IB Fam Takes on CAM

Just over a week ago, I visited the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in Downtown Raleigh with my fellow students in the IB programme. When stepping foot into the museum, I didn't see what I was expecting. Although, I'm not quite sure what I was expecting.. the art seemed like anyone could do it, but I loved the variety and thought behind each piece, and the beauty that came with it. Each piece in the museum had a different story or meaning behind it, and that's is why it can be considered art.

Visual Analysis:

 One piece of art that caught my attention was the 'Temple of One Thousand Bells' which is shown below. This piece was on the far wall on the upper floor of the museum, and I loved that is was simple yet beautiful. 

Temple of One Thousand Bells

My sketch of the Temple of One Thousand Bells. 

Title: Temple of One Thousand Bells

Artist: Laura Belem

Date: 2010

Medium: 1,000 Glass bells, attached by string to the platform that forms a ceiling, with an 8:02 minute audio to tell the story of the bells. 

Size: ~6 feet wide and ~12 feet long 

Stylistic Period/Culture/Context:

The 'Temple of One Thousand Bells' is a piece of contemporary art originating in Latin America- as was every other piece of work in the Limited Visibility exhibit. Each bell in this piece was created by many different artists over a period of time, but the completion of the artwork was in 2010.

Subject/Iconography:

This piece by Laura Belem is representational art that is representing the bells in an old sailors story that was told throughout Latin America. As the story goes, there was a temple with bells on an island that sank into the sea; if one were to listen hard enough, then one could hear the bells. So, then came a sailor wanting to hear the bells. At first, the only thing that he heard was the sea, followed by a mermaid song which left him in a trance. Upon awaking from the trance, he returned to the village with the help of the wind. He blocked out the sea sound, and gave up on hearing the bells. Then, as the sailor surrendered to sound and listened effortlessly to the ocean,  he was absorbed in the silence and was able to hear the bells.  

Style/Technique:

The style of this particular piece is simple, yet sophisticated; plain, yet beautiful. The entire piece was either white or transparent, which allowed for almost a mystical feeling while staring up at the swaying bells. The white backdrop allowed for shadows to be created when the light comes through the window that was above the art work, and this created more art within the piece. The shape of all of the bells is very similar if not exactly the same, so even though they are hung at different lengths it adds to the organization of it, so it does not look cluttered.

Since there is not a center to any of the bells, just the outer "frame" to every bell, this adds to the meaning and story behind the art- one can't expect to hear the bells, one must allow the silence to bring the sound. 

Significance/Function/Purpose:

The significance of the 'Temple of One Thousand Bells' is to resemble an old tale from Latin America. This piece also has the interpretive meaning of: one must not expect things, it is through their disbelieve, and almost humbled attitude that they will receive the things they wish for. Also, the purpose behind the 'Temple of One Thousand Bells'  is to convey the value of story telling in Latin America