The Great Shift in Archeology in the 19th and 20th Century

While researching the shifts in archeology in the 19^th Century and 20^th Century brings different insights into the British culture in the pre-colonial period (Lawrence), the 20^th Century depicts the archeology of the Chinese culture. However, further research presents Impressionism and symbolism as key styles of art in the 19^th Century, and in the 20^th-century art shifts, it embraces a multifactor aspect. Art in the 20^th Century became more comic., poetic, and intrigued creative minds. The digital transition has overruled the two centuries to represent art as personal thoughts compared to cultural property. This paper aims to explore the malangan feature by the people of New Guinea and the Unique Forms of Continuity by an Italian painter Umberto Boccioni while addressing the transition that has been experienced.

In my paper, I divided my work into five parts; the historical context, which will address each artifact and its development period and also explain the symbolism of the art; the second part will feature two artifacts, the Malangan Mask and the Unique Forms of Continuity, the third part will discuss the digital transition, the fourth part discussed the similarities and comparison of the traditional and current art space and the conclusion on the research work with accurate citations as used in the study.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The 19^th Century embraced modern art with a touch of Westernization. The rich and mighty all sought to be associated with paintings in this era as a source of wealth. The movement began in France with some famous artists, such as Gustav Courbet, resisting change from Impressionism to a realistic view of the world. Different artists used symbolism, Dada, and abstract expressionism during this time. In the 19^th Century, our focus will be on the Melanesian Malangan Mask. The artifact posed the symbolism style, which attached sentimental value to arts and relations to nature and real-life happenings (“Malangan (Article) | Melanesia | Khan Academy”).

The introduction of modern art preceded the 20th Century, creating fluidity in the art space. The team players derived inspiration from different sources; they made imaginations through their sculpting and drawings, which made different perspectives for foreign collectors. Futurism art dominated in the early 20^th Century with its originality based in Italy. The artwork presented the energy and dynamics of the modern world. This style sought to announce the new era. The artifact of choice would then be Unique Forms of Continuity by an Italian painter Umberto Boccioni (“FUTURISM”)

The Melanesian Malangan Mask

So why the Malangan Mask? Art is a symbol of a culture of a people, and its exploration will open up the culture of Papua New Guinea. The artifact links the symbolism between a culture of a people and the monetization of the artifact. The people of Papua New Guinea used the artifact to celebrate the Malangan festival, a mourning season; The Malangan Mask was part of the mourning ritual in Papa New Guinea. The mask was made and discarded after the ceremony was done. This mask symbolizes identity, kinship, and the transition from life to death. The artifact was also used to negotiate the shifting of land rights from one clan to another. This mask honored living. The content of the artifact involved symbolic features such as animals with consideration to gender, rocks, and species that represented their clans significantly. They were made of degradable fiber and wood. Initially, the mask was not for sale; however, on discovering the value the British and European were willing to pay for it, it was commercialized, leading to some improvements to avoid copy write strikes. The mask has evolved and is in different decors today. Once sold to anyone, the ownership rights are shifted to the buyer. The malign ritual has become a costly affair due to the value attached to the mask. The mask has continuously evolved regarding materials used, ownership, and monetization in preparation for the digital era.

Unique Forms of Continuity by an Italian painter Umberto Boccioni

Boccioni was a painter; however, creativity got him the title of a sculptor through his works on the Unique Forms of Continuity in Space. This work focused on emotional issues rather than the particular moment. He embraced the Futurist style in his career by expressing the constant changes that happen and the forces involved. The sculptor used an example of World War I, which he believed would assist in transitioning into modernity. He symbolized speed, details such as wind, and natural occurrences that would bring Italy transition (Boccioni). Boccioni was a representation of the futurist movement_ he was the first artist to adopt futurist technology and guided other artists in the documentation of the ‘Manifesto of Futurists.’ He set a pace in Italy that outlived him after his death.

