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Sarah Bott: capstone

Date

2014

Authors

Bott, Sarah, artist

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Abstract

The artist's statement: This series presents landscapes in abstract form with the ideas of philosopher Immanuel Kant behind them. The theory of "free play" developed by Kant can be described as aesthetic pleasure that is caused when the mind goes back and forth between imagination and understanding. This gives understanding no concept and ultimately there is no determined end to this thought process. I am interested in these ideas in my own work. In my current series of landscape paintings I begin by abstracting maps and landscape imagery in order to imply dimension of mind beyond sense perception. I incorporate forms from nature because they are of the sublime, making the idea of them too massive to imagine. This is the perfect staging ground for free play. I begin with wood panels because of the material's literal connection to nature and the reference the grain patterns have with topography. I then combine three dimensional elements with flat plains and map imagery to create landscape spaces. Ultimately, rebelling against imitation of sense perception and using internalized motivation to achieve the formlessness of the sublime in nature.

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Colorado State University Art Department capstone project.
Capstone contains the artist's statement, a list of works, and images of works.

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