John Heartfield was  one of many who claimed to have invented the technique of photomontage, he was a regular contributor photomontage for AIZ (Arbeiter-Illustrierte Zeitung, Workers Illustrated Magazine).His photomontages are built up of news photographs and commissioned images of the time.   A collection of 54 of his works can be viewed at room 4 of the Tate Modern. The pieces range from his better known works such as The Hand Has Five Finger’s to some of his more obscure pieces . John Heartfield was a astoundingly  skilled propagandist, he picked apart Nazi propaganda and reassembled it with devastating effect. He used photomontage to   the deceptions of politics and as a fierce form of satire. This technique was deliberately different to the artiness of studio’s with a focus on modernity and the mechanics inherit to this art from .

Heartfield changed his name from Helmut Herzfeld to John Heartfield at the beginning of the first world war in opposition to the rampant nationalism sweeping the country. He  became a member of the Berlin Dada group .  From the 1920’s onwards Heartfield was a member of the German communist Party . With the help of his brother Wieland Herzfelde’s publishing house he was able to secure his pre-eminence in photomontage in the communist magazine AIZ.  Used photomontage to launch satirical attacks of the hypocrisies he saw in society.

Heartfield contributed 237 photomontages to AIZ during between 1930-1938, his use of laughter as a weapon for exposing the violence inherent in the Nazi party did not go unnoticed. When Hitler became chancellor in 1933 he rapidly imposed anti-communist censorship. Heartfield’s Berlin studio was targeted resulting in the loss of many of Heartfield’s works. He escaped to Prague where he continued to contribute to AIZ and its Successor Volks Illustrierte (Peoples Illustrated). Today Heartfield’s assault on the rhetoric of the Nazi’s is every bit as powerful, daring and tragically funny.  This is a fantastic opportunity to see an underappreciated art form from a pivotal time in history.

The art world is a mysterious one, so we here at Macs Magazine wanted to try and open it up to the everyday doodler like you and me. In connection with www.buystudentart.co.uk we are going to bring you a different artist to watch out for every month.

We’ll be asking probing questions and discovering what it is that inspires their creative works.

This month it’s the turn of 22 year old Jenni Wilson from Plymouth. Jenni is currently studying at Bath Spa University, but already has some great works to show as featured here exclusively on Macs Magazine.

What is your current inspiration for your work?

“For the last few months I have been really inspired by deterioration, erosion, derelict buildings, graffiti and broken rusty machines.”

What is your favourite medium to work with?

“I have a few favourite mediums to work with! I enjoy working with textures within different papers and fabrics. Especially old books, old pattern paper and silk.”

What is your process of creating a piece of art?

“I always photograph my inspiration and use the images to draw, paint, embroider from. I take my inspiration from the colour in the image and the different texture and try to recreate this with different medias.”

When did you first start drawing/taking photos?

“I think i could draw before i could write! I have always had a strong interest in art and textiles and i knew it’s what I’ve always wanted as a career. My drawing certainly improved when i went to university and i found i was more interested in collage, texture and paint.”

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

“A dancer. A bad dancer!”

Who is you favourite artist and why?

“As i studied Textiles, i mainly took inspiration from textile artists. An artist i looked at regularly was Alison Willoughby. She makes amazing A line skirts with different layers and techniques on. I find her inspiring with not only her work but the way she promotes herself.”

Which piece of art are you most proud of and why?

“Probably a massive collage piece i did whilst doing my degree show. I enjoyed experimenting with the layers and colours with in the piece and i thought it turned out really well. It went in the show and my parents liked it so much it’s now on a wall in their house!”

What advice would you give another aspiring art student?

“Don’t be lazy! Work hard and you will get results. I would also recommend going into uni and working, not staying at home and procrastinating. If you’re around your peers, you will work. I think the best advice i could give is have fun and don’t take anything too seriously! University is a great time so just enjoy it!”

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

“Hopefully still producing textile art, preferably somewhere hot! Or failing somewhere hot I’ll settle for London.”

What are you working on at the moment?

“I have been brain storming a new project for myself to get stuck into. I have always been inspired by quilting and whilst in my second year at uni i produced a project experimenting with different stitches and materials. I want to use my knowledge of what i’ve experimented with so far to make an inspiring quilt.”

Kerri Lister from Buystudentart.co.uk is our official go to girl for all things arty. This month we asked to explain just what all those confusing ‘art genres’ actually mean! Have a read, the chances are you know more about art than you thought you did, maybe like us you just don’t know the right words!

Renaissance

Think: Mona Lisa & Michelangelo,

Dates: 1400s-1600s, and began in Italy

Interesting fact: The Renaissance artist rediscovered a love of dimension in their paintings so you often see linear perspective and a vanishing point

Philosophy: Renaissance was a real revival of classical styles

Baroque

Think: Reubens & Caravaggio

Dates: This style started around 1600 in Rome and spread out to most of Europe

Interesting fact: This style was actively encouraged by the Catholic church to communicate and show religious themes

Arts and Crafts

Think: simple, repetitive designs

Dates: This style was between 1860 and 1910 and started in the UK.