The Transition to the Digital Era

The Digital era ushered in new ways for artists to document their artwork and sell it. Mediums such as 3D visual reality and computer–coded programs have enabled the generation of multiple artworks. The digital age saw American artists indulge in innovation and creativity, pushing art beyond measure. The art in the first season of the 21st Century represented the identity of a people, their spirituality, reference of images through television and comic arts, and places that brought sentimental value to the people. Some artist featured this season wa Matthew Barney (“Art in the Twenty-First Century — Art21”, 2022). The traditional reproduction of artifacts involved the shaping of stones curving wood in the late 19^th Century.

However, the 21st Century has opened up a mass reproduction of art through photography and representation internationally. The current state, especially the Covid-19 period, saw art galleries and museums locked down and most artists evicted from the market. The shift in business and technological advances has informed artists of the need to explore the online market. Social media pages have become a free market that has leveled the playing field regarding market access for artists. Photography in the 21st Century has allowed photography to thrive with young photographers embracing the market trends. Benjamin predicted this shift; when he wrote an article on the mass production of photography. Benjamin addressed the sanctity of the artist’s original work. The shift creates a dilemma as to the future of art galleries expos. This will be determined the by the niche galleries that will pick to create an outstanding business in the art space. The most crucial determinants of the art market are the collectors and social elites _ if they choose the social media market space, artists have to create expo centers on social media, especially while targeting international markets (Achugwo, 2019).

Comparison between the 19^th -20^th Century Art Work to the 21st Century

• The reproduction mechanism in the traditional concept was based on paper paintings and sculptures such as the Unique Forms of Continuity, while modern art is represented by soft copies on the internet, 3D- Visual Arts, and finely painted artworks.
• The traditional production of art was minimal, while the 21st Century allowed for the global mass production of artworks.

• Traditional art was limited to museums and specific cultures, while today, art originality can be shifted upon purchase and is no longer bound to museums.

Similarities in the both Centuries

• The artworks represented the identity, cultures, and history of a people_ They are a representation of a past.
• Museums and art galleries serve a similar purpose in the exhibition of artwork.
• The society social elites have been controlling the art world _ in the past were the European countries, while today, countries such as Italy and Pars are major hubs for art galleries.

Art is a relationship that only the artists can determine; to some, they focus on religious attributes; for others, a form of self-expression; and for others creates a legacy for an artist. However, art has primarily been influenced by European and Western counties, which were believed to be male-dominated. However, modernism has allowed the review of this theory to include women. Technology has come in handy; however, museums and art galleries have informed the validity of different artworks. The global space has introduced artwork to counties and beyond_ Artists today sell their merchandise from their homes to various parts of the world (Asadi and Salimi).

Conclusion

Historians did a great job setting up museums that inform, educate, and remind upcoming artists of the relevance of the past and its participation in the future of artwork. Policies have also been placed to ensure no copyright issues on artistic work and methods of resolving such differences. Today, artists can present their results in 3D Images from Canvas paintings. Portraits represent a people’s culture and struggles that have informed current choices (Asadi and Salimi). Different historians have an unpopular opinion of the digital era on the retention of the originality of artwork loss with digitization or ‘aura,’ as Benjamin puts it. However, the validity of this subject is tied to the artist’s choice of ownership.

Works Cited

Lawrence, Susan. “Exporting Culture: Archaeology And The Nineteenth-Century British Empire .”JSTOR Organization, 2003, https://www.jstor.org/stable/25617041.

“FUTURISM”. TATE, 2022, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/futurism.

“Malangan (Article) | Melanesia | Khan Academy”. Khan Academy, 2022, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/pacific-apah/melanesia-ap-ah/a/malangan.

Boccioni, Umberto. “Unique Forms Of Continuity In Space.” Metmuseum.Org, 2022, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/485540.

Asadi, Tohid, and Esmaeel Ali Salimi. “On The Function Of Art In Modernism .”Research Gate, 2013, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299471021_On_the_Function_of_Art_in_Modernism.

Ichigo, S. (2019). PAINTING IN THE AGE OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION. Research Gate. Retrieved 17 October 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336881172_PAINTING_IN_THE_AGE_OF_DIGITAL_REVOLUTION.

Art in the Twenty-First Century — Art21. Art21. (2022). Retrieved 17 October 2022, from https://art21.org/series/art-in-the-twenty-first-century/.