This is a Visual Arts Presentation

METAMORPHOSIS AND CHANGE

Unit Plan

What is Metamorphosis?

• Metamorphosis is the gradual change from one form into another.

• This change occurs in many living things often in stages, such as a the butterfly, which changes form the larval to the adult form.

Here are 4 artworks that show metamorphosis and change

• The Natural Graces• The Gardener• Forest-piece at

Schnaitsee (performance)

• Grotesque No.1

MC ESCHER: FISH AND BIRDS

The Natural GracesRene Magritte

1963

• Magritte painted several versions of this picture.

The Natural GracesRene Magritte

1962

• This straightforward and sentimental work showing foliage growing into doves expresses the unity of nature.

• It has a monumental character, heightened by the small scale of the distant landscape.

• The gentleness of the creatures is contrasted with the arid mountains on the horizon.

• The feelings of peace and tranquillity are reflected in this painting

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

What is camouflage?

• Camouflage is an indirect process in nature which contributes to the survival of the species.

Here is an artwork that

uses camouflage

Forest-piece at SchnaitseeIs a performance piecemade in 1972.

A woman dissolves into the forest, her chameleon-like body disappears, becoming part of the mossy vegetationof the forest floor.

• Photomontage is the overlapping and pasting of photographic images to create a new artwork.

• In Grotesque No. 1 an elaborate photomontage by Australian artist Fiona McDonald, incongruous textures are drawn together to create a surreal image.

• The artist uses simulated textures, while the surfaces look sharp, spiny, warm, rough and slippery, the finished artwork has a smooth surface quality

GROTESQUE NO.1

CITATIONS

Swinglehurst, Edmund The Art of the Surrealists Sydney Australia: The Book Company 1995.

Craig, Diana. The Life and Works of Archimboldo Great Britain: Paragon Book Service Limited 1996.

Harris, Nathaniel The Life and Works of Dali Book Service Limited 1994.

Chees, Broos, Slade et al. In the Picture- Framing the Visual Arts Australia: Oxford University Press 1996.

M.C. Escher – Works of Art London: Leopard Books – Random House 1994.

“Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis.” Metamorphosis. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe 2001. 

Escher’s Metamorphosis. < www.insite.com.br/rodrigo/images/ escher/metamorphosis.html >.

Biography of M.C. Escher <http://www.mcescher.com/Biography/biography.html>.

Dali Prints 8 < http://a-prints.com/d/dali8.shtml>.

© Copyright NSW Department of Education and Training 2003.