Post 3: Activism Through Art

               9/11 was the first tragedy that I ever witnessed and heard so many riots and deaths about. I remember being in class then rushed to the auditorium to call our parents. For that whole week the news only spoke about that dreadful day that effected everyone. Without even knowing anyone inside the building I was still terrified and sad that so many innocent people died. From that period on I never wanted any tragedies to happen to anyone bus unfortunately it did such as the mass shootings in Las Vegas, Sandy Hook and in Virginia Tech are just some of the worst tragedies in the U.S.
                   
               Francisco Goya created “The Disasters of War” from the years of 1810-1820. His paintings show scenes from the Spanish struggle against the French army under Napolean Bonaparte. He  invaded Spain in 1808. When Napolean attempted to make his brother Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain, the Spanish fought back against him, eventually they were helped by the British and the Portugese. Goya’s paintings explore the horrifying consequences of the guerilla warfare, and the famine that followed it. 

                Otto Dix was a former army soldier who fought in the war that was in Europe. His images  is a terrifying vision of the apocalypse that actually happened on Europe's soil 100 years ago  and proves that it was only German artists who saw the first world war clearly. Dix seen things as a front line soldier. At that time, he later confessed, he did not think about them too much while on the front line or while in Germany. It was after when he went back home that the nightmares started to happen. In what now is called post-traumatic stress, he kept seeing the horrors of the trenches, dead bodies and animals. He was compelled to show them, with nothing held back.

                 Charlotte Solomons was born when Hitler came to power and witnessed everyone's world fall apart. Images she painted of the time during corruption revealed sort of a mocking. bittery moment. Also the terror and tragic moment when the Jewish homes and schools were ransacked which confirmed that Solomon and her family were not safe.
              
              In the book "Seeing Power" an artist named Chan wanted to do a cultural project but not any usual project for views. He decided to create a project that would alleviate the suffering of those affected by the storm. He did not only want to tell the story of those affected by the storm but to also inspire and engage those who were not effected to also connect to their own personal tragedy. Chan did do the project in the same location the storm occurred in. 

         In Seeing Power Nato says "To collect photographs is to collect the world" and "Publicity is not merely an assembly of compelling messages: It is a language in itself which is always being used to make the same general proposal."I find it very inspiring and interesting that Goya, Dix, Solomon and Chan wanted to send a message to make people aware about their own or public tragedies. They keep us open minded and self aware. 

  Artist turns tragedy into triumph

Drawing A line from your life to Art

Otto Dix's Gallery

Francisco goya

Otto Dix

                                         


Charlotte Solomon