Media:
Audience:
Communicative purposes:
Authors:
Size: rather short, concise (500-600 words)
Move pattern and discourse strategies:
Move I (WHO + WHEN + WHERE)
Move II (WHAT; developing a controlling idea about the exhibition)
1. Find an art review. Give its title. Do you consider it a positive or negative review overall? Why? Which are the positive aspects, and which are the negative ones? Do you have a clear image of that exhibition based on this art review? Do the interpretations given to the analyzed works help you understand the artist's themes?
2. Choose an exhibition you have recently seen and try to write your own art review of that exhibition.
- art magazines, newspapers of regional, national, international circulation
- journals devoted to different art forms
- radio + television broadcasts
- the Internet (including blogs)
Audience:
- the general public; educated, experienced readers, not necessarily art connoisseurs; people who are interested in art and possess some knowledge and/or intuition about art; people who expect to learn something new about art, or just see art from different perspectives
- the members of the artistic discourse community
- undecided people (as to whether to visit or not an exhibition)
- people who missed the exhibition, or are unable to visit it, because of its distant location or lack of time and who are counting on the intelligent writing of the art reviewer to get an idea about a specific art event
Communicative purposes:
- to inform the public about a current, or a just-concluded artistic event
- to promote an artist, an exhibition (gallery or museum, why not?)
- to offer the audience an evaluation of the show/exhibition (as personal, but expert opinion)
- to competently describe the most representative works
- to competently interpret the meanings of the works, by offering the necessary evidence to support interpretation (from within and outside the work; iconographic + iconological interpretations) -- the previous purposes are those of art critique
- to convince/persuade the public that the effort of visiting the exhibition is worthwhile, or, on the contrary -- similar to advertorials
- to persuade the readers to become art exhibition goers/expand the art public
- to educate oneself and the audience; develop artistic taste; fight against bad taste -- the last two purposes coincide with art education' purposes
Authors:
- art critics, art historians, professional writers, journalists, philosophers (aestheticians, art theorists), authors of TV and radio series and programs, bloggers, church people, etc.
- must have(s): enough experience to offer reliable evaluations; honesty; analytical, open mind; writing experience (offer that amount of information the audience needs; provide the right amount of scholarly insights without getting into too many boring details; maintain the reader's interest by varied rhetorical devices and discourse strategies); knowledge of the different (artistic) ideologies; knowledge of the art market.
Size: rather short, concise (500-600 words)
Move pattern and discourse strategies:
Move I (WHO + WHEN + WHERE)
- catching the reader's attention by using the appropriate rhetorical devices (e.g. a rhetorical question, a paradox, a figure of speech)
- offering specific information about the exhibition (when - the period; where - country, town, gallery, museum)
- offering some information about the artist(s) (a very short biography)
Move II (WHAT; developing a controlling idea about the exhibition)
- offering a general picture of the show and a first evaluation
- different discourse strategies:
- the historical approach of the works (chronological)
- an unpopular opinion
- an analogy
- what one expected vs. what one got
- a comparison (between works of the same artist, of different artists, between styles)
- the first impression (initial impact on the viewer)
- the strength/originality of the artist
- a question (either rhetorical or one that will be answered in the following move)
- ensuring the coherence of the text
- relating the previous information to the following
- analyzing artworks
- offering partial evaluations
- describing + interpreting +/- evaluating work 1
- describing + interpreting +/- evaluating work 2, a.s.o.
- partial evaluations of the works are made according to some aesthetic criteria (implicit or explicit)
- are usually positive, or holding some reservations; when the lack of value is quite obvious, evaluations are negative
- rhetorical strategies include: avoiding ambiguity and clearly stating the value (using qualifiers and quantifiers- e.g. overstatements -hyperboles), or, on the contrary, cultivating ambiguity for the sake of politeness (e.g. understatements - litotes = saying too little); irony and rarely sarcasm.
- offering a final, on-the-whole evaluation of the exhibition
- convincing the audience of the value of the show
- persuading the audience to visit the exhibition
- trying to predict the future development of an artist's work, based on the current show (speculating about future developments)
- implicitly persuading collectors to buy/or not some works
1. Find an art review. Give its title. Do you consider it a positive or negative review overall? Why? Which are the positive aspects, and which are the negative ones? Do you have a clear image of that exhibition based on this art review? Do the interpretations given to the analyzed works help you understand the artist's themes?
