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| Art
and Interpretation by James W |
"The
Glass Ceiling," by Shu-Min Lin, is a particularly interesting work
on display at the "Forces: Art for the End of the Twentieth Century" exhibit. I
went to view this exhibit on October 15, 1997 at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia,
which is located in Virginia Beach. The work itself is composed of a tiled floor that is
built mostly of smooth, black tiles which are perfectly square. At various points in the
floor, there are squares not occupied by these tiles from which holograms can be viewed by
examining these squares from a close proximity. The holograms show faces that stare at its
viewer from whatever angle he or she is standing. The faces of the holograms are shown
through the use of different shades of a particular color, such as yellow, red, etc.,
which is unique to each. Also particular to each of these holograms is the look, age, and
overall expression of the face. I originally went to the "Forces" exhibit not
expecting to find anything particularly interesting. However, the message conveyed and the
technology used by Shu-Min Lin’s artwork, "The Glass Ceiling," evoked an
interesting response within me. On first glance of this piece, I felt confused as to
what the artist was trying to convey. However, I found the message becoming clearer as I
viewed the different faces in the holograms. Shu-Min Lin seemed to be showing the
diversity of people’s inner and outer beings, a message which I found in the various
physical features and expressions of each of the faces. For instance, one of the first
holograms that I viewed in the piece had the face of a young woman with short hair and a
surprised expression. However, the next hologram that I viewed possessed on image of a
balding, old man’s face which possessed a serious expression.
At the same time, he also seems to be delivering an assertion that people are
"re-born" after death into different bodies. Taking all of this into account, I
found myself feeling halfway angry at the message which I perceived him to be
portraying.On one hand, he was delivering an important message about the diversity of all
people. However, the message reincarnation seemed to be forcing an outlook from various
religions upon viewers of this piece. While not a religious person, I still do not feel
that those who do practice religion should do this. Despite this disagreement with the
artist, viewing this piece provided me with this insight into my own personal views and
thoughts on the religious and personal opinions of others. This is an insight which I
probably would not have had without viewing the piece which, in itself, met the criteria
which I look for an artwork. The use of holograms in the artwork is an interesting
practice which helps the artist represent his particular views on human life. Without the
presence of the holograms in this piece, I don’t think that I would have paid much
attention to "The Glass Ceiling" at all and instead would have missed it
entirely. In fact, the technology held my attention long enough to provide some personal
insight. Despite this, I don’t think that the presence of the holograms, or any type
of technology, was entirely necessary. I feel that the same message could have been
portrayed in a motionless painting or a mural. However, Shu-Min Lin’s piece and the
response it evoked in me made my trip to the "Forces" art exhibit worthwhile. (James
W) top
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| Art
and Interpretation by Nicole L |
| Shu-Min Lin’s
"Glass Ceiling" is a very imaginative and creative piece of art. When you think
of a tile floor, you don’t think of art. Shu-Min Lin creates art when he adds
holographic images to an ordinary floor. When you first walk into the room all you see is
the tile floor and some surrounding artwork. It’s not until you walk across the floor
or see other people’s reaction to the floor, that you notice the faces looking up at
you. Some of the tiles on the floor have been replaces with hologram pictures of different
people. Each hologram is a different person wearing something different or nothing at all.
Some of the holograms were different colors like orange and yellow. The surface is as
smooth as any other tile floor. If you were to walk across the floor in the dark, you
wouldn't be able to tell it from any other tile floor. It is interesting to try and
imagine Shu-Min Lin’s outlook on life. When I first looked at this, I could not
figure out why it is called, "Glass Ceiling." I was looking at this floor from
my perspective. To see this floor as a ceiling you have to imagine the view from the
people in the holographic image's point of view. Each image is a person looking up from
below the floor. I never knew how a hologram worked before; it was very interesting to
find out. Betsy DiJulio, the education director at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia
explains how it works. "A laser beam is split into am object beam and a reference
beam. After passing through a series of mirrors and lenses (to spread the beams), the
beams are brought together on a photographic plate or film where the 3-D illusionistic
image is recorded." The images in this piece appear and disappear and also change
expressions. Betsy says this is due to the angle of light from above. She also says that
according to Lin "the facial expressions do not change; the may appear to depending
on where the viewer is standing." Lin had an interesting view on life and
reincarnation. He once wrote, "How we observe the next life depends largely on what
we do in this life. We may come out as white, black, yellow, male or female, even animal.
