week 5 - Pluralism and the Treat of Waitangi

1.     Define the term 'pluralism' using APA referencing.

‘A point of view has no absolute truth, only a relative, subjective value according to how you perceive things. There are many ways of looking at any issue.’ (Author unknown (N.D) Notes taken in Alvc class)

2. How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture?

I would say it is European settlers that are the build of the dominant culture however in New Zealand. However the Maori way of life and strong cultural aspects are often shown and in away exploited for tourism perposes around the world. The New Zealand culture such as bbq’s, chilled summer lifestlye, jandels and having a beer in the sun are also globally known and related to New Zealand.

2.     Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture?

As we discussed in class, before 1840, Maoris were the dominant culture and people of New Zealand, with a population near 100,000 compared to the European settlers with around 200 people. After 1840 and the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori lost much of their land and mana (prestige and authority), entering a period of cultural and numerical decline. However their population began to increase again from the late 19th century, and a cultural revival began in the 1960s, sometimes known as the Maori Renaissance.

3.     How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working in New Zealand?

I think it relates to us as often many people try to portray the Maori in a positive way, for a gain in wealth. For example, the game interview we watched in the lecture. I think as an artist, I myself, as well as other people need to really cherish the beautiful cultural aspects new Zealand has as they really are individual to our small country.

5. How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?

Many global countries are now coming to New Zealand for new and un used ideas. this could be because globally everywhere else has been used up. However I can see were some people are coming from, but I do not think it has a negative affect as it is gaining global recognition – and in the end isn’t that what we want?

6. Shane Cotton's paintings are said to examine the cultural landscape. Research Cotton's work 'Welcome'(2004) and 'Forked Tongue' (2011) to analyze what he is saying about colonialization and the Treaty of Waitangi. 

'Welcome' (2004) Shane Cotton 

Shane Cotton is one of New Zealand’s most recognized artists of Pakeha and Maori decent. Cotton’s works often are very symbolic and relate to New Zealand’s culture. In ‘Welcome’ (2004) two heads aswell as two birds, a Fantail and Whitehead are portrayed in a grid like sequence. This portrays the colonization of European people in Aoteroa ‘the land of the long white cloud’. The two messenger birds, along with the use of "upoko tuhituhi" or “marked heads” in his work, and the head of Jesus can be perceived as the relation between pakeha and Maori. The two heads from the different colonies above and below people along with the birds relate to the treaty of Waitangi as this was a document signed to insure safe trading between the two colonies. However there was mis communication and the Maor tribes at the time did not relies the quality of land. The symbol of jesus type head is representative of the European and western world, ontop of the Maori chiefs head. This can in away show that from the Trety signing the European/ Pakehas have come out ‘on top’.

'Forked Tongue'(2011) Shane Cotton

In 'Forked Tongue' (2011) this artwork looks as if it has a sort of code like graphic style to it. The use of the letters within could portray the idea that the Maori chiefs at the time of signing the Treaty of Waitangi were depicting the treaty in a different way to which the Eroppean settlers had written it.  The bird can symbolize the message that was being carried through the different languages the treaty was signed in. the red lines can be depicted as a long line of controversy over the signing of the treaty and the relationship between native Maori’s and European settlers.

7. Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflect the effects of colonization on the aboriginal people of Australia. Research the work and comment on what Albert is communicating through his work, and what he is referring to. Describe the materials that Albert uses on this installation and say what he hopes his work can achieve. Define the term 'kitsch'.

The work Sorry is a tribute to the indigenous Australians. It was made when Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, on 13 February 2008 apologised for their mis treatment from the European settlers, by the Australian Government. Kitsch art can be defined as ‘Kitsch is most commonly used to describe art that's considered overly sentimental, pretentious, or banal. It's used to dismiss such art as being in bad taste, of poor quality, or simply for having too much mass appeal. Kitsch is also used to describe art featuring cultural objects that date from the 1950-70s, or mundane, everyday subjects that are retro in style.’ (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009.)

The artwork ‘Sorry’ is a compiliation of all the plates and portraits that Albert has collected over the years to show respect to the unfairly treated aboriginal people. He has compiled it to remind people that the prime minister did apologize but has yet to take action for the things he has promised. Kitsch art that is included are of aboriginal peoples faces that for example, have been imprinted in steel plates as this was a popular style at the time.