Interesting fact: It was started by artist and writer William Morris (1834–1896) during the 1860s

Philosophy: The main philosophy was a use of traditional craftsmanship using simple and skilled forms

Impressionism

Think Monet, Pisarro etc.

Dates: This was a 19th-century art movement which started in Paris,

Interesting fact: The name of the style is derived from the title of a Claude Monet work, Impression, soleil levant.

Philosophy: Ordinary “boring” subject matter was used and the important part was that it included movement.

Art Nouveau

Think: Tiffany Glass

Dates: 1890–1910.

Interesting fact: Riga in Latvia is seen as one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture

Philosophy: Popularised by Liberty in London, which still carries an iconic style, it is driven by

Art Deco

Think: Chrysler Building,

Dates: 1920s in Paris

Interesting fact: Hoover Dam is a somewhat unusual example of Art Deco design.

Philosophy: Linear symmetry which was so different from the Art Nouveau period; the structure of Art Deco is based on mathematical shapes

the best and most affordable place to find your key pieces. We’ve asked Kerri to share her expert experiences anWe here at Macs love art in all shapes and forms, however none of us could claim to be an expert. So we’ve gone and found an expert for you! Kerri Lister is the founder of buystudentart.co.uk,d give us some advice. This month she’s teaching us the all important skill of bluffing!

How to bluff your way in the arts.

There is always that nightmare when someone starts talking to you about a topic you have no idea about – that gut wrenching feeling when you can either say “I’m sorry I don’t know” or as most of us do say “oh yes of course” – so how about this for some bluffing art statements which will make it sound as though you know what you are talking about……

Remember with art you are not right or wrong, as long as you sound like you know what you are talking about with conviction then people will “get” you!

Above all, if you are at a gallery and you run out of things to say then mention how the art is framed, or why it is unframed, why there is music playing, why the lighting is where it is……bluff

Remember some good phrases to help you get by:

What is art? Probably the hardest question to answer – who knows?  But the sentence “’It is Art once it is declared such’ should do you! OR “Art is form and content.”

In answer to “what do you think?” – a good answer could be, “the artist has been very clever in their capture of the art world in a simple form”

There are some key words you can add to a conversation about art, the elements….elements are line, shape, form, space, texture, value and color.

If totally unsure you can always answer any of the following:

• I need to spend more time to appreciate the perspective before I give an opinion
• Mmmmm I thought they would do it like this, experimental but structured
• Humph – interesting, emotive
• The tone is very simple yet complex

www.buystudentart.co.uk is the new place to buy affordable art online and what’s more every piece is guaranteed to be unique.

Owner of the site Kerri Lister hatched the scheme after she was struggling to furnish her new house with art she could afford. It was a suggestion from her sister which sparked the idea which has now become a successful business for Kerri. She says ‘I wanted to create marketplace for aspiring artists to showcase their talents to the world, and the opportunity for people such as myself to own unique, inspiring and above all affordable works.’

The great thing about Buystudentart.co.uk is that is gives the artists a real chance to explain what it was that prompted them to create a particular piece. Buyers have access to a biography of the artist and you can even chat to the artist too. This means that you’re not just buying a painting; you’re buying a story and a conversation piece for anyone who comes to visit.

Purchasing from the site is not only beneficial for your décor it also gives you the chance to support local aspiring artists and who knows, choose wisely and you could end up buying something from the ‘next big thing’ which could be worth some serious money in the future.

There are some more pricey options on the site, mainly due to the size and man hours it takes to produce some of the works, but there is also a large section of artwork available for under £50!

So why not head online and have a browse from the comfort of your own home. There are no stuffy galleries and no stressful auctions; everything is a set price and yours for the ordering today!

Have you ever been so fascinated by the world around you that you wanted to stop and stare, or perhaps you’ve seen a sight so wonderful that you felt the need to take a photo and remember it forever. Well that’s what street photography is all about, there are many misconceptions that connect the art to street art such as graffiti, but this could not be further from the truth.

Street photography is about capturing unposed photos and although they don’t have to feature people, they often do. The idea of taking photos of someone simply going about their daily business on the street means that you capture what is truly there and not, as with posed photos, what the subject wishes you to see.

Street photography is about capturing an unplanned moment in time, anything could be happening and anyone could become the main feature. The unplanned nature of the art allows the viewer to draw their own emotions and thoughts from the photo, a photograph of a busy street in Thailand for example could conjur up feelings of adventure or fear depending on the person looking through the lens.

This is the first London festival of its kind and it will feature exhibitions, workshops and talks. There will also be awards for outstanding street photography which for the first time will put this style of photography on the map.

With venues including the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A, the British Library, the German Gymnasium and St Pancras International, street photography will be all over London this month with something for everyone guaranteed.

