Robyn Stacey Essay
ROBYN STACEY is a well-known Australian photographer who has exhibited large and powerful images both in Australia and overseas. Stacey’s work shows a fascination with the use of history to inform our present. Her interest in archives from museums led to her taxonomy artworks in which she researched and photographed archival repositories from museums in Australia and overseas. The artworks produced from these collections show powerful and striking photographic arrangements. The photographs allow a current day audience to view 18th and 19th century specimens and artefacts in a new light. Stacey’s work is influenced by Dutch Still Life tradition and taxonomy.
PART A: Look at the Robyn Stacey artwork below titled “Squadron” and answer the following questions using the STRUCTURAL frame.
NOTE: Definition of the Structural frame: 'Artists often create their own visual language using codes, symbols or signs to convey their meaning. We can interpret these works by analysing the elements of line, direction, shape, size, tone, texture and colour. An understanding of which element is most important to an artist can help us to discover the artist’s techniques.' (Artwise 2, Glenis Israel)
Squadron, 2002 from The Collector's Nature
Type C print
100 x 100cm, edition of 5
1. What is the focal point of “Squadron”? How has Stacey achieved this? (2 marks)
The focal point of the artwork “Squadron” is the large bug in the middle of the artwork. This is achieved as the focal point by Stacey using several techniques. One of these includes the contrast of warm and cool colours, Stacey intentionally used a background of blue which contrasts with the yellows and reds of the large bug creating a bolder image. Another technique that Stacey has used is the circular border/shape of the image, the circle closes in on the shape created a sharper, more rounded image leading your eyes directly to the bug in the middle.
2. What does the term taxonomy refer to? How has this
PART A: Look at the Robyn Stacey artwork below titled “Squadron” and answer the following questions using the STRUCTURAL frame.
NOTE: Definition of the Structural frame: 'Artists often create their own visual language using codes, symbols or signs to convey their meaning. We can interpret these works by analysing the elements of line, direction, shape, size, tone, texture and colour. An understanding of which element is most important to an artist can help us to discover the artist’s techniques.' (Artwise 2, Glenis Israel)
Squadron, 2002 from The Collector's Nature
Type C print
100 x 100cm, edition of 5
1. What is the focal point of “Squadron”? How has Stacey achieved this? (2 marks)
The focal point of the artwork “Squadron” is the large bug in the middle of the artwork. This is achieved as the focal point by Stacey using several techniques. One of these includes the contrast of warm and cool colours, Stacey intentionally used a background of blue which contrasts with the yellows and reds of the large bug creating a bolder image. Another technique that Stacey has used is the circular border/shape of the image, the circle closes in on the shape created a sharper, more rounded image leading your eyes directly to the bug in the middle.
2. What does the term taxonomy refer to? How has this