"My work is always about appropriation, that's why it exists," Albert says. "The Sorry work is about my personal collection which, in a way, was always a comfort to me. There were images of Aboriginal people around me and my collecting these objects was my way of marking my respect."

– Tony Albert, Interview with theaustralian.com in 2009.

8. Explain how the work of both artists relates to pluralism.

Both artists works relate to and challenge peoples ideas aout their countries native cultures and heritage. They reate to pluralism as you can perceive the artists works in many different ways and there is not correct answer to them. The works challenge the western way of life which is instilled in us from a very young age, and make us think and have more respect for our native cultures.

 Reference list:

"Auckland and around". Rough Guide to New Zealand, Fifth Edition. Retrieved 16 February 2010.

http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6afMy0rlqq8

week 3: Hussein Chalayan

1. Chalayan’s works in clothing, like Afterwords (2000) and Burka (1996), are often challenging to both the viewer and the wearer. What are your personal responses to these works? Are Afterwords and Burka fashion, or are they art? What is the difference?

Not all clothing is fashion, so what makes fashion fashion?

Initially when looking at these two very interesting and challenging pieces I think they are a mix between fashion wear and an art form. Fashion wear can be defined as ‘a term usually used in a positive sense, as a synonym for glamour, beauty and style it is also applies to a prevailing mode of expression, but quite often applies to a personal mode of expression that may or may not apply to all.’ (Author unknown  (2011) Celebrity Fashion and Runway Styles.) However one of the main points of postmodernism it cannot be defined as it is constantly challenging modernist thinking.

These two interesting works both challenge these ideologies. Burka (1996) challenges the Muslim culture and the beliefs they are taught through many highly symbolic parts of the culture. For example the Qu ran’. Muslim woman are not allowed to show their bodies and have to protect their identities. However Chalayan has challenged this as in each of the models, the viewer cannot see their identities. This challenging nature of his works makes me eventually lean towards the ‘art’ category for his works.

2. Chalayan has strong links to industry. Pieces like The Level Tunnel (2006) and Repose (2006) are made in collaboration with, and paid for by, commercial business; in these cases, a vodka company and a crystal manufacturer. How does this impact on the nature of Chalayan’s work? Does the meaning of art change when it is used to sell products? Is it still art?

By being paid to do something for a company or corporation in accordance with a brief does some how change ones work category. It can be seen as ‘advertising’ not just ‘art’. As a viewer you may see it just as advertising and dismiss it, or you can perceive the works in a more creative manner. Advertisements often use very creative techniques to sell and represent an object or product. Advertisements are simply another form or media used to show artwork in our society today.

In these collaborations between the artist and company to produce a advertisement, Chalayan is simply showing his creative talent to another group of people in society and may not have the immediate response from the consumer to his works, but instead it sells another product. However, he would still be getting some recognition from his works and is getting a pay cheque. I think it has just been switched around. Instead of an artist or designer making something and not knowing who will buy it, he has been approached to produce something that they are after but do not have the skill or talent or the creative specialty to take it further. Art can be described as ‘The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power’ (google.com date unknown). Where as advertising is described as ‘The activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services’ (google.com date unknown).

Both clearly have different meanings however it is difficult to give a black or white answer to this question, as it can always be debated further in accordance to different people beliefs and thoughts.

3. Chalayan’s film Absent Presence screened at the 2005 Venice Biennale. It features the process of caring for worn clothes, and retrieving and analysing the traces of the wearer, in the form of DNA. This work has been influenced by many different art movements; can you think of some, and in what ways they might have inspired Chalayan’s approach?

There are many movements that Chalayan could have been influenced by. However, I think he is definitely embracing the postmodernism ideology as he is going through a very in-depth process using very scientific ideas. Many many artist have always used ‘found’ objects in their works from Andy Warhol’s use of the recycled Campbell soup tin to Dick Frizzel’s use of the iconic New Zealand ‘Mr. 4 Square’ man to Roy Lichtenstein’s comic book paintings.