2. Choose an exhibition you have recently seen and try to write your own art review of that exhibition.
3. Watch the video. Are the pieces of advice offered there helpful? Had you thought about them before?
Hodiș Thomas-Design An 2
ReplyDeleteTask 1: Art Review Analysis
Title: Cézanne at Tate Modern review – a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime show (by Adrian Searle for The Guardian).
Overall, I consider this a very positive review. The critic clearly loved the exhibition and considered it a rare event. The positive aspects are that he explains very well how the gallery is organized chronologically and how you can actually see Cézanne's painting style changing. The only slightly negative aspect he mentions is that looking at more than 80 intense paintings can be a bit exhausting for a regular visitor. Based on this review, I definitely got a clear image of the exhibition. The interpretations really helped me understand the artist's themes, especially when the critic explained how Cézanne played with perspective and basically opened the door for Cubism later on.
Task 2: My Art Review
Simplicity and Roots: The Brâncuși Exhibition
Have you ever wondered if a simple piece of stone can show real emotion? This is the question that came to my mind when I visited the Constantin Brâncuși: Romanian Sources and Universal Perspectives exhibition in Timișoara, at the National Museum of Art. The exhibition took place late last year and it was a huge deal because Brâncuși, our most famous sculptor, completely changed modern art in Paris.
Walking into the museum, my first impression was that the show was very calming and well organized. The controlling idea of the exhibition was to show how Brâncuși combined traditional Romanian folk art with very modern, abstract shapes. I really enjoyed this historical approach. It was fascinating to compare his famous, polished sculptures with the old wooden peasant objects and traditional clothes displayed right next to them. It made me realize that his originality didn't just come out of nowhere; it came from his roots.
Seeing these traditional objects first made it much easier to understand the actual artworks in the main rooms.
The artwork that stood out to me the most was The Kiss (1907). Unlike older sculptors who carved very realistic bodies with lots of details, Brâncuși just carved two blocky figures directly into a piece of stone. It looks a bit primitive, but it perfectly captures two people holding each other tightly. I evaluate this as one of his best works because it's so simple yet tells you exactly what it's about. Another great piece was the Măiastra, a shiny bronze bird. The way the gallery lights hit its surface makes it look like it's actually flying. Some people might find his bird sculptures a bit repetitive since he made so many versions of them over the years, but I think it just shows he was obsessed with finding the perfect, aerodynamic shape.
To conclude, the exhibition was a totally worthwhile experience. It offered a great overall evaluation of his career and proved that his art is still very relevant today. Even though the exhibition is over, I highly recommend checking out the official catalog. It really helps you educate your artistic taste and understand why Brâncuși is such a legend in the art world.
Task 3: Video Advice
I watched the video by Brainard Carey, and honestly, the advice he gives is very practical and makes a lot of sense. He suggests that instead of spamming critics with generic emails about your art show, you should make a short list of 6 local critics. Then, you write to them just to compliment a review they recently wrote, without even telling them you are an artist. After they reply and you start a friendly chat, you invite them to a short 10-minute Zoom tour of your show.
I hadn't thought about this approach before. I always assumed the only way to get a review was to send official press releases and hope for the best. Treating the critic like a regular person who also needs feedback, and building a relationship first, seems like a much smarter and natural strategy.
Dracea Luca-Vlad
ReplyDeleteAnul 2, Licenta
Foto-Video
Task 1,2,3
Title of the reviewed review:
"Beyond What You See. Photography"
Why? Deep, intellectual, introspective.
The exhibition is presented as "a major project", and the language used suggests appreciation and admiration for the conceptual and aesthetic value of a job well done.
It highlights the originality of the three artists, emphasizes the introspective and symbolic dimension; emphasizes the diversity of photographic techniques; explains the central themes: memory, time, spirituality.
Can photography reveal more than just visible reality? Collective exhibition.
Images from the opening of the exhibition "Beyond What You See". On the occasion of the official opening, Liviu Bulea and Oana-Maria Pop, the curators of the exhibition and the initiators of the project, as well as Ștefan Bădulescu, professor at the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca, spoke.
The event took place on 07/05/2026 at the Art Museum in Cluj-Napoca.
Hutter Doris-Maya – Anul II - DESIGN
ReplyDeleteTASK1:"Veronica Ryan review – the seeds are sensational but the detritus is distracting" written by Eddy Frankel for Time Out.
