CHU Shuk Yee talks on Kentridge Birds 2003

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?

 The title of the drawing is "Birds".

•What is the name of the artist?

The artist isWilliam Kentridge.

•What is the year the drawing was done?

The drawing was done in 2003.

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)

The medium is charcoal on paper.

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?) 

The drawing is about birds. Birds are standing on a floor, but some are on a railing. It seems that the place it depicted is not about nature place, but in a city or somewhere with human contruction. I guess it depicts birds were standing over a window. The painter stayed at a house or somewhere with a curtain.

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )

I guess this drawing is not about depicting the nature, it reflects an idea or memory from the artist. The birds are not really realistic at all, but we can still recognize what they are.

2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL
•How is line used? What does it do/express?

Line quality is almost thick, rough and jerky. Some lines are blurred and smeared, they may be wiped by finger or rubber. The smeared line seems messy, but the direction of line is regular and in order. In addition, line have horizontal and vertical crossing. It creates a linear perspective for the picture. We can see the depth of field. However, we can recognize that line is mostly dark and pressure, such as the shape of birds. The black birds were drawn with heavy and definite line. It may express different type of birds or make contrast to stick out birds from the blackground.But, some lines are light and broken on the floor to express the perspective.

•How is tone used? What does it do/express?

Its tone is contrast. We can see that the picture is simple. The light and dark contrast is obvious. We can distinguish birds from light and dark contrast. The heavy and dark line adds colour and tone on some birds. There are just two birds without adding dark tone. This drawing might focus on the two light tone birds. One looks like lying down on the floor, another seems looking at the opposite side. The dark tone birds look as if facing to the lying bird. The tone briefly stands out the theme of this drawing and bring viewers to focus on the main character of this picture.


•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?

The shape is energetic and direct. Everything on the paper is done with thick, rough, straight line as well as strong, powerful brushstroke. It makes use of the space and contrast to stick out the main characters, the birds. What is more, Kentridge used rubber or finger to wipe the drawing as well as kept using line for the whole drawing, they are a kind of expressive form for Kentridge to express the atmosphere of the picture. The line have an intension to lead viewer to the key point.

 

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?

I do not think that the drawing has texture to let people to have any feeling or experience. It was drawn by charcoal on paper. So that, it is a totally flat surface. However, the tone might influence viewer to visually feel the texture. For instant the bird with dark tone, appears more realistic and having texture.

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?

The composition of the drawing is obviously standing out the key point, the bird whick is lying down. As we can see, it has a square frame at the centre. Birds are included in this frame, I guess the frame is a window or a field that the painter saw. Moreover, Kentridge put line in as an essential form in this drawing. The line somehow expresses the atmosphere and builds up the composition. Line also lead viewers to focus on the centre. A plenty of  emanated lines are used in the picture to concentrate or disperse viewers' field of vision. 

 

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...

Yes, this picture has invested rhythm in and as an important element to express the perception of this drawing. The repetition of straight and definite lines as well as the black and white tone create movement in this work. They project the relation between the figures and the background, as well make them to be harmonic. The rhythm of line also unites the picture to create a sense of completion.

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...

The composition of this picture is quite visually balanced. The figures on the drawing are equally placed. It makes the drawing being symmetrical and looks comfortable. In fact, the use of line helps balancing the picture. Lines point at the same direction. The combination of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines are quite accurately used to create a sense of balance.

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.

The combination of line and figures creates linear perspective and the illusion of three-dimensional. We can see that objects at the foreground are bigger than objects at the background. What is more, the birds are drawn with light and dark. They do not look like two-dimensional surface only. Although the use of colour on this drawing is lacking, it still has an appearance of depth and distance from the black, white and grey tone.  

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way?

The tone, form, composition are all important elements to make this picture harmonious. The black and white tone was drawn by chacoal. And that, line is the major form to be used here.

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more...

The strong contrast in the picture must be the dark birds and the background. The dark birds are almost dark and with thick shadow on their body. On the contrary, the background is quite clean and empty. It is easy for viewers to concentrate on the dark birds.

3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

In my opinion, the mood of this picture is quite strange. It has a sense of mystery and sadness. It maybe due to the tone and smeared lines. They create a dramatic  atmosphere, it seems that the black birds is praying for the bird which is lying down on the centre. I can feel the slient environment with no voice. Birds are as if feeling sad and depressed. It is because their head seems looking down. The smeared and blurred lines are disordered, to increase a sense of disquiet. Moreover, I can feel that Kentridge took those birds to express a mood from some people or just his own feeling.


 •What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above

I guess the drawing expresses a negative feeling. Kentridge took use of animals to represent someone's feeling or a specific situation. Actually, I can feel the death and pain from the composition and tone used in this drawing. The field of vision of this drawing is limited by the frame. The frame might mean a kind of limitation and pressure or a stage for performance. The birds are making a performance on the stage to act as actors. They are praying for the dead bird and feel so sorrowful.

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing.

In my point of view, I appreciate the connotative meaning behind this drawing. It is a picture which is not just simply depict the realistic objects from the reality. The shape and shadow of birds are abstract, just like a paper-cut silhouette, however, they completely expose the psychological perception from Kentridge. The birds are representable in the picture. Although their details are not very well, it can show emotion from their body language as well as gesture. In order to increase the atmosphere of this drawing, Kentridge made some smeared lines to add conflict between regular and untidy lines. For the sake of establishing a agitation feeling. It is a clever technique to be used on this drawing to stand out the atmosphere.