4. Many of Chalayan’s pieces are physically designed and constructed by someone else; for example, sculptor Lone Sigurdsson made some works from Chalayan’s Echoform (1999) and Before Minus Now (2000) fashion ranges. In fashion design this is standard practice, but in art it remains unexpected. Work by artists such as Jackson Pollock hold their value in the fact that he personally made the painting. Contrastingly, Andy Warhol’s pop art was largely produced in a New York collective called The Factory, and many of his silk-screened works were produced by assistants. Contemporarily, Damien Hirst doesn’t personally build his vitrines or preserve the sharks himself. So when and why is it important that the artist personally made the piece?

I think the idea for the artwork is most definitely the core idea of the art. For example architecture – the architect designs a building but its is nearly impossible to build a huge freestanding structure alone. This is a very huge topic to discuss, as nowadays there are hundreds of different art forms. As long as the artist has invented the idea, then personally I think it is ok to have other hands help to execute these visions. However in smaller scaled art such as the original paintings on the wall, artists should defiantly do these themselves as they are smaller and often all originals. Therefore making them very intimate and able to hold a higher value, as they are not mass-produced.

Reference list:

(Author unknown  (2011) Celebrity Fashion and Runway Styles.)

http://purerunwayfashion.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-is-fashion.html

http://www.google.co.nz/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define+art&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=JBlTTvakFsbVgQfokd1L

Images referenced:

http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/files/imagecache/display/images/8847_Dick_Frizzell_Four_Four_Time.jpg

http://www.warholprints.com/images/artwork/full/FS-II.52.jpg

week 4: Kehinde Wiley and inter-textuality

1. Find a clear definition of Intertextuality and quote it accurately on your blog using the APA referencing system. Use your own words to explain the definition more thoroughly.

Intertextuality is the shaping of texts' meanings by other texts.

In my definition, it is the reuse of another person’s style or idea. However it is transformed or edited into another persons style or vision. For example these t-shrt designs I have found. They all show references to other designs or ideas.

2. Research Wiley's work and write a paragraph that analyzes how we might make sense of his work. Identify intertextuality in Wiley's work.

When initially looking at his works you see a very feminim design style. However on closer analysation I can see a reference to the ‘gangster rapper’ culyture in the black community. The feminim qualities shown in his works definitely reflect a gay personality as they challenge stereotypical ideas. Wiley has combined two very different styles of painting, the gangster rapper, and feminism qualities however the paintings still work very well as a whole. Intertextuality is shown as he has combined two very different design styles in a way which not very many people would think of. Wiley’s works challenge the viewers ideas and may offend some people, however this is a main quality of post modern design.

3. Wiley's work relates to next weeks postmodern theme "PLURALISM". Read page 46 and discuss how the work relates to this theme.

‘A point of view has no absolute truth, only a relative, subjective value according to how you perceive things. There are many ways of looking at any issue.’

Every single viewer of his paintings would have a different reaction. Some may find it highly offensive and others may be able to relate to it. In conclusion everyone is different and would have a different reaction. This is what the idea of post modernism is – challenging people’s thoughts and making them think in a different way.

4. Comment on how Wiley's work raises questions around social/cultural hierarchies , colonisation, globalisation, stereotypes and the politics which govern a western worldview. 

Wiley’s work has been very controversial. He is touching on very sensitive subjects such a homosexuality, racism and insult to black people. I feel he is trying to break down these social/cultural hierarchies as he is portraying the black people in very important paintings. The way they have been asked to pose also alludes to the way people in the renaissance were asked to pose. His works take aspects of life from different times, different places and different people that were not really seen in the times of the renaissance, against the way things are done in this western world.

5. Add some reflective comments of your own, which may add more information that you have read during your research.

I really admire the way he has combined different qualities that are not very ‘glamorous’ and are new to the western world. Such as, homosexuality and black people of power. He has chosen these newer qualities but portrayed them in a very old-fashioned portrait type of style.

http://www.cretique.com/archives/4012

http://www.deitch.com/artists/sub.php?artistId=11

intertextuality. (n.d.). Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon. Retrieved August 29, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intertextuality

definition of pluralism – taken from notes in class. 

week 2: Post-Modernism, Ai Weiwei and Banksy

* If modernism is at an end, we are now facing a new period. The name given to this new period is post-modernism. *

1. Define Post-Modernism using 8-10 bullet points that include short quotes.

- Postmodernism is a philosophical movement away from the viewpoint of modernism.

- It is against the idea of one grand narrative.