Total mixed bag, but leaning to a positive review. The critic, Eddy Frankel, is clearly obsessed with her technical craft and the way she handles heavy-duty materials like bronze and lead. But he’s also calling her out on the “trash-art” aesthetic that’s been done to death in every MFA program since the 90s. He’s basically saying the OG work is 10/10, but the newer “wrapped” stuff feels a bit like it’s trying too hard to be deep without the visual payoff. I can imagine the contrast between the two floors. Downstairs sounds like a cluttered, "pendulous" mess of tea bags, plastic bottles, and dangling sacks—very DIY, very "found object" aesthetic. Then you go upstairs, and it shifts to something much more tactile and "museum-y"—heavy bronzes, marble slabs, and metallic pillows. The review definitely helps. Once he explains that the bandages represent healing and the seeds represent migration, the work stops being just "organic shapes" and starts being a political statement.
TASK2: Art Review: “Povești din orașul pe hârtie” artist Roberta Gașpar
In her 2026 Expo Maraton debut, Roberta Gașpar transforms the Casa Matei Gallery into a glowing, recycled metropolis. Povești din orașul pe hârtie” uses cardboard and paper to deconstruct the contemporary urban experience, trading cold concrete for fragile, handcrafted textures.
The first visual impact is scenographic. The exhibition welcomes you into an atmosphere of semi-darkness—a "scenic moment" where the only visual landmarks are structures illuminated from within.
The entrance is metaphorically marked by a small book hanging from the ceiling by a thread. It serves as a manifesto of fragility; information is not served on a screen but must be "discovered" physically within the space.
High-rise blocks constructed from simple materials become living organisms through the addition of LEDs. The light streaming through manually cut windows does more than provide volume; it suggests a human presence in an otherwise inorganic space.
Gașpar’s technique bridges the gap between architecture and illustration. The use of fine liners to create graphic sketches—verging on caricature—gives the city a playful yet critical identity.
The Standout Element that she played with is the information brochures designed as local newspapers. This choice transforms the visitor from a mere observer into a citizen of the "Paper City," giving the artistic context a journalistic weight.
The anchor to reality is the video projection. In a corner arranged with chairs—an explicit invitation to contemplation—the artist loops fragments of daily life in Cluj-Napoca. The scene of pigeons being fed by an elderly man in the park acts as a "punctum." It is a banal moment, ignored by the hurried flow of the city, which, once extracted and projected in a gallery, becomes a symbol of residual humanity.
Roberta Gașpar’s exhibition is not just about paper models; it is about attention. It successfully triggers a necessary introspection: how many times do we pass through the "real city" without noticing the micro-details that make it livable?
Through the contrast between the darkness of the gallery and the warm light emanating from the models, Stories from the Paper City reminds us that the city is not built of concrete, but of the small, often unnoticed moments we leave behind.
TASK3: The advice is highly practical because it shifts the focus from self-promotion to professional relationship-building. Recognizing a critic’s writing as a craft in its own right is a sophisticated way to establish rapport. Furthermore, offering a brief, time-capped Zoom walkthrough is a strategic way to lower the barrier to entry, making it significantly easier for a critic to engage with your work regardless of the venue's prestige.
Task.1
ReplyDeleteConfluences. Artists-teachers – teachers-artists”
"Confluences. Artists-teachers - teachers-artists", is an exhibition that brings together over seventy works by representatives of the Cluj institution of higher artistic education and represents the first exhibition event of 2026, which is part of the event calendar of the program "UAD Centenary. One hundred years of higher artistic education in Cluj" which runs throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. The exhibition brings together professors who teach at different sections of the UNIVERSITY as well as associate professors who presented themselves in the exhibition, each with their artistic preoccupations, revealing their side less known to us students, their sensitive and creative side. The presentation of the event includes all the data necessary to identify the professors/artists present in the exhibition, data related to the organizers and affiliated bodies as well as data related to the opening and duration of the exhibition. To me, it seems like a very well-composed review.
Task.2The Cluj-Napoca Center of Interest remains the most vibrant contemporary art hub in the city, and the exhibition "Everyday Life" hosted by it proposes a phenomenological investigation into the banal, transforming the everyday into an object of aesthetic and reflective study. The project is distinguished by a conceptual rigor that questions the fragile boundary between private and public space, using a heterogeneous visual language. The curatorial discourse successfully articulates the following dimensions: -Recontextualization of the object-domestic elements are extracted from their intrinsic utilitarianism and reinvested with symbolic valences.
