Olive Cotton through the Conceptual Framework
The Artist:
Olive Cotton (1911-2003) was and still remains to be one of Australia’s most influential photographers. Her long 60 year career began in a male dominated field, which she managed to push through and thrive in, helping to bring photography as an art form into full light in Australian culture. Many of Cotton's pieces are reflective of the surrounds she worked in, highlighting aspects of Australia’s natural landscape, flora and fauna. In Cotton’s photography the subject matter was always the main element of the piece, often Cotton used elements of light and shade as well as arranging the subject in a particular way to emphasise its meaning and value in the photo. As a photographer Olive Cotton’s artwork generally was created for the enjoyment of the viewer and as an expression of herself however working through the Second World War, as she did, some of her pieces were created for journalistic purposes. Cotton’s artwork was and still is a true representation of the modernistic era, in the sense that many of her photos pushed the boundaries of how her subject matter was traditionally viewed.
The Artwork:
One of Cotton's most influential and well-known pieces is her 1935 photograph ‘Tea Cup Ballet” which is currently located in the Art Gallery of NSW. ‘Tea Cup Ballet” shows 6 asymmetrically placed tea cups with a particular focus being made on the shadow each cup and saucer is making. This piece is characterised by the soft and gentle qualities, which is emphasised by Cotton’s trade, mark use of light and shade contrasting with the sharp and bold angles of the cup handles. Cotton’s inspiration behind this piece was the memory of ballet dancers evoked by the shadows of the cup and saucers made under a light source. ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ was an expression of Cotton herself, its function and purpose as an art piece, like in many of her other pieces, was to tell a story or present an idea which was open to be interpreted by her audience.
The Audience:
Olive Cotton created many of her pieces for Australians, which is evident through her focus on subjects typical to Australia and familiar for Australians. Over time however and with more public awareness her photos are now appreciated by not only by Australians but by international art communities as well. The gentle and soft characteristics of many of her photos, as well as the typical asymmetrical positioning of her subject matter, often leads viewers of her artwork to question what is being represented and interpret in their own way. Olive Cotton’s work can bring different meaning to different people, using ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ as an example, for someone with no knowledge of Ballet, the photo may represent a completely different idea than for someone with an understanding of the positions and stances typical to ballet. For Australians, many Cotton's work is easily identifiable as it represents natural elements and familiar scenes, however for someone who is completely unfamiliar with the Australian Landscape and Australian Culture a completely different message may be portrayed and interpreted.
The World:
The major focus of Cotton’s work is the form and styling of her subject matter. Typical to Cotton’s work her subject is highlighted above all else and in many of her photos, giving an insight into Cotton’s view of Australia. Through viewing Cottons artwork, in particular ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ we learn to view simple objects that surround us daily in a new light where new ideas, feelings and interpretations are formed. Not all of Cotton’s pieces were reflective of the Australian landscape, some of Cotton’s work was influenced by the people around her and significant to her at the time, for example ‘Max’ (1935) and ‘Max After Surfing’ (1939) are two of her pieces using her husband at the time Max Dupain as her subject matter.
Olive Cotton was and still remains an influential pioneer of photography as an art form in Australia. This is reflected through the prestigious "Olive Cotton Award for excellence in photographic portraiture as a way to recognise’ which her family started up in 2005 to recognise “one of Australia's leading twentieth century photographers”.
Olive Cotton (1911-2003) was and still remains to be one of Australia’s most influential photographers. Her long 60 year career began in a male dominated field, which she managed to push through and thrive in, helping to bring photography as an art form into full light in Australian culture. Many of Cotton's pieces are reflective of the surrounds she worked in, highlighting aspects of Australia’s natural landscape, flora and fauna. In Cotton’s photography the subject matter was always the main element of the piece, often Cotton used elements of light and shade as well as arranging the subject in a particular way to emphasise its meaning and value in the photo. As a photographer Olive Cotton’s artwork generally was created for the enjoyment of the viewer and as an expression of herself however working through the Second World War, as she did, some of her pieces were created for journalistic purposes. Cotton’s artwork was and still is a true representation of the modernistic era, in the sense that many of her photos pushed the boundaries of how her subject matter was traditionally viewed.
The Artwork:
One of Cotton's most influential and well-known pieces is her 1935 photograph ‘Tea Cup Ballet” which is currently located in the Art Gallery of NSW. ‘Tea Cup Ballet” shows 6 asymmetrically placed tea cups with a particular focus being made on the shadow each cup and saucer is making. This piece is characterised by the soft and gentle qualities, which is emphasised by Cotton’s trade, mark use of light and shade contrasting with the sharp and bold angles of the cup handles. Cotton’s inspiration behind this piece was the memory of ballet dancers evoked by the shadows of the cup and saucers made under a light source. ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ was an expression of Cotton herself, its function and purpose as an art piece, like in many of her other pieces, was to tell a story or present an idea which was open to be interpreted by her audience.
The Audience:
Olive Cotton created many of her pieces for Australians, which is evident through her focus on subjects typical to Australia and familiar for Australians. Over time however and with more public awareness her photos are now appreciated by not only by Australians but by international art communities as well. The gentle and soft characteristics of many of her photos, as well as the typical asymmetrical positioning of her subject matter, often leads viewers of her artwork to question what is being represented and interpret in their own way. Olive Cotton’s work can bring different meaning to different people, using ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ as an example, for someone with no knowledge of Ballet, the photo may represent a completely different idea than for someone with an understanding of the positions and stances typical to ballet. For Australians, many Cotton's work is easily identifiable as it represents natural elements and familiar scenes, however for someone who is completely unfamiliar with the Australian Landscape and Australian Culture a completely different message may be portrayed and interpreted.
The World:
The major focus of Cotton’s work is the form and styling of her subject matter. Typical to Cotton’s work her subject is highlighted above all else and in many of her photos, giving an insight into Cotton’s view of Australia. Through viewing Cottons artwork, in particular ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ we learn to view simple objects that surround us daily in a new light where new ideas, feelings and interpretations are formed. Not all of Cotton’s pieces were reflective of the Australian landscape, some of Cotton’s work was influenced by the people around her and significant to her at the time, for example ‘Max’ (1935) and ‘Max After Surfing’ (1939) are two of her pieces using her husband at the time Max Dupain as her subject matter.
Olive Cotton was and still remains an influential pioneer of photography as an art form in Australia. This is reflected through the prestigious "Olive Cotton Award for excellence in photographic portraiture as a way to recognise’ which her family started up in 2005 to recognise “one of Australia's leading twentieth century photographers”.