- The progress of these two movements grew from the Enlightenment

- Post modernism rejects the ideas of 'subjectivity' and 'objectivity'.

- The term post modernism is used in a confusing variety of ways. For some it means anti-modern; for others it means the revision of the modernist premises.

- Constructive postmodernism does not reject modernism, but seeks to revise the premises and traditional concepts. Like deconstructive postmodernism, it attempts to erase all boundaries, to undermine legitimacy, and to dislodge the logic of the modernist state. Constructive postmodernism claims to offer a new unity of scientific, ethical, aesthetic, and religious intuitions. It rejects not science as such, but only that scientific approach in which only the data of the modern natural sciences are allowed to contribute to the construction of our worldview.

- Postmodernism was a movement in architecture that rejected the modernist, avant garde, passion for the new.

- In a Post-Modern world nothing has essential meaning anymore.

- Going "where no man has gone before"

2. Use a quote by Witcombe (2000) to define the Post-Modern artist.

“The post-modern artist is ‘reflexive’ in that he/she is self-aware and consciously involved in a process of thinking about him/herself and society in a deconstructive manner, ‘demasking’ pretentions, becoming aware of his/her cultural self in history, and accelerating the process of self-consciousness”, Witcombe (2000).

3. Use the grid on pages 42 and 43 to summarize the list of the features of Post-

Modernity.

To summarize, I believe that the main features of post-modernism are that there are no limits or boundaries to what a designer can do. It is about challenging and reinventing past things to improve them, or challenge the ideas around them.

4. Use this summary to answer the next two questions.

5. Research Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994) in order to say what features of the work are Post-Modern.

This urn can be described as being post-modern as it shows intertextuality. A lot of more recent works often display this characteristic as designers, such as Ai Weiwei are using strong symbolism. This urn covered in the globally known Coca-Cola logo may have been used to display China’s global corporations and what is often associated with – global mass production.  

6. Research British artist Banksy's street art, and analyze the following two works by the artist to discuss how each work can be defined at Post-Modern.(Use your list from point 6.)

‘it attempts to erase all boundaries, to undermine legitimacy, and to dislodge the logic of the modernist state.’ Banksy’s street art is very controversial. I think it is post-modern art as it challenges people’s thoughts and beliefs. He pushes the boundaries as often is work is infact illegally produced. The ideas and thoughts behind his work challenge the viewer. In ‘Los Angeles (2008), Banksy’ the ideas behind our globally reproduced world are very evident. It shows were we have come from (cavemen) to where we are is a world today (global corperations).

I think both artists are highly post modern as they both show aspects of challenging peoples ideas, thoughts and beliefs.

Reference List

Keep, C, McLaughlin, T and Parmar, R (1993-2000)  Defining Postmodernism.

http://elab.eserver.org/hfl0242.html

Witcombe,C (2000) Modernism & Postmodernism. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/modernism/modpostmod.html

week 1: Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'.

1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

Claymation is animation shown through the use of clay models. In clay animation, each object is sculpted in clay, usually around a wire skeleton. A frame is taken and the object is moved slightly by hand. Another frame is taken, and the object is moved slightly again. When the collaborated images are viewed in order, it gives the illusion that the figure is moving on it’s own,

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? And 'all that is natural goes awry'? The term Garden of Eden is often referred to.

The two terms 'surrealistic Garden of Eden' and 'all that is natural goes awry' is referring to artists who often use surrealistic artistic techniques to make things that one would relate to an everyday garden. Nathalie Djurberg has aimed to challenge and confronts viewers in a terrifying and artistic way. Initially, when viewing these works the bright colors and happy connotations can overwhelm you. On further analysis the large shapes can be overwhelming and terrifying. The term ‘Garden of Eden’ alone alludes to the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God.

3. What is the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

Djurberg’s works often explore a great deal of outlandish and voracious human behaviors, for example, the many sexual scenes. I think Djurberg is aiming to challenge our thoughts on ourselves as human beings as even though she portrays her characters in a more ferocious way they still show huge similarities to every day human beings, who are these days often greedier and selfish.

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

Nathalie Djurberg work plays with the ideas of children’s stories in many different ways. Initially her use of the Claymation technique immediately refers the viewer to childhood animations and movies, such as "Wallace and Grommet".

