Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

Mercantilism and Fiona Hall's work

'Tender' (2003-05) Fiona Hall

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

This was a system used during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In order to afford the on going cost of religious and commercial wars plenty of revenue was needed. Reading the Columbia Encyclopedia, the European Government declared that the wealth of its country depended on the trading in the 16th, 17th and 18th century. So in this case Europe had to maximize its trading, which meant precious metals like gold, as in this point in time it was in very high demand. Manufacturing, processing and foreign trade were a higher priority over domestic trade. Now it had become the top world wide trading system.

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

Fiona Hall, does extremely well to show the issue of Mercantilism though her work. The materials used it her work do this, and Hall can cleverly use the material like money to show wealth that was being produced in European Countries, and the money they wish to get there hands on. Hall is able to used money to express her thoughts in her art, and doing so completely de values the money. Shredding the money and tearing it up, Hall is putting across her feelings, but of material controlling this time which was too so valuable.

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

In her artwork series 'Leaf Litter' Fiona Hall uses about 200 notes of money, and of different currencies. The way Hall makes the work transparent lets the viewer to see the money which is underneath and to show the viewer the two objects are meant to be seen together and are linked. Leaf Litter shows how the idea about global issues and actions have changed the natural word.

The artwork ‘Tender’ is made from real money (american currency) which is actually illegal to destroy money in the USA. Every note has it own code on it, so Hall decided to take every code of the notes she used and present it around the work, like a frame.

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

In 'Leaf Litter' I can see that money can take over peoples minds or concerns about environment, and as plants are often the raw material for generating money, also the fact that money is made from paper which is from trees. So I can see how Fiona Hall’s sneaky and witty work captures this idea perfectly, and doing so it relates and communicates to the ideas and meanings behind the work.

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. 

Fiona Hall's most recent project named 'The Kermadecs' draws pan the issues surrounding the Pacific ocean and it values. In 2010 the National Geographic Society did a marine census, The Kermadecs was named one of the 'last pristine sites left in the ocean'. Hall, in this piece of work has used her skills to clearly demonstrate the sad and scary marine issue that had come to light around the pacific ocean. This artwork in particular 'shoot the breeze' 2011- expresses many ideas including the thought about loosing a living world in which we live in. In my own opinion I believe this piece of work is presented in a way where it is east to pick up on the ideas and views which Hall wishes to present to the public. It is a very smart piece of work and the environmental ideas can be seen throughout. 

Fiona Hall, Shoot the Breeze, 2009-2011 

http://www.thekermadecs.org/fiona-hall

http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/17/Fiona_Hall/profile/