Essay About Main Idea And Water Bottles

Vienna: 1900 – Art and the Visual Arts
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Art and the Visual Arts
Recently I went to go to go see “Vienna: 1900” at the Neue Galerie. The exhibit
displayed various paintings and architectural designs completed by multiple artists. The
main idea behind the whole exhibit was to represent the style and identity of the artists
whose work was on display. Then, our class had the privilege of seeing Shari
Mendelson and her work in Brooklyn. Mendelson has made multiple pieces out of old
and recycled water bottles and used plastic that she reuses to make vases, bowls, and
other plastic installations. I wanted to compare these two, because I felt that Mendelson
was representing a new identity in art by engaging in artistic activities as unusual as
taking an old Vitamin water bottle or Dasani water bottle and making it into something
beautiful, while the exhibit at the Neue showed the artistic past. Both exhibits focused
on reinventing something, and making it functional while still remaining visually
appealing; creating a new identity.
With that said, since I did not have the privilege of seeing Shari Mendelson in
person and having the chance to ask her about her art, I knew it was necessary for me
to think outside the box by looking in depth at her artwork, and being able to compare
it with the works in “Vienna: 1900” to determine what she would say and how she
would analyze it. Since this was my challenge, it was required of me to try and relate
her artwork to the artwork of “Vienna: 1900” to make a direct comparison between the
two. That is when I realized that I too had changed my identity the day I missed Shari
Mendelson.
It was a rainy day around 12:30 P.M. when I received a call that informed me that
my cousin had been left at school with no babysitter to pick him up. However, this put
me into a horrible situation, due to the fact that Shari Mendelson was coming to speak
to our class that very day. At that moment, I put myself into a completely different place
in my mind, a different version of myself. I had no choice but to pick him up and take
him home. That day, the day I missed Shari Mendelson, I changed my identity; I went
from student to mother. I had created another identity just like Shari Mendelson does
with her recycled plastic, and what the works of “Vienna: 1900” did through paintings
and architecture.
“Identity is whatever makes an entity definable and recognizable.” The “Vienna:
1900” exhibit displays the change of sexuality and gender in Vienna during the turn
of the 20th Century. There was an entire section of paintings devoted to portraits of
women in which some were abstract. There was also a piece that displayed images one
would associate with a female, such as a hanging corset. However, the artwork I found
most fascinating were the architectural pieces by Otto Wagner. After reading more
into Wagners idea behind his work, I learned that he cared more about the function of
what he was making rather than the style of it. But he still was able to create a modern
style that formed its own identity. It follows that he used the outside appearance of an
object as well, to help connect with the pieces of furniture that he created. His artwork
displayed such a functionality while remaining stylish and modern. He gave himself a
challenge by focusing on functionality rather than just the appearance.
Furthermore, Shari Mendelsons work displayed, as stated before, different
pieces that were made from scraps of plastic and old recycled water bottles and other
plastic bottles. She took something old, used, and many times wasted, and made
artwork out of it. In many ways, I would consider this to be as if she was creating a new
identity for something. After reading about Mendelson in her bio, I was able to grasp the
ideas behind