How Art Influence the Exhibitions Musicals Drama Museums - Essay Example

How art influence the exhibitions/musicals/drama/museums Art influences the world in a manner that is not easy to recognize, but the truth remains that the influence of art is everywhere in people’s lives. Thus, even though there are many people who do not appreciate art, it cannot be divorced from the lives of the people. The lack of appreciation of art stems from the fact that art has been so much narrowly defined, that it’s important components that define life have always been overlooked (Allan, 2004:147). Art is more than sculptures and paintings in museums, rather being more broadly what passes as beauty in the lives of the people and the whole society. Art has influenced architecture, music, exhibitions, museums, drama and a variety of other aspects of life. Therefore, this discussion seeks to establish the major influences that art have had on a variety of aspects in life, with a view to create an appreciation of the relevance of art in life. Thus, the influence of art in exhibitions, musicals, drama and museums form the subject of this discussion. The influence of art in Museums The primary function of museums has been defined as that of collecting and preserving objects (Salamensky, 2012:72). Nevertheless, the truth remains that Museums are not simply involved in the mere collection of objects, but more specifically the collection and preservation of objects that might be of a relevant value to the society in terms of historical essence to the society, which needs to be passed over from one generation to the other (Duthie, 2013:n.p.). No wonder therefore that museums have been closely associated with archiving, since almost any of the objects that is collected and preserved in the museums has a certain relevant historical value, either at the time it is collected or in the future. Museums play the role of display of the relevant objects that have been collected and preserved for posterity. The Post-humanist Desire Exhibition on display graphic design has been applied to divide the exhibition into several themed sections, such as transformed human section, cloned human section and the transgendered human section, thus graphic design has helped to present the divergent complex characteristics of human beings in the 21st century. The application of art in the Post-humanist Desire Exhibition on display is in the form art symbolism, where the welcoming message of the museum is made of a combination of the message “Welcome” with an addition of a gorgeous peacock to symbolize beauty (Culture Taiwan, 2013:n.p.). This combination of both textual and graphic art design is artistically interpreted to mean Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest” (Culture Taiwan, 2013:n.p.). Therefore, the major influence of art in museums is that; art provides the museum materials, since it is the primary source of the objects that are preserved within museums (Staniszewski, 1998:36). Graphic designs and installation designs are major works of art that are essential in giving museums their themes. The Cartier antique jewelry exhibition Style and History graphic installation doe not only present the theme, but also gives the museum exhibition its aesthetic value. The relationship between Cartier antique jewelry exhibition Style and History and art is that this museum display applies fashion magazines, wall engravings and advertising photographs to give the visitors a taste of the museum brands (Rendezvous France, 2013:n.p.). Mostly museums have been identified through the graphic designs and installations that are present both on the outside of the museums and also inside (Dernie, 2006:42). The graphic designs and installations are not only used to identify the themes of the displays in the museum, but also to identify events and give events updates that will be commencing or proceeding within the museums. While giving the major events and displays that will be happening in the museums, graphic design installations also gives the relevance of such displays and events to the public. This enables the public and the interested parties to different museum objects and themes to be informed in a manner that would most likely not be possible without graphic art (Dernie, 2006:47). The central objects of attraction within museums are the artworks that are displayed in the museums. Therefore, art influences museums through making them aesthetic ally valuable, while at the same time displaying the aesthetic art that is not accessible elsewhere. The aesthetic value of the museums draws from the art that the museum displays, considering the fact that it is through the creativity of the artists that have managed to create diverse works of arts, that people are always attracted to the museums. Visitors to museums come to the museums, since they will offer a range of aestheticism that is rare to find elsewhere, courtesy of the works of art (Allan, 2004:156). The components of museum display range from carvings, paintings, sculptors and other written or engraved items on different surfaces. The surfaces in question could be wood, canvas, metals, paper or any other material on which an artist can create an object. While such materials remain merely that; when they have no artistic engravings on them, application of art serves to give such materials meaning (Salamensky, 2012:77). The Kuandu Museum of Arts in Taipei perfectly presents the influence of art on museums, with the graphic installation at the museum serving the purpose of presenting the theme, as well as advertising the museum, thus giving meaning to the material collection of the museum. The art book shop in the Kuandu Museum of Arts presents objects of art, especially archived books, which represents objects of art displayed in a museum. In this respect, it can be argued that the influence of art in museums is that it has art gives museums material for display. The influence of art in Exhibitions Art is a major factor that has played a facilitative influence on exhibitions. Graphic design has been a major element that has made it possible to broaden the reach of both the local and international exhibitions (Dernie, 2006:33). The Timeless Beauty Exhibition Shanghai is a demonstration of how graphic design and installation can be applied towards making exhibitions entirely new experiences, through making the Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry exhibition a true presentation of the beauty of jewelry .here art has been applied through the graphic design being used to engrave the octopus-structure on the glass sparkling bubble glass (The exhibit designer, 2012:n.p.). The sparkling bubble glass displays makes the visitors to the display lose the sense of time and get immersed into the beauty of this fascinating graphic presentation of the underwater world. Further, art was applied towards changing the theme of the art exhibition from “Set in Style”) in New York, to “Timeless Beauty” in Shanghai (The exhibit designer, 2012:n.p.). The concept of graphic design has been widely applied in the creation of visual media, which forms a basic component of exhibitions. In addition, graphic design plays a very vital role as the source of content for exhibitions, with graphic designers playing the role of producing and creating