We all continue in another life. We simply use a different body." This statement
makes me believe and understand that we all need to be treated equally no matter what
color, race, or gender we are. We need to do this because we don’t know what we will
be like in the next life. Betsy has stated that "Lin believes that we will all come
back to inhabit a body which may be of a different gender, nationality, or even species
than the one we currently inhabit. This is portrayed in his work. Lin’s work shows
how broad art can be. Art is no longer just painting and drawing. Technology has come into
the picture and changed the art world. We now have computers that can draw out pictures
for us. It is technology that allows Lin to create his holographic images. I believe
Shu-Min Lin is a very creative and inspiring artist. (Nicole L) top |
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| Art
and Interpretation by Rex W |
For field
trip 2, I went to the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. Located on 2200 Parks Ave, in
Virginia Beach to view the opening of Forces: Art for the End of the Twentieth Century on
September 19,1997. The exhibit was a blend of art and technology. There were many fine
pieces there, but my favorite was Shu-Min Lin's Glass Ceiling Shu-min's holographs were
inlaid in the floor. Picture if you will a 20' x 30' chessboard. The black squares are
polished marble tile, where the white tiles would be, are the holographs. As I came around
the corner into the room, I saw the faces trapped under the glass. They look so realistic
that I observed many ladies startled reaction as they realized the faces were there, as
they pulled their dresses close to their bodies, I assume to prevent the images from
catching a glimpse of something they were not supposed to see. It was very amusing to
watch. As I walked around the floor that the images are on, you can clearly see the people
"inside". The images represented a culturally diverse selection of race and
gender. When viewing the holographs, the visual effects differed on some plates as my
perspective changed. Some looked like they were just bodies trapped in amber, while others
depending on where I was standing appeared to project above the floor, as if I would have
to step over the head or trip. Unlike traditional 2 dimensional images these holographs
were full 3 dimensional stereoscopic images. When I was in the front I could see the face
but as I walked around the projection it was like walking around a real flesh and blood
human. In the rear I saw the back of the head and from the side, the perspective was also
true to life. Most everyone has seen a basic hologram before but as I walked around I
couldn't help feeling a sense of awe created by Shu-min's work. The detail and effects
were simply amazing. As art, I feel that artistic beauty or artistic characteristics are
defined in the eyes of the beholder.I will admit that I do not really understand a lot of
art or exactly what it take to qualify as a piece of art, but I am able to appreciate the
intrinsic beauty of a piece as well as marvel at the technology used to create it. If I
had to give a definition of art I would say that art is generally a non-functional display
of achievement by the artist that may or may not convey a deeper message. In this sense
Shu-min Lin's holographic display earned high marks with me. Here was an exquisite display
of technological achievement displayed beautifully as art, while still conveying his
message. This piece helps to solidify my view that there is no separation between
technology and art, I feel that they are intertwined at their very core. Show me a piece
of art and I'll show you the technology used to create it, show me a technology and I'll
point out its artistic qualities. I feel that Shu-min has a wonderfully balanced piece. He
uses art to bring attention to the technology, which is used to convey his message. At
first I found it hard to understand or figure out what his message might be even though he
left a clue to its meaning stating that the piece " Conveys his views of life and
reincarnation". To try to better understand the message, figuring that Shu-min Lin
was Asian, I went to the library to study up on the Asian philosophy of life and
reincarnation. In the Asian philosophy they believe in the law of karma, which basically
is defined as what comes around goes around and is a good incentive to choose the good and
avoid its opposite. In this fashion we are subject to rebirth or reincarnation until we
can live a life that acknowledges the Four Noble Truths and by following the Noble
Eightfold Path. I believe that the meaning Lin is trying to convey is that we need to live
"right" without prejudice and without hate because the laws of karma do apply
and you never know whom you might come back as in the next life. I feel that the
technological medium that Shu-min Lin uses to communicate his message is inherent to that
message. Even before I fully understood what he was trying to convey, I saw the plates as
symbolizing our bodies and the holographs as our souls trapped in our bodies awaiting
their next journey. I have seen similar messages conveyed before, in Church, while it is
not exactly the same, the intent of the message is the same. I have also seen the message
in books that I have read but I would be lying if I told you I could remember the titles. (Rex
W) top
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| Forces:
Art and Interpretation by T. J. M |
The
artwork displayed at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia from September 19, 1997
through December 19, 1997 shows 13 works of art relating to technology. It is called,
Forces: Art for the End of the 20th Century. Several different types of technology are
used including light and sound waves, animation, infrared sensors and lasers. Some of the
artwork’s meanings are straight forward, some you have to try to figure out. I
particularly enjoyed Shu-Min Lin’s, Glass Ceiling. At first, it appears as though you
are entering any regular room. There are walls, a floor and lights hanging above. You soon
realize how different it is, however. First you notice that there are several light bulbs
above that are uncovered and run in strings. Then you look down at the checkerboard tile
and notice something completely unusual. You notice that there are people below you
looking up at you. There are people of all types, black, white, yellow, old, young, male
and female. It makes you wonder what they are doing down there. Perhaps they are wondering
what we are doing up here. Actually, the people you see are holograms. Holograms are 3-D
photographs that are made from laser beams. The faces are not in every vinyl tile, they
are scattered about the floor. I suppose you’d say floor if you’re looking at it
from our perspective, but if you were looking at it from their perspective, it would be
the ceiling, hence the title, Glass Ceiling. The artist, Shu-Min Lin created this artwork
with a thought about reincarnation. He writes: How we observe the next life depends
largely on what we do in this life. We may come out as white, black, yellow, male or
female, even animal. We all continue in another life. We simply use a different body.The
images appear and disappear as you walk past them. He relates this to his view of
reincarnation. Apparently he feels that as life goes by, we disappear and reappear as
different images. You never know what you will be like in the next tile of life. Perhaps
the people we see are simply representatives of the people we could later become. Which,
if you believe in reincarnation, is a wonderful and unique way of expressing how
reincarnation works. All art should be open to interpretation by the viewer. For Lin, this
art represents reincarnation. For others, the title, Glass Ceiling, could represent
exactly what it has come to mean in modern times, that those people (usually women) are
trapped below the invisible barrier (usually in the workplace) with no way of progressing
to the next level. I understand both of those thoughts, but it made me think that we
all live in our own little piece of the world (the tile) and together we make up the world
(the ceiling). Without each other it would be an awful small world. I think they are all
looking up because they want to see what else is out there; they want more than
what’s in their small part of the world. The technique he uses to create these ideas
is unusual. The holographic images are designed with lasers and appear in 3D. I typically
think of art as paint and canvas, such as the classical works of Monet, Manet or Van
Gough. Lin’s art is not typical, it is technical. I had never considered the
relationship of art and technology until now. Although, the technical advances we have
made in the last few centuries have made the combination of art and technology inevitable.
I had initially resisted the idea of combining art and technology. I now realize they
combine quite naturally and beautifully. The tools of the artist have changed, but the
feelings and emotions the art invokes are the same. (T. J. M) top
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 Kassy C
Michelle W |
 Stan
G |