-Interdisciplinarity- the dialogue between installation, performance and graphic art (with a notable emphasis on the contribution of artist Dana Fabini) facilitates a multisensory reception of subjective temporality.
-Topography of memory-the works explore the sedimentation of repetitive experiences, inviting the viewer to a critical analysis of identity in relation to the immediate environment.
In conclusion, the exhibition succeeds in deconstructing immediate "normality", offering a dense platform for reflection on the contemporary human condition through the prism of visual microsociology.
The Opening of the exibition was on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, 6:00 PM and duration is from April 29 to June 5, 2026. The location is Interest Center, Str. Regele Ferdinand no. 1, Cluj-Napoca (Casa Hintz).Curator was Claudio Libero Pisano .The exhibition brings together a group of contemporary artists from Romania : Dana Fabini, Andrei Budescu, Iulia Ghiță, Daria Langa, Florin Ștefan and the nternational scene: Sonia Andresano, Bruna Esposito, Paola Gandolfi, Myriam Laplante, Fiamma Montezemolo, Moira Ricci, Maria Giovanna Sodero, Donatella Spaziani, Francesco Vaccaro.Visit SchedulePublic access is allowed according to the center's standard schedule:Tuesday - Friday: 1:00 PM - 6:30 PM.
The exhibition is about collaboration, about current events, about transforming the "usual" object into an art object, about transformation, deconstruction and universality
Task3.The advice given by Mr. Bryan Carry on how to get a review for your artwork is very good. I honestly would not have thought of this stratagem. Sincere and heartfelt words have always brought a response. I will take it into consideration when I am ready to enter the art market.
Lucasevici Elena /an II /DESIGN
ReplyDeleteTASK 1
One art review about Mark Rothko is “Rothko in Britain” published by The Guardian
Overall, I consider it a positive review because the critic strongly appreciates both the exhibition and Rothko’s artistic impact. The reviewer describes the paintings as emotionally powerful and capable of creating a deep connection with the audience. Words such as “moving,” “intense,” and “transformative” are used to emphasize the value of the exhibition.
The positive aspects of the review focus on Rothko’s use of color, atmosphere, and emotional depth. The critic explains that Rothko’s paintings are not meant to be understood only intellectually, but also emotionally and spiritually. Another positive aspect is the organization of the exhibition itself, which allows visitors to experience the paintings in a quiet and contemplative environment. The review highlights how the large canvases and dark tones create a sense of meditation and introspection.
There are also a few slightly negative or reserved observations. The reviewer mentions that modern audiences may not feel the same shock or surprise that people experienced when abstract art first appeared. However, this criticism is minor compared to the overall admiration expressed throughout the article.
Yes, I think the review gives a very clear image of the exhibition. The descriptions of the paintings, the gallery atmosphere, and the viewers’ reactions help readers imagine the experience of visiting the show. The interpretations included in the review also help explain Rothko’s themes, especially his interest in human emotions, spirituality, silence, and contemplation. Because of these explanations, even readers who are not art experts can better understand the meaning and importance of Rothko’s work.
Task 2
An Exhibition Review: Vincent van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
A visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam feels less like a traditional exhibition and more like entering the emotional world of Vincent van Gogh. The exhibition I saw there two years ago presented his most important works and offered a clear journey through his artistic development and personal struggles.
From the beginning, the exhibition shows a strong contrast between Van Gogh’s early dark paintings and his later, more colourful and expressive style. This chronological structure helps visitors understand how his art changed over time and how his emotional state influenced his work.Paintings such as Sunflowers and The Bedroom are especially powerful because of their intense colours and dynamic brushwork. They transform simple subjects into strong emotional images. The exhibition also includes Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo, which help explain his thoughts and struggles, making the experience more personal.
The museum space is calm and well-organised, allowing visitors to focus on each painting. However, the popularity of the exhibition can sometimes make it crowded, which slightly reduces the quiet atmosphere.
Overall, the exhibition is very impressive and emotionally engaging. It clearly presents Van Gogh not only as a great artist, but also as a deeply complex human being.
