Visual Literacy-Aesthetic Scanning Exercise

First spend at least a minute looking and seeing this work….Then write and share.
What do you “see” (close “scientific” observation)?

The sound sculpture is created by 22 white pedestals with a black record player
on top. They are displayed like a 3X7 rectangle shape, but the last row has 8
players.
The color of this artwork is very simple, there is only white and black. From the
tour I know that the white is the perspective of white person and the back is the
perspective of African-Americans.
What is the story or visual narrative presented? Is it abstract or
representational (figures and recognizable objects)? Explain:

I think the sound sculpture is abstract because the artist uses the 22 pedestals to
symbolize the dead people or the monument.

What is the medium (paint, metal, stone, photography, video, etc.)? How has
the artist/sculptor used the “tools” of the artist? Describe the “elements”:
color, value, line, texture, shape, form, space. Describe how these elements
are organized in the composition: unity, contrast, repetition, balance, etc.
List:

The space between each pedestal is the same. The artist chooses square as the
main shape, it repeats through this whole artwork. I think the repetition makes
me feel depress and overwhelm. The contrast will be white and black. It is not
only shown on the pedestal and the player but also through the whole show.
The artist creates a "+" shape by putting a black base under the player. The way
she arranges all the element is an asymmetrical balance that can bring a more
interesting visual feeling.

What is the relationship between this work and its environment?

I think this sculpture create a movement to the whole environment because the
audience can interact with it and walk around, hear the voice record. It also
creates a background “music” to the environment.

What does it mean (interpretation)?

All art is communication, a “conversation” between the artist and the viewer.

What is the title of the work? Does this help explain the “artist intent”?
American Monument- Archive
The title helps me to understand the voice better and the 22 pedestals represent
the 22 dead people.

What is the date of the work and what does this tell you about the historical
and/or cultural context of the work?
The date is 2019, It is about the police brutality of African American in recent
years.

What does the work mean to you? What is your emotional and intellectual
response to the work (there are no wrong answers)? If you had choices why
did you select this work?

I enjoy interacting with the sound sculpture and it makes me feel that I am in this
environment. It tells me that the police brutality is not the thing far away to me, it
is happening around the country.

Is it any good (judging)? How do you know? Explain:

This sculpture is more about the connection between audiences and the show,
therefore the way how the artist place it is very important and she did it great. It
allows the audiences to go into the middle or go to the edge of the place because
of the way she put the black record player.

What else do you want to know about this work of art, what do you wonder?

I am thinking why she chooses 22 people not 21 or24 to create a perfect rectangle
shape. Why she uses the voice record instead of video? Sometimes I think video
has more power.