content that is eventually applied in the exhibitions and expositions (Salamensky, 2012:63). In this respect, art has influenced exhibitions through acting as a major factor that shapes the experiences of exhibitions. This is because; exhibitions would fall short of their target objectives, if visual media and other graphic content would miss in the exhibitions. Not only does art influence exhibitions through giving it content, but also through giving the exhibitions the means to communicate (Dernie, 2006:21). The Cartier antique jewelry exhibition Style and History in Paris is an art exhibition that has applied graphic installation of the theme of the exhibition as an aspect of the decorative art. This exhibition is related to art in that it presented over 300 drawings, 600 pieces of jewelry, a variety or archival documents and watches and clocks, all of which are art objects (Rendezvous France, 2013:n.p.). Communication design is a major component of art that has been applied to explore the content of the exhibitions, through communicating the themes of such exhibitions to the visitors attending the exhibitions. In addition, art has influenced exhibitions through playing a supplementary role, which entails availing the content and material that exhibitions are not able to present, or enhancing the mode of delivery of the exhibition content (Staniszewski, 1998:52). Through graphic design and other art such as posters and branding programs, art makes it possible to expand the thematic limits of exhibitions. It is through art that the contemporary exhibition concept of exhibition design has been established, which entails the process of developing an exhibit from a mere concept through to the actual availing of a three dimensional physical exhibition (Dernie, 2006:27). While traditionally the exhibitions told stories through the application of two dimensional exhibitions, the art concept of exhibition design has made it possible for the modern exhibitions to effectively tell their story through the creative three-dimensional object exhibits. The Dark Art 3D Taipei is a representation of how art can be applied to influence exhibitions. Art is applied to form a 3-dimensional exhibition design of a suspended beautiful girl as the center of attraction. Additionally, the exhibition uses more graphic design photographs which are art components for the exhibition display. The aims of any exhibition is to communicate a message to the audiences in the most compelling, engaging and interactive means. Through exhibition design, it has become possible for exhibitions to combine the artistic components of architecture, audiovisual, graphic design, landscape architecture, interior design, lighting and digital media, to pass the relevant exhibition information and message to the audience (Allan, 2004:144). Thus, art in its diverse form has played a pivotal role in enhancing, supporting, complementing and facilitating exhibitions. The influence of art in Musicals The Awakening musical performance in Hong Kong is a demonstration of how art influence musicals. The application of the art design of stage background beautification, coupled with the elegance subtle color of the musical performance costume designs forms the fundamental art influence on musicals (Chia, 2013:n.p.). The other application of art in this musical performance is the conversion of a traditional Chinese Confucian performance into a contemporary pop concert, characterized by brightly colored elegant costumes (Chia, 2013:n.p.). In addition billboards advertising is a component of art that has been playing an increasingly important role in facilitating musicals, through giving information regarding musical events and performances that are impending (Salamensky, 2012:82). The Les Miserables Musical at the Queens Theatre is a representation of how graphic design can be used to communicate messages regarding a musical performance, as well as advertise the musical event. Art in the Les Miserables Musical is applied through a storytelling musical performance that is performed in acts like an artistic drama performance. Therefore, art does not only influence musicals through identifying music but also through communication design that makes it possible to communicate information related to musicals, to the audience. The influence of art in Drama Art has had a significant influence on Drama. Ranging from the graphical installations and graphical designs that are applied towards communicating the theme of the drama to billboards and other advertisements that communicates the impending drama events and performances, art has influenced the extent to which drama reaches the audience (Dernie, 2006:47). The diverse methods that are applied towards promoting the drama events have advanced from the mere use of artistic posters and textual advertisements, to more digital and graphical content, making art an important part of contemporary drama (Duthie, 2013:n.p.). The Eight Hundred Years of Hatred drama in Hong Kong is a major representation of how art graphic design art can be applied towards demonstrating the theme of drama. Further, art has played a significantly important role of improving the aesthetic value of drama venues, where lighting, interior design, audiovisual presentation and backstage decoration and painting forms important art components that are inevitable in drama (Dernie, 2006:47). The Eight Hundred Years of Hatred drama applies storytelling as a major component of art, which is combined with color and lighting to enable the audience travel through time back to the Zen tradition. Thus in the contemporary drama performances, drama acting has become almost synonymous with a filming experience, since the level of audience engagement and interaction with the drama actors has been increased through the art of audiovisual content incorporation. References Allan, R (2004). Understanding Information in Conceptual Art: Theory, Myth, and Practice. Ed. Michael Corris. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 144-168. Chia, A. (February 18, 2013). Review: “Awakening” by Edward Lam. Accessed < http://hk.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/868426/review-awakening-by-edward-lam> Culture Taiwan. (November 29, 2013). Post-humanist Desire Exhibition on display. Accessed < http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2498&Itemid=235> Dernie, D. (2006). Exhibition Design. W. W. Norton & Company. Duthie, A. (2013) ‘Do music and art influence one another? Measuring cross-modal similarities in music and art’, Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 13163. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13163 Rendezvous France. (December 04, 2013). "Cartier: Style and History" in Paris. Accessed < http://int.rendezvousenfrance.com/en/events/cartier-style-and-history-grand-palais-paris> Salamensky, S. I. (2012). The modern art of influence and the spectacle of Oscar Wilde. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Staniszewski, M. (1998). The Power of Display. A History of Exhibition Installations at the Museum of Modern Art. MIT Press. The exhibit designer (June 12, 2012). Another world: the Van Cleef & Arpels traveling exhibit. Accessed < http://theexhibitdesigner.com/2012/06/21/another-world-the-van-cleef-arpels-traveling-exhibit/> Read More