Sunny's blog: Week 4 - Kehinde Wiley and inter-textuality

Kehinde Wiley

1. Untitled (2009)

2. Untitled(2009)

3. Kehinde Wiley Count Potocki, 2008 oil on canvas, 274.3 x 274.3cm

4. Kehinde Wiley Support Army and Look after People, 2007 oil on canvas, 258.4 x 227.3cm

Kehinde Wiley is a Gay American based painter born in Los Angeles, who has an international reputation. Wiley lives and practices between Beijing and Brooklyn.

This weeks ALVC class focuses on the Postmodern theme "INTERTEXTUALITY", re-read Extract 1 The death of the author on page 44 of your ALVC books and respond to the oil paintings of Kehinde Wiley.

1. Find a clear definition of Intertextuality and quote it accurately on your blog using the APA referencing system. Use your own words to explain the definition more thoroughly.

Intertextuality refers to the authors create their own works through absorbing the texts form others rather than their own makers. The relationship between a certain text and the text was created by citation, rewriting, absorbing, expanding from other texts (Wikipedia,2012).

2. Research Wiley's work and write a paragraph that analyzes how we might make sense of his work. Identify intertextuality in Wiley's work.

Kehinde Wiley was born in Los Angeles in 1977, he is a New York based portrait painter. He used his trademark references to older portraits. Wiley’s paintings often blur the boundaries between traditional and contemporary modes of representation (Wikipedia,2012). He prefers to rendering in a realistic mode when making specific Old Master paintings. For example his work Wiley's Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps (2005) is based on Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1800) by Jacques-Louis David
(National Portrait Gallery,2012) .

The Army over the Alps (2005), Kehinde Wiley

Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1800) by Jacques-Louis David.

3. Wiley's work relates to next weeks Postmodern theme "PLURALISM" . Read page 51 and discuss how the work relates to this theme.

Pluralism in art refers to the different artist or student comes from variable culture backgrounds, so the cultural mixing is always show in some artistic products (Wikipedia, 2012). Wiley creates a fusion of period styles, ranging from French Rococo, Islamic architecture and West African textile design to urban hip hop and the "Sea Foam Green" of a Martha Stewart Interiors color swatch. His works combine with renaissance which create his own art (L.Eck, 2012).

4. Comment on how Wiley's work raises questions around social/cultural hierarchies , colonisation, globalisation, stereotypes and the politics which govern a western worldview.

Initially, Wiley's portraits were based on photographs taken of young men found on the streets of Harlem. With the development of his skills, his eyes turns to an international view. His works also describe some complex social problems. His paintings evoke a modern style, which instilling a unique and contemporary manner

(Sean Kelly Gallery, 2012)

5. Add some reflective comments of your own, which may add more information that you have read during your research.

Kehinde Wiley is a talented artist. I really love his works styles, which combine with old paintings and create his own painting. It seems quite humorous. Also the color of his works is powerful, which can attract the audience's eyes.