Length
60 to 90 minutes
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
Materials
- Assorted images depicting Hundertwasser's artwork and architectural designs
- A list of facts about the artist's life and career
- A definition for 'transautomatism'
- Copies of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's self-portrait, his work entitled 'Metro Oriente' and his painting, 'Le Ciels d ici et la'
- White heavyweight paper
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
Instructions
- Begin by displaying the assorted images of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's work for the class.
- Allow several minutes for the students to examine each of the examples.
- Have you ever seen artwork like this before?
- What words would you use to describe the examples of art and architecture on display in the classroom?
- How would you describe the style of the artist?
- How are these works different from the images you would expect to see in fine art?
- Explain that the pieces were created by an artist named Friedensreich Hundertwasser before summarizing his life and career for the class using the fact sheet.
- Present the definition for 'transautomatism' to the class as you explain that this term was used by the artist to describe his process.
- Revisit each piece that is on display in the classroom and tell the students a little bit about each one.
- How do these works represent the life of the man who created them?
- What artistic genre would you ascribe to Friedensreich Hundertwasser's work?
- What is Friedensreich Hundertwasser's lasting legacy in the worlds of art and architecture?
Activity
- Display the copies of the three Hundertwasser paintings for the class as you explain the title of each one.
- Allow the students to examine each one in terms of style and the use of lines and color.
- Give each student a sheet of the heavyweight paper.
- Tell the students to select their favorite of the three pieces on display as a point of focus.
- Ask the students to use the acrylic paints and paintbrushes to recreate their selected piece on the sheet of paper, emulating Hundertwasser's style but make the piece unique to them.
- When each student has completed his or her interpretation of Hundertwasser's piece, ask the class to briefly share their feelings on the process of recreating his work and any changes they made.
- Hang the pieces throughout the classroom before inviting the students to move about the room to view the work of their peers.
Extensions
- Using Hundertwasser's style and transautomatism, have students create a unique piece of art.
- Have students research some of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's most famous art and create an essay about one piece.
