Primitivism

This subject has been extremely hard for me to get my head around especially with the massive workload we already have on top of us, but Ive given it a red hot go...

PRIMITIVISM

1. Formal Characteristics of Primitivist art

Rough application of what ever medium happened to be used (Paint, Pencil etc.)
Subjects were sexually accessible usually women, childlike and unsophisticated depicting a sense of exoticism, savagery, nobility, vulnerability, mythological and mysterious with flattening in physical planes. The artworks were non restrictive and generally simple with abstraction and distortion of figures/bodies and no specific technique or style/s.

2. What is the difference between "Primitive" and "Primitivism"?

Primitive is a term used to describe people from a non westernised society particularly those from an African, North American Indian, and Oceanic cultured area. Basically those who came from countries that were classed as "unsophisticated " were often labelled as "Primitive".

Primitivism is a response or opinion on how technology has effected civilization, whether it has effected mankind for better or worse. A debate of how our lives can be kept basic and to what extent?

3. Discuss how contemporary Primitivism might manifest itself.

Contempoary Primitivism doesnt have a particular style, each artwork has its own unique appeal and escapes the boundaries of what is known as contemporary art. Primitivist works are a much less refined form of art, leaving behind the complications of westernised technique and simplifying the form of a subject using geometrical shapes such as triangles to create details of both facial and the human body appearances . In a sense, Primitivism draws inspiration from new primative sources (eg. glorification to nature and native people), a new way of looking at the world. Many people saw this new type of art as a reaction against impressionism (typical westernised art technique and form).

4. Find an example of a work at the NGA that you think might be primitivist and discuss what makes it so.

Henri MATISSE L'Enlevement d'Europe
[The abduction of Europa]
[Rape of Europa]

This work by Henri MATISSE displays prime examples of formal Primitivist art characteristics.
A nude sexually accessable women in an vunerable exotic position. Her physical appearance flattened, abstract and somewhat distorted. The application of medium is rough and has no specific technique (that I as a viewer can relate to) displaying art in its simplised form.