week 2: artist 1

This is a work by Wolfgang Staehle. It depicts the destruction of the WTC in 2001 in four sequenced photographs.  It progresses from a sky blue city-scape with the Towers holding sway over the skyline.  By the end of the sequence, they have completely disappeared from view, leaving a seeming peace again over the skyline.  I was drawn to this work because of the significance of the event it depicts: one of the most important events, internationally, of my generation.  I admire the simplicity and honesty with which it is presented, which makes it very heavy.  To one ignorant of what is actually going on in these pictures, there may not be much to gather.  They would have no idea that here was the beginning of the 21st Century, the War on Terrorism, and all of the resulting consequences.  Thus the observations made by Buster and Crawford in The Critique Handbook: the differences between denotation and connotation.  Denotation: a pair of towers imploding, collapsing to the ground.  Connotation: The Twin Towers at the hour of tragedy, the death of thousands and the beginning of an era.  This project was conceived to document the changing of the light, and the passing of the day on the two towers.  On that note, it qualifies as art, according to Wollheim, quoted in What is Art?, the artist had a purpose, and so created his art.  On the other, Davidson would probably not perceive this as art, as he does not consider the cave drawings to be art.  I agree that this is more a documentation of history than a creation, the manifestation of an idea.  However, because of the aesthetic presentation, and the sequencing, I think I would consider this a work of art. link to the page