fountain” as
‘misplaced’ for the duration of the
exhibition. It disappeared soon
thereafter.
Box in a Valise
Louise Nevelson (19001988)
was an abstract American
sculptor. She
constructed free-standing
pieces, or assemblages,
made from “found”
materials.
example by Louise Nevelson
Assemblage in art is defined as a
composition made from found
objects: scraps, recycled, odds and
ends of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or
metal.
Nevelson
creates unity by
painting this
entire
assemblage
black.
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Her autobiographical works symbolically address issues of marriage,
motherhood, death, Jewish culture, memory and (although she resisted
the label) feminism.
Robert Rauschenberg
“Monogram”
One of Rauschenberg’s first and most famous combines was entitled
“Monogram” (1959) and consisted of an unlikely set of materials: a
stuffed angora goat, a tire, a police barrier, the heel of a shoe, a tennis
ball, and paint. This pioneering altered the course of modern art. The
idea of combining and of noticing combinations of objects and images
has remained at the core of Rauschenberg’s work.
Robert Rauschenberg
Combines
Dan Levin
Joseph Cornell
Often called “junk art”, assemblage is the process
of creating sculpture using found objects.
For this assignment you will use the additive process to
create a non-representational self-portrait. This means
that you will create a sculpture that symbolizes you but
does not actually look like you.
Keep the Elements and Principles of art in mind as you work.
Consider what your Emphasis will be.
How can you create Movement?
Will your work be Harmonious or have a strong Contrast?
Space and the use of Light are important!
Make sure your are creating sculpture that is interesting from all sides (in the
round).
When you are collecting objects think about how you could attach them to
each other.
Questions to ask your self:
Who am I as a person?
•What are my beliefs?
•What imagery would best describe me?
•Will I use a container (box, vase etc.)
•Will I add drawing or painting? (note this
should be done only if it will enhance your
piece, don’t just cover areas with paint
without planning.)
•Are there objects I can bring from home?