Twenty Questions

Twenty Questions Assignment

Ishan Sharma & Asma Hassan

Prof. Ajay Rao

Question 1

a) - three dimensional sculpture.

- indigo in color.

- matte texture.

b) - rounded sculpture.

- smooth surface.

- cold temperature.

- hard density.

c) - heavy sound.

- sculpture does not seem hollow.

d) - could not taste sculpture.

e) - could not smell sculpture.

Question 2

a) - carved teakwood.

- metal strip.

b) - 152.4 cm x 25.4 cm x 93.98 cm

c) - could not get weight.

d) - three parts.

a. chair under sculpture.

b. metal behind head.

c. teakwood sculpture.

d. organized as a proper sculpture of the human body.

e. thumbs are on the opposite sides.

e) - no inscriptions.

Question 3

a) - appears to be man made.

- no evidence of natural processes – looks to be restored before being displayed.

Question 4

a) - represents naked body of a woman.

- alludes to blue skinned gods of Indian culture.

Question 5

a) - it is unidirectional.

- facing the front.

b) - has a front, back, bottom & top.

- shaped like a human.

c) - has a closed body.

- has an open strip of metal behind head.

- has an open stand on which the sculpture sits.

Question 6

* inspired by woman named Kunti who Altaf (the sculptor) met on her travels.

* reversed thumbs allude to local beliefs.

* position of her hands represents a “mudra”, receiving of knowledge with her closed hand & dissemination of knowledge with her open hand.

* teak wood portrays South Asian handicraft industries.

* stand represents Marcel Duchamp’s Bottle Rack – prominent art from modern history.

* strip of metal signifies creative potential and pushing the limit of one’s mind.

* indigo represents the unnatural hues of divine blue-skinned gods and also the indigo trade (when the Indian subcontinent was forever altered).

* portrayal of beauty...