Visit www.londonstreetphotographyfestival.org for more information and click the ‘What’s on’ section to find the event or talk which tickles your creative taste buds.

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2011 at the London Royal Academy of Arts presents, the largest contemporary art exhibition in the world! This show is viewed as the must see exhibition by anyone who loves contemporary art. Many artists have made their name at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition so if you want to see the crème de la crème of up and coming British talent then this is the show for you.

The show will feature entirely new works, both from established artists as well as works from newcomers and unknowns, so you will almost definitely find yourself being inspired and finding a new favourite artist.
There will be Over 10,000 carefully selected works in the exhibition in which you could easily lose yourself for an afternoon. You could even purchase some of the work and help support the up and coming artists.

This event truly is the best opportunity to view never before seen works by artists who could well become the next big thing. So if you love art, head down to the Royal Academy of Arts form the 7^th of June and lose yourself in the best contemporary art around.

Starting on Wednesday the 18^th of May and running until Monday the 29^th of August at The Hayward Gallery this could be the perfect rainy day activity to broaden the mind.

No matter how much you know about the art world, It is almost certain that you will have heard of Tracey Emin. Famous for controversial pieces such as ‘My Bed’ and ‘The Tent’ in which she listed everyone she had slept with on the inside of a pop up tent, Emin has pushed the boundaries of contemporary art since the early 90s. Emin’s work is often noted as being sexual, confrontational and political, this show is no different:  it comes with a warning that under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

If you want to have your political views challenged and explore a self-professed feminist’s view of relationships and spirituality then this exhibition could be exactly the eye opener you’ve been looking for. The show entitled ‘Love is what you want’ features sculpture, paintings and photography to name but a few of the mediums which Emin has explored.

Find out more about this and other upcoming exhibitions at:

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Dorothy Cross’ Exhibition will take place at the Frith Street Gallery between 24 March 2011 – 5 May 2011.

Dorothy produces the most dramatic and emotive photography and sculpture inspired by her home setting, the Irish West Coast. She creates visual stories through natural objects washed up on the beach; the visual stories depict a curious outlook on what is the reality of everyday life.

Her film, Stalactite, will also be shown, a film about; ‘The Great Stalactite of Doolin Cave in County Clare which has grown over the course of one million years in its black chamber’. The film inspired Dorothy’s Sculpture Earth a mesmerising piece, formed of hundreds of bronze casts of human fingers gravitating towards the Earth. An inspirational exhibition, which portrays delicately the wonders of our natural world, further information can be found on the website below:

www.frithstreetgallery.com

Mina Kwon is an artist, illustrator and graphic designer. Like her art, her life philosophy is quirky and extrovert; ‘If you don’t have it, draw it and have it.’ Her work is predominantly influenced by hip-hop. Mina produces Drake T-Shirts as well as designing fresh and contemporary album covers. Every piece exudes character and energy. Her bold illustrations include characters of huge modern relevance such as P.Diddy, Snoop Dogg and Bart Simpson making her work present and sought after. Therefore she is definitely a talent to be watched.

Baghdad, 5 March 2007: Jeremy Deller at the Imperial War Museum

Since September 2010, there has been a curious addition to the grand atrium of the Imperial War Museum in London, where visitors can wander through a permanent display of military hardware from throughout the last century. These revered specimens have been joined by a new work from Jeremy Deller, the Turner Prize winner famous for probing cultural hotspots. In the middle of the atrium, Deller has deposited the carcass of a wrecked car. The rusty shell – crumpled and warped – is surrounded by the Museum’s well-preserved tanks, canons, submarines and aeroplanes. It is laid out, funereal, on a platform that indicates the car’s original surface area, while its title, Baghdad, 5 March 2007, refers to the event of the car’s damage: the car was salvaged from the bombing of the Al-Mutanabbi Street book market in Baghdad, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people, besides wounding many more. The tragedy has accrued a certain significance, being seen as an attack on Iraqi culture altogether, because not only was the street named after a well-known Iraqi poet, but it was a centre of Baghdad cultural and intellectual life, full of book markets and cafés. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Deller’s salvaging of the vehicle serves as a frightening memorial to the suffering of civilians, increasingly a feature of modern warfare. The car, without wheels, previously starred in Deller’s project, It Is What It Is, where it was toured through a series of American states, making a hard fact of the far-away war available to the public. Now, joining the Imperial War Museum’s collection, it is devoid of the glory or pride of the older specimens with which it is surrounded. Although we at home are bombarded by news footage, Jeremy Deller observes, “It’s unusual to see anything from the conflict in Iraq ‘in life’ so I was interested in being able to show this car to the public, initially in the US and now the UK.”

Baghdad, 5 March 2007 will be on display in the Imperial War Museum London until March 2011; it will go on display at Imperial War Museum North from April 2011.

Imperial War Museum London
Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
Open daily 10.00am – 6.00pm
www.iwm.org.uk