Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element
This dissertation partial 2 and photographic documentation was produced in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. In my undergraduate study I was interested in the way in which familiar objects changed...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Michaelis School of Fine Art
2023
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867614199065083904 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Chetwin, Margaret Jill |
| author2 | Arnott, Bruce |
| author_browse | Arnott, Bruce Chetwin, Margaret Jill |
| author_facet | Arnott, Bruce Chetwin, Margaret Jill |
| author_sort | Chetwin, Margaret Jill |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This dissertation partial 2 and photographic documentation was produced in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. In my undergraduate study I was interested in the way in which familiar objects changed their meaning in different contexts. In this study, my focus of attention has been on the transference of meaning associated with the conventionalised language of historical ornament. This has involved a process of incorporating 'found' imagery into composite images of a fantastical nature. The use of ornament as a source material posed problems. The original symbolic function and communicative power of many ornamental motifs and images has been undermined by constant use. As such they have become cliched. I have attempted to revitalise these tired forms through a re-assessment of their value as 'sculptural' elements and by an ironical examination of their past associations. Before re-contextualising the work in a contemporary dimension, it was necessary to undertake a survey of the historical antecedents of revivalism and other forms of aesthetic eclecticism. Although schematic, this overview was important to my understanding, and I have devoted a full chapter of the dissertation to this section of the study. A discussion of current Post-Modern debates is included and forms a central part of this section. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38845 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:48:14.604Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Michaelis School of Fine Art |
| publisherStr | Michaelis School of Fine Art |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38845 A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element Chetwin, Margaret Jill Arnott, Bruce Younge, Gavin Decorative arts This dissertation partial 2 and photographic documentation was produced in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. In my undergraduate study I was interested in the way in which familiar objects changed their meaning in different contexts. In this study, my focus of attention has been on the transference of meaning associated with the conventionalised language of historical ornament. This has involved a process of incorporating 'found' imagery into composite images of a fantastical nature. The use of ornament as a source material posed problems. The original symbolic function and communicative power of many ornamental motifs and images has been undermined by constant use. As such they have become cliched. I have attempted to revitalise these tired forms through a re-assessment of their value as 'sculptural' elements and by an ironical examination of their past associations. Before re-contextualising the work in a contemporary dimension, it was necessary to undertake a survey of the historical antecedents of revivalism and other forms of aesthetic eclecticism. Although schematic, this overview was important to my understanding, and I have devoted a full chapter of the dissertation to this section of the study. A discussion of current Post-Modern debates is included and forms a central part of this section. 2023-09-26T10:30:15Z 2023-09-26T10:30:15Z 1987 2023-09-26T09:58:47Z Master Thesis Masters MFA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38845 eng application/pdf Michaelis School of Fine Art Faculty of Humanities |
| spellingShingle | Decorative arts Chetwin, Margaret Jill A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| title_full | A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| title_fullStr | A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| title_full_unstemmed | A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| title_short | A re-assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| title_sort | re assessment of ornament as a sculptural element |
| topic | Decorative arts |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38845 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chetwinmargaretjill areassessmentofornamentasasculpturalelement AT chetwinmargaretjill reassessmentofornamentasasculpturalelement |