Secondly, Djurberg has shown elements of fantasy, which are often referred to in children’s stories. For example the use of bears, wolfs, tigers, talking trees and flying people.

Lastly, The stark contrast between the innocence portrayed in the childlike figures and what they actually do – animalistic features – shows the harsh reality that people, especially children when they grow up, are not innocent little ‘angels’.

The soft medium Djurberg has chosen to show the ideas in her stories is evermore contrasting. The contrast between childlike animation and vulgar actions often done by humans creates an even bigger impact effect on the viewer.

5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?

This has come about because art today is beginning to be repetitive in away, this is sometimes referred to as ‘intertexuality’ where one text references another. Because there has been so much progress now is the time were people challenge something new and turning things into disturbing works is how people are getting recognition. Another example of this technique is by artist Damien Hurst.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?

I think Djurberg’s work is extremely extraordinary. The layered ideas and contrasting effects used make it very challenging and interesting to depict. As a viewer you are most definitely left thinking about the work in away people have never made you think. Artist that are chosen for these types of things need to be interesting, portray new ideas and have a capturing and individual style as well as challenge and portray real ideas.

7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work.

Nathalie Djurberg’s work is very interesting and at the same to controversial. It is bright and colorful, whilst at the same time being dark and creepy. Naturally you are drawn into it. Her work almost has an addictive quality as you are left wanting more.

Reference list:

Works talked about-

Djurberg, N (2009) 'experiment' at Venice Art Biennale

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/6886/nathalie-djurberg-experiment-at-venice-art-biennale-09.html

Holland Cotter (November 9, 2007). "Art Review, Performa 07: Art Is Brief. You Just Have to Be There.". New York Times.

Roberta Smith (May 19, 2006). "Art in Review; Nathalie Djurberg". New York Times.

"Indepth Arts News: "Nathalie Djurberg: Installation"". absolutearts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-25.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathalie_Djurberg

Images of her work-

http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=/nathalie-djurberg-&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&biw=831&bih=451&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mMVSTpavBe3QmAXU3O3JBg&ved=0CC4QsAQ

Garden of Eden-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden

Videos-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3kg8caumE&feature=related

Week 8-Industrialisation, Modernism and architecture.

 The Eiffel Tower:

-The importance of the design and construction

The Eiffel tower was the world’s tallest manmade building for 41years. It was designed for the Paris Exposition in 1889 (an event for the 100th anniversary of the French revolution). The Eiffel Tower is a very popular and important structure in Paris, France. It is a globally well-known structure and is often used in films to set the scene. The tower stands 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. The tower is an important tourist attraction, showcasing firework and light shows, an ice-skating rink and restaurants. It is also a vital part of the communication in Paris. The present radio antenna was added to the top in 1957.

Eiffel and his engineers, as experienced bridge builders, understood the importance of wind forces and knew that if they were going to build the tallest structure in the world they had to be certain it would withstand the wind. Researchers have found that Eiffel used empirical and graphical methods accounting for the effects of wind rather than a specific mathematical formula.

-Significance of the materials

Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron (a very pure form of structural iron), using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin ("The Tower Conception And Design" (in (English)). Tour-eiffel.fr. Retrieved 24 May 2010..) Every seven years the tower is painted to prevent the build up of rust, the colour often changes; it is currently a bronze colour.  There is a running voting poll at the base of the tower for people to vote for the next colour. In order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, three separate colour’s of paint are used on the tower, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top ("Painting the Eiffel Tower". tour-eiffel.com. Retrieved 28 May 2011.)

-Significance of the designer

Named for its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel , the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair.

-Function for which it was built

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the tower has been used for radio transmission. Until the 1950s, an occasionally modified set of antenna wires ran from the summit to anchors on the Avenue de Suffren and Champ de Mars. They were connected to long-wave transmitters in small bunkers; in 1909, a permanent underground radio center was built near the south pillar and still exists today. Since 1957, the tower has been used for transmission of FM radio and television.

Originally, Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for 20 years (when ownership of it would revert to the City of Paris, who had originally planned to tear it down; part of the original contest rules for designing a tower was that it could be easily torn down), more than recouping his expenses, but as it later proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiry of the permit. The military used it to dispatch Parisian taxis to the front line of the Marne, and it therefore became a victory statue of that battle. It was also used to catch the infamous "Mata Hari", and after this, its demolition became unthinkable to the French population. ("Elegant Shape Of Eiffel Tower Solved Mathematically By University Of Colorado Professor". Sciencedaily.com. 7 January 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2010.)

