Submission for Internet Project

Database and Graphics in the Humanities
Semester 2, 1995
Jane Carter.

From here you can view my

My proposal has changed yet again! My previous plan to study the Rotary Collection of Australian Art at the National Gallery has fallen through at the last minute because of copyright problems with reproducing contemporary works. I received a telephone call this morning from the slide curator saying that the Gallery wasn't willing to allow me to digitise slides from their collection - this is after I had been in and already borrowed 27 slides from them to begin my project. It just goes to show what a tricky area the Internet can be when dealing with works by living artists.

The slide curator was happy, however, to help me with any other area of interest where I could use images of works by dead artists, so for this reason I have decided to base my project on the Gallery's collection of Asian Art in Nomura Court. I already have an interest in this collection and would like to explore it further. It is also a focussed group of works from which I think I will be able to make a coherent essay component within my document.

I plan to aim the project at year 11-12 /tertiary level students with an interest in Asian Art and its display within the context of an Australian gallery. As with my previous proposal, I will look into the various curatorial aspects of the collection involved with acquisition and display and how these works fit in with the other collections on display in the Gallery.

The following is a brief outline of how I would like to structure the document. I apologise for the roughness of this proposal - the idea is only 3 hours old at this stage.

I will work from files created along the following lines-

the obligatory home page;
a listing of chosen works (grouped by country) accompanied by thumbnail sketches, each of which will link to
a larger image and short passage of writing talking about the significant features of that particular work and how it fits into the theme of the collection/exhibition; and
an essay discussing the curatorial aspects of the collection.

All files will be accessible from the home page and I will make use of inter-document links to allow easier searching for artworks.

Now, to look at the various aspects of the project in a little more detail...

Home Page

I don't think too much elaboration is necessary here, other than the home page will provide access to all main sections of the project, plus a few external links which may be of interest to the viewer. (As yet, I haven't searched the web on this particular topic, but I am aware of documents available on both galleries, institutions and Asian art which could possibly be included.)

Listing of Works

The chosen artworks will be presented in thumbnail sketches, grouped by country. I will provide an index of countries represented at the head of the page so that it is not necessary to scroll through the whole page to find a particular area of interest. Images will be accompanied by formal the details of

artist (if known)
title
medium
date
country, or region to be more specific, of origin
date of purchase if available.

This will stand as a basic rundown of the works in question and each image will be linked to another page where more information will be available. At the end of each section, I will provide links to other sections of the page. At the head and foot of the page (I anticipate it will be quite long) there will be links to the other pages of the project.

Larger Images and Text

A page will be created for each country represented in the collection. At the head of the page will be a passage of writing on the features of artworks from that country. This will serve as a quick introduction to those who are not familiar with Asian art practises. I may also list the works on any one page at the top of that page.

Accompanying the larger images of the works will be short passages discussing any significant elements within the piece and also how the work fits into the general theme of the exhibition. Topics discussed are likely to include formal elements (form, medium, etc.) plus religious or functional aspects of the pieces.

Again, internal links will be provided to other sections of the project.

An Essay

This essay will discuss the ways in which the pieces come to form a coherent collection and exhibition. I will discuss this with Gallery staff to gain an insight into funding, the choice of works and their display. I hope to examine how the pieces can be brought together within the context of an Australian art gallery without becoming marginalised or depreciating in symbolic and functional value. Part of this will be to look at what type of information is provided to Gallery visitors and how much is deemed necessary for an appreciation of such works. Or should we simply rely on our visual response to the pieces?

Most of this I plan to write myself, but I may also import sections of the Gallery's catalogue on the exhibition to give an idea of the way in which it is presented to the public. Depending on the amount I import, it may have to reside on a separate page.

I may also use some images within the essay to illustrate certain points and to break up what could become a boring block of text. I could also insert external links to relevant sources, or even bibliographic details of printed materials which would similarly break up the text and be useful to students or those pursuing a particular interest.

This is my plan so far.
I hope it illustrates my basic intentions, but I will undoubtedly need to discuss it with you as I progress with the collecting of images and information.

Jane Carter
11.8.95
My e-mail address is c9230104@bohm.anu.edu.au