Aztec Culture

 


Art was used for religious purposes and reverence to god.  Aztec art includes pottery, pictographs, tattoos, and masks. For the most part, pottery was one of the most important types of art because it showed reverence to god. Color that most commonly appear in pottery are red, white and black decorated with geometric designs. Tattoos were used in rituals to be craved by a priest on the stomach, wrist or arm of children with a pointed stone as sign of their devotion to god. Also, tattoos were a symbolized warrior accomplishments. Pictographs were used to show reference for the weigh of objects. Masks were used during rituals or ceremonies dedicated to god.

 

Response to color artist: Carter Mull

The Tar Pit

Carter Mull 

Born: Atlanta, Georgia 1977

American artist currently in Los Angeles 

received BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 2000

received MFA from California Institute of Art in 2006

Technique: photographs images and then use computer manipulation techniques to achieve highly intense colors

  At first glance, Mull instantly engages the senses with his use of color. Using computer manipulation techniques, he amplifies everyday news articles into a firework spectacle. Mull stimulates the mind by feeding a shagadelic experience to the viewer from typical newspaper articles.  It is as if he takes the debris from a great catastrophe and reconstructs a stunning masterpiece out of misfortune. The colors develop rhythm creating playful movement to carry the eye throughout the entire piece. Stare a little longer: an echo of a techno beat emerges then gradually intensifies as the eye begins to see the composition as a whole. Not only does Mull’s color choice serve to please, but it bares disturbing resemblance to the chaotic reality of the news. In the piece, “Passenger”, he smears the colors, magenta and violet across the headline of the Gulf oil spill, the decline of stocks and mass vehicle recalls depicting the bruises from each blow of disaster. Take a closer look and notice hidden slash marks seeping out red. Red resembles open wounds that will never heal due to society’s inability to face harsh truths. An advertisement nonchalantly rests left of the chaos, reads, “DAY SALE” serving as a distraction yet, ranks at the same importance of the hideous headlines. Mull confronts the viewer right on the spot how he tends to react to such unfortunate events – either to simply ignore or actively resolve the problem at hand. Nevertheless, Mull’s work proves: from an exhaustive period of great turmoil, beauty will surface once again.