-Function now-has it changed?

Now the tower is an iconic tourist attraction playing host to two restaurants in the tower, popular lighting and fire work displays and an annual ice skating rink in the winter. ("The annotated arch: a crash course in the history of architecture, By Carol Strickland, Amy Handy – Google Books". Google. Retrieved 24 May 2010.)

Guggenheim Museum:

-The importance of the design and construction

One of the most admired works if contemporary architecture the building has been hailed as a "single moment in the architectural culture" because it represents "one of those rare moments when critics, academics, and the general public were all completely united about something. (Tyrnauer, Matt (30 June 2010). "Architecture in the Age of Gehry". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 22 July 2010.) Gehry's work falls within the style od Deconstructivism, which is often referred to as post-structuralist in nature for its ability to go beyond current modalities of structural definition.

-Significance of the materials

The curves on the building were to appear random. The architect has been quoted (by unknown) as saying that "the randomness of the curves are designed to catch the light". Gehry used Titanium, as it is a low-density, extremely strong corrosion-resistant metal that provides a lighter, more maneuverable alternative to steel, without the sacrifice of strength.  While steel is excellent for right angles, titanium can be curved.  Couple Gehry’s creative mind with CATIA software and titanium building materials, and the result is the Guggenheim Bilbao. 

Architect Philip Johnston called it "the greatest building of our time" because of the new computer software advancement. (Lee, Denny (September 23, 2007), "Bilbao, 10 Years Later", The New York Times)

The software used in the designing and development of the structure also facilitates the engineering aspect of architecture, processing data and integrating contemporary materials to calculate the mathematics of construction. (Louise Blouin Media date: unknown)

-Significance of the designer

The museum's design and construction serve as an object lesson in Gehry's style and method. Like many of Gehry's other works, it has a structure that consists of radically sculpted, organic contours. Sited as it is in a port town, it is intended to resemble a ship. Its brilliantly reflective titanium panels resemble fish scales, echoing the other organic life (and, in particular, fish-like) forms that recur commonly in Gehry's designs, as well as the river Nervion upon which the museum sits.

(Tyrnauer, Matt (30 June 2010). "Architecture in the Age of Gehry". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 22 July 2010.)

-Function for which it was built

It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. It was built to draw attention and boost the citys tourism. Which it has achieved as it is one of the most popular influential designs in society today – it is an iconic building.

-Function now-has it changed?

When it was opened to the public in 1997, it was immediately hailed as one of the world's most spectacular buildings in the style of Deconstructionism, although Gehry does not associate himself with that architectural movement. It still is a museum showcasing installations and has a fixed more permanent gallery.

The two architectural buildings have many similarities and differences.

Firstly, the similarities.

The Eiffel Tower and the Guggenheim Museum are both major architectural structures that are well known across the world. The two buildings both are very iconic and were the only buildings of there own type and style for the time they were built. Both buildings use new methods of design for example the newly developed computer technology was used in the Guggenheim Museum. The Eiffel tower uses puddle iron (a very pure form of structural iron) joined together by hand. Both designs incorporate a curvy design style but both still have a very formal look to them and are highly aesthetically pleasing. Both structures are built of sturdy materials, steel and iron. Today both structures are iconic tourist attractions that are visited by thousands of people annually.

Secondly, differences.

The buildings while being similar also are very different at the same time. Different designers, in different countries and areas, have designed them both in different time periods. The Eiffel Tower was designed and made as a temporary structure for a fair and was only to be put up for twenty years, where as Gehry’s design was for a gallery. The settings of the structures were also extremely contrasting, the tower being in the middle of the land in a city compared to the museum, which was next to the water in an older looking city. Also the Eiffel tower was built to be the tallest structure of the time, where as the museum was developed to blend in and not draw any attention away from the lower surrounding buildings. The two designers from different periods of design in time used different methods. Eiffel was a bridge designer therefore was a more formal designer using a practical approach. Gehry was a more creative architect designing a very unusual imaginative building. Both structures set of design styles that would be looked up to for many years to come.