Michelangelo_and_Vanessa_Beecroft

Two artists from complete different time periods when both creating their artwork, how audience responses differ from the original intentions of the artist include, Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and Vanessa Beecroft’s ‘White Madonna and the Twins’. Between the years of 1501 and 1504 one of art-history greatest masterpieces, Michelangelo’s “David was created. Michelangelo’s sculpture was inspired by the story of a young shepherd boy who is willing to fight a giant, in order to save his people from invasion. David defeats Goliath by using courage and skills rather than using weapons. The time period that it was created was the Renaissance and was thought to be the rebirth of the man’s life on earth. Through the sculpture of “David” Michelangelo expressed Renaissance period and gave a sense on the different lifestyle. From the Renaissance view men were not seen as weak or in need of help, they were portrayed as strong and pushing for success. In Michelangelo’s piece men were portrayed as healthy, beautiful, rational and competent and give the viewers an insight to the heroic view of men. The view of men was not constricted to authority; instead the man’s mind was now seen to be able to understand the universe. Men were now worthy and capable of great achievement and were seen as beautiful, heroic and rational. Rather than many previous artists, Michelangelo made the decision of not showing David in victory, rather showing him prior to the fight. This highlights the conscious choices that David makes, and how he undergoes them. David is looking over his right shoulder, which shows he was looking for Goliath off into the distance. Today audiences respond to this piece of work as a corrupt being, ugly, trapped in an inexplicable world and his own destiny is not in his control. Therefore, thought the eyes of Modernists the man and his values are not thought out to be a serious topic for art. Through ‘David’ Michelangelo explores the imperfections of men. He does this through the right hand is bigger than the left, which symbolizes the physical power and courage. Also, another significant imperfection of David is his eyes; the right eye is in ‘normal’ position whereas the left eye appears to be looking out to the left. These imperfections were not noticed for hundreds of years, simply because viewers have to be on eye level for the features to be noticeable. It is clearly shown that from the Renaissance period till to today, the original meaning of Biblical hero David, as expressed in the Renaissance period showing that men are portrayed as strong and push for success, over time has been lost. In the earlier periods David was seen as beautiful, heroic and rational, however now he is seen as ugly, trapped in an inexplicable world or that his own destiny is not in his control. Vanessa piece of ‘White Madonna and the Twins’ is based on the wars from 1983 in Sudan that has lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths, produced three million evacuees and refugees and this has led the average life expectancy of 58 years. Through this brutal framework Vanessa Beecroft launched on the project VB South Sudan, 2005, which included a documentary video and six photographs of the artists choice. They went to the Diocese of Rum-bek to visit the local orphanage and donate breast milk to three babies, which included a pair of malnourished twins. This is where the photograph of a young black boy interpreted as if crucified (Black Christ) a pregnant woman enveloped in a white cloak (Pregnant Madonna). Vanessa herself dress herself up to be the White Madonna dressed in a light pink garment and nursing the twins. The Madonna del Latte or the Madonna dell’Umilta is a representation of Mary, nursing the ‘Christ child’ and her milk expressing femininity and wealth. Through the use of conflicting colors of the garments and skin, bare wall over taken by strong colors, detailed faces, the gathering of the cloaks and the structure of the photograph is formally faultless. The descriptive portrait, of a white dressed Madonna and two malnourished twins can be seen to the viewers as unpleasant or discomforting. Vanessa intentions and methods about race, colonialism, celebrities and international adoption can be seen as highly suspicious. Vanessa Beecroft piece of ‘White Madonna and the twins’ is shown to be an effective piece because although it can be seen as disturbing or discomforting, the piece was effective with getting the main point across and viewers are instantly drawn into the piece. Vanessa’s piece will make the viewer wonder and question the ongoing problem for these children in Africa, and how just one person can make a difference for these children living in poverty and with diseases. In conclusion, it is evident that over time the original meaning of the artwork can be lost as modern times are changing. This is evident through Michelangelo’s piece of ‘David’. It is also shown that to get a message across effectively using confronting images such as Vanessa Beecrofts piece of ‘White Madonna with the twins’ is a effective way of drawing in viewers and getting main message across to all viewers.