Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything

If you order your custom term paper from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything paper right on time.

Out staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything paper at affordable prices!

One of the most compelling painters of the post war era Sigmar Polke is still an important politically edged artist today. Since the 160's Polke has experimented with a diverse range of styles and subject matter bringing them together with a unique and experimental range of different materials and techniques.

In a recent exhibition at London's Tate Modern gallery entitled "History of Everything" (which was originally held in the USA by the Dallas Museum of Art) Polke's work form the last six years is showcased. In response to the original Dallas setting for the exhibition Polke created several new pieces to be shown, including painting of shooting arcades and that of a gun seller. Throughout the exhibition are references to global politics as well as his interest in surveillance, authority, the breaking down of printing mistakes. In addition to those pieces made in response to the Dallas location are several works specifically referencing London, ranging from new examples of his 'machine painting' technique as well as new paintings using newspaper and magazine images. Throughout the exhibition Polke's ironic sense of humour is apparent, evidence of which can be found in two large paintings showing images of nudist colonies where unclothed people frolic in the country, a clever and whimsical look at the British contradictory attitudes towards sex.

Concentrating on the works created for the Dallas exhibition we can see the theme of gun culture coming through strongly. The West USA being very much stereotyped as having an extensive gun culture both for sport and more sinister activities. For that exhibition Polke had asked to be sent an assortment of Texan newspapers, which have served as inspiration for several of the works on display.

The piece "This discovery could have grave consequences for mankind" depicts an open packet of field pellets for an air gun and their heavily branded box. The image used for this piece looks as if it was taken directly for an advert for the ammunitition's manufacturer. This is an interesting point as the advertisement of such products helps to feed the gun culture in society by portraying the guns as an item of desire, that owning a gun should be desired and that to shooting a gun is a good thing and a meaningful pastime. The type face used to write the company name and the power wording for the pellets (Premier) are all chosen to make the product seem high quality, refined and for the discerning gunperson. This type of marketing plays on the poorer, working class person's insecurities to not appear to belong to the low income bracket. It is in the working classes that gun culture is most rife and by using this particular brand of ammunition it makes them appear to be of affluence.

The pellets that are shown are the type of ammunition young children could terrorise their neighbourhood with. Often the first type of gun a child will be given to handle will be an air gun that shoots pellets just like those shown in the picture. As such does the title of this work give us an insight into how Polke views this scenario? That these pellets are the stating point for a life long obsession with guns and violence? The way in which the pellets are displayed in a small tray like container and combined with the printing method of the images makes them appear almost like seeds. This is strange element in the most immediate sense in that seeds are organic and represent the start of life where as bullets and guns immediately bring up thought and images of death. However these smaller field pellets are like seeds, seeds that grow into something bigger and more dangerous. They are the seeds that plant the thoughts of finding fun in violence. For a child starting with these and shooting at small animals gives them the taste for blood and enjoyment in killing.

The title of this work also gives us example of his sense of humour. The irony in the title as the word "grave" implies death and the ammunition would not be suitable for killing but it is where the interest could lead. It is also a very light hearted and playful title for an issue that he approaches with extreme seriousness.

Many of these topics are also displayed in the piece "I don't really think about anything too much" where the gentleman in the piece is posing next to a field target, assumed to be his, looking very happy and satisfied. The field target itself is riddled with high scoring hits to the chest. Illustrating the pleasure people find in shooting a gun, the power it makes them feel while they possess one.

"Financial freedom while helping others" is a very bold startling image displaying many shotguns laid out on several tables for sale. It is a comment on the sale of guns and how they are sold often for 'the consumers protection', which just adds to the problem of rising firearms sales.

"Splatter analysis" shows the spread of shotgun shot on a test card. However the phrasing of the work's title is peculiar as splatter refers directly to a liquid for instance when a shotgun is fired at a human and the effect it has. It is a clever play on words that hides a distinctly more unsettling and disturbing message behind an already violent image.

Although not directly linked to the Dallas works Untitled deals with the USA as a whole and specifically the USA's politics and military actions. It is an example of

Polke's machine painting technique. Taken from a picture of US troops on their ship in

The Gulf of Aden playing Risk. The Troops are very likely to be on their way to Iraq. The caption from the original photo reads …played the board game Risk on a ship in the Gulf of Aden last fall. The object of the game is to dominate the world. Stephen

Crowley/The New York Times. This was clearly deliberately left in the work by Polke to show his opinion of the decision taken by the USA to take military action. The phrase describing the board game combined with the image Polke uses implies that it is not to be taken at face value. In fact, with regards to the image's caption, the same could be said of US politics at the present time. Trying to force out anything or anyone that will not side with them or bow to their pressure.

It would be all to easy to write off these works as superficial and purely anti American. However looking deeper into them reveals a witty yet informed, cynical take on the violent nature of a nations sub culture and a country's aggressive political stance.

Please note that this sample paper on Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything, we are here to assist you. Your cheap custom college paper on Sigmar Polke - A History of Everything will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.

Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!