The dwelling as a sculptural motif: A critical analysis of selected contemporary works.

摘要

In the past thirty years there has been a resurgence in the use of the dwelling as a sculptural motif. The purpose of this study was to extend the depth of possible interpretations of selected contemporary "dwelling sculptures" by: (1) presenting a summary of the history of the dwelling motif (2) providing a background of the mythic, religious, psychological, and symbolic significance of the dwelling motif, and finally (3) performing a thorough critical analysis of the selected works.; Chapter One is devoted to presenting and explaining the methodologies employed in this study of sculpture, based on Edmund Feldman's critical method, and Erwin Panofsky's theory of iconology.; Chapter Two introduces the "history of tradition" and the "equipment for interpretation" associated with the dwelling motif. The first section establishes the historical context of the works subjected to critical analysis by presenting a brief outline of the uses of the dwelling motif through time and in different cultures. The next section explores the dwelling as a cosmogonic archetype. This section comprises what could be called the "philosophy of the dwelling." It summarizes theories about the mythic, religious, symbolic, and psychological significance of the dwelling as advanced by Mircea Eliade, Martin Heidegger, Carl Jung, Gaston Bachelard, and Rudolf Arnheim. Finally, as a counterpoint to these theories, structuralist and post-structuralist approaches to symbolism and meaning are presented.; The main focus of the study--a critical analysis of selected contemporary sculptures in which the dwelling is used as a motif--is undertaken in Chapter Three. Fourteen exemplar works--two by each of seven artists--are examined using Feldman's method. Each work is described, analyzed and interpreted. Then the critique endeavors to make connections between the work and the theoretical foundations established in Chapter Two.; The seven artists whose works were chosen for critical analysis were: Vito Acconci, Siah Armajani, Alice Aycock, Hubert Kiecol, Mario Merz, Thomas Schutte, and Joel Shapiro. Their work was deemed sufficiently divergent in form, technique, and expression to constitute a comprehensive and balanced examination of sculpture devoted to the dwelling theme.