~1. This piece at a glance was done by a German painter, and concerns an ancient Egyptian religion. I would venture to say that the artist was definitely effected by globalization. This piece particularly concerns what modernization has done to ancient lore. The myth or legend of Osiris and Isis states that the god Osiris was slain by his evil brother. Isis, collected the pieces of Osiris who was also cut into pieces and brought her brother and husband back to life. This painting has so many textures, including the circuit board atop the pyramid connected by copper wire to several pieces of ceramic. Osiris and Isis contains acrylic, emulsion, clay, and porcelain as well. To me it tells the tail of a machine manifested by a god, broken and rebuilt. By Isis, in her unfailing love and loyalty of a god who was good. Pyramids alone are suggestive of superior engineering and often surrounded by myths of ancient technology far surpassing anything our modern civilizations have ever created to date. The painting was completed in the mid to late 1980's. Germany under Adolf Hitlers influence was a very nationalist country. Hitlers radical ideas of Nationalism have roots in country's like Russia who was completely at odds with Nazi Germany during WWI and WWII. In the 80's of all times to make an image 12 foot by 6 inches with a dead god and a circuit board atop a pyramid one would have to be pretty affected by globalization and Nationalism.
~2. Diversity is what makes art possible. Without diversity culturally, or via the media artists have chosen. This artist was born in 1945. His concerns about his countries past and future spirituality and technology are vastly represented. The artist also chose contemporary media to explore his search for his heritage. It was said in an article I read on the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art website concerning Anselm Kiefer's Osiris and Isis that Kiefer"s work represented "Osiris, the god of the underworld, was murdered by his jealous brother, Set, who dispersed his body parts across the land. Osiris's grieving widow, Isis, searched for his remains, literally "remembering" and resurecting him. The parable's theme of destruction and renewal speaks directly to Kiefer's interest in reassembling and reclaiming elements of Germany's history and identity at a time when so many of his compatriots seemed intent on forgetting." (http://www.sfmoma.org/explore/collection/artwork/171) With that being said, it is in earnst that I say that Kiefer, no matter how troubled his countries past was recognizes the genius we can learn from all history, not just the good parts. In its entirety it is almost a right to ponder. If you view this piece in a more sinister way it could even symbolize the destruction and reconstruction of Germany itself, or the nations it wanted to dominate when Hitler was in power. Hitler chose television as a tool to implement his influence and strategy on the masses. He knew that people believe what they see. In that sense television alone was a sort of god, and in many eyes still is. It is still in our plumbing as a society, many seek to influence society with it to this day. Is it a coincidence that the copper coming from the television circuit board atop the pyramid made of mud paint and clay is connecting to ceramic and porcelain pieces of plumbing? Perhaps. It is however a right of diversity to know ones own thoughts, bring them to a public forum and not disclose them to the audience but let them decide what they want the work to mean for themselves. This artist, is definately exemplifying diversity and a great contemplation of the Nationalism that effected his ancestors and many of our won, wether indirectly or not.
~3. In my opinion ethnicity and nationality should not be mandatory of artists creations. All artists tend to reflect a certain amount of national pride and or prejudice for or against ones own culture. Artists can be patriots dutifully promoting the ethics of any part of their ethnicity or political heritage. Artists may also choose to speak as agents of change for their countries. Nationalism is such a blanket way of describing a country. It is virtually impossible to say that all of the inhabitants or descendants all believe the same things, or are superior of other nations. Pride in ones ancestry is a rite of passage. I do believe art is a place to confront even the most violent ideals or embrace them. Nationalism can be an act of humility and pride as long as it is peaceable. Nationalism can also be a tool of destruction, racism, prejudice and discrimination, however subtle. I believe art should be sacred to the artist, no ammount of criticism for ones own nationality should be looked upon as treason. Art is expression, it is the safest place in the world to confront Ideas like war, rape, famine, hatred, violence in general, or it can be a safe place to exemplify purity, health in body, mind, spirit, ecologically, societally, and or governmentally. Art no matter what rhetoric it presents will always be a way for present and future audiences of the world to learn about other nations and individual persons feelings, culture, identity, beliefs and convictions. Art should be free. When and if it is mandated by a government or faction I believe it is only propaganda executed by artists. If an artist chooses to represent for a national or political faction for hire, they chose to do so willingly, and so it is the artist's right.