Week 1- Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

1.First define mercantilism, using material from your ALVC handbook, and explain how it has developed since the Renaissance. 

Mercantilism:  It is a kind of economic system prevalent in some Western Europe countries during the 16th,17th and 18th centuries asserting that national wealth based on the collecting precious metals so that the government have to foster the foreign trade surplus and increase national commercial interests ,the establishment of colonies.Process of development: One of religious and commercial wars happened during the period 1500-1800, in order to cover the high cost of armies and civil, government of nations tended to improve the use of domestic resources and acquire the precious metals, especially gold. In order to promote the accumulation of bullion, under a mercantilist policy the nations tended to maximize the exports, minimize the imports. The production was assessed with the high quality and low cost so that make the nation become competitive in foreign markets. Some treaties were made to enable the mother country obtain the trading privileges and exploit in colonies.

2. Identify the ideas or concepts in Hall's work that relate to Mercantilism?

Fiona Hall's work focuses on assessing the relationship between the environment with the modern society. As her work "Tender", Hall creates some fragile birds'. Apparently, with the development of the global trade, the spread of economic programmes and deforestation if demolishing the environment around us and depriving the animal' area, ;like birds.When it comes to the other work, "Leaf Litter", Hall contrasts the spine of the tree with background of money, she wants to tell us the money grow on trees. In my point of view, Hall disagrees the culture of what Mercantilism was, she wants to let us know the money cannot exchange some priceless things, like the our environment.

3. For each work describe the shape, form and materials used, and also explain the ideas behind each example

 

The art work of 'Tender' was used tiny shreds of US dollar notes to form different types of birds' nest. This denotes, in my opinion, the beauty of the diversity of nature; how one could easily marvel at the life of different species and see them as important factors to the earth's ecosystem. Hall’s series of work ‘Leaf litter’, she painted life-size portraits of leaves and used over 183 banknotes of different currency. This work expresses the importance of money in our society, indicating that money is vital but money can not buy everything.

4.In your opinion do the materials communicate the ideas of the work? Please explain your answer

Fiona Hall's pieces strongly evoke the pressing issue of global trade and how the modern world is gradually killing nature. Hall’s materials are carefully selected so they directly relate to the idea behind her works. The ‘Tender’ series she specifically choses to use US dollar bill because it is the most desirable currency. In my opinion, she use materials such as dollar bills and banknotes in order to express the our environment has damaged by globe trade.

5. Fiona Hall's recent project The Kermadecs focuses on issues around the Pacific ocean. Research this project to summarize the importance of the area and upload an image to your blog for discussion

 

The volcanic islands of the Kermadec have remained uninhabited and untouched. The Kermadecs offer refuge and feeding grounds for a variety marine life and sea birds.Hall's works for 'The Kermadecs', . She separates the land and sea to show the difference between species, and out rightful place on this earth, but the connection between a ship and the whale is a stark image that killed the whale, leaving it destitute in its own habitat. Oil spills from the ships, and the background echoes the image of the spilling poison. Again, the artist tend to evoke us realize the urgent need to protect the Earth's marine environment.