Bulz Ioana-Simina
ReplyDeleteAnul II, Grafica
TASK1: “Hyeree Ro’s ‘Niro’ Takes Us on the Immigrant Journey” written by Taeyi Kim and interviewed by Jenny Wu.
I do think the review is mostly positive because the author talks a lot about the emotional impact of the exhibition and seems impressed by the artist’s creativity.
The reviewer says many positive things about the exhibition, especially about the way Hyeree Ro explores themes like immigration, identity, memory, and family. The author also likes the installation and performances because they create a strong atmosphere and make the audience think deeply about the immigrant experience. One of the most appreciated aspects is the handmade car sculpture, which becomes a symbol of movement and belonging. If I remember correctly from her video, it was also the car her late father drove.There were also video projections, interviews with immigrants, and performances where the artist moved parts of the car around the space while speaking both Korean and English.
However, the reviewer also mentions that some parts of the exhibition can feel confusing because of the symbolic and fragmented style, some people may not get the meaning behind it.
After reading the review, I can imagine the exhibition quite clearly. From the description of the space, objects and the performance I can get a somewhat clear image about what the gallery looked like and felt like.
TASK2:Are there any Romanian artist that can express something beauty and unsettling at the same time ? Was something I thought so often because thats what attracts me most of the time in art. Until I saw “Fragments of Reality” by Adrian Ghenie.
The exhibition presented many of Ghenie’s distorted portraits and fragmented human figures, painted in his expressive and chaotic style.
What I liked most was the emotional intensity of the paintings. The thick textures, blurred faces, and dark colors created a strong atmosphere that felt both disturbing and fascinating, is exactly what I think most young artists are actually looking for. The works seemed to explore themes like memory, trauma, identity, and the darker side of humanity. I also liked how the paintings changed depending on the distance from which you looked at them.
One thing I disliked was that some artworks were difficult to understand because they were very abstract and I tend to not go for that direction. After a while, the dark and heavy atmosphere also became a bit repetitive.
Overall, I found the exhibition very memorable and worth the long road trip. Even though some of the paintings were confusing at first, the experience helped me appreciate this style of painting and self-expression much more.
TASK3:After watching the video, I better understand how important communication is in the art world. One idea I found useful was the importance of building a genuine conversation before talking about exhibitions or reviews. This allows the critic to understand the artist and the thinking behind the process. It is practical advice because it focuses on real human connection rather than aggressive self-promotion, which can feel stiff, robotic, and almost inhuman, an ironic effect in a field based on expression, feelings, and experience.
Overall, the video gave me a more realistic understanding of how artists and critics interact professionally.
Lucasevici Elena/Anul II/DESIGN
ReplyDeleteTask 3
In my opinion, the advice is very useful and realistic because it focuses on building genuine relationships rather than simply trying to advertise yourself. It shows that communication in the art world is not only about promotion, but also about trust and connection. The idea of approaching critics in a personal and respectful way seems more effective than sending random emails, which are often ignored. It also makes sense that keeping critics updated about your progress can help them become more interested in your work over time.
I had not really thought about this approach before. I used to believe that the main method for getting attention from critics was through formal press releases or by waiting for an exhibition to speak for itself. This video changed that perspective by showing that networking and gradual relationship-building can be just as important as the artwork itself. Overall, I think the advice is practical, although it requires patience and consistency, because building real professional relationships takes time.
Peterfi Maria -Sara , moda
ReplyDelete1. Art review analysis
Chosen art review title: “Hulda Guzmán review – lizards and ghosts gather for an art freakout in the rainforest” (The Guardian) despre expoziția Please Awake – Asked Nature Kindly de Hulda Guzmán la Turner Contemporary, Margate.
Overall evaluation:
Overall, I consider this a positive review.
Positive aspects:
The reviewer presents the exhibition as visually rich and immersive, emphasizing Guzmán’s vibrant colors and symbolic imagery inspired by the Dominican rainforest.
The review offers interpretations of the works by connecting them with ecological themes and environmental awareness.
The critic compares the artist with historical references such as Gauguin, Rousseau and Kahlo, helping readers place the work within a broader artistic context.
The article explains the relationship between the artist’s personal environment and her artistic production.
Negative aspects:
The reviewer briefly criticizes some interior paintings, describing them as rather indulgent compared with the stronger jungle scenes.
The review focuses more on atmosphere and symbolism than on detailed formal analysis of individual works.
Do I have a clear image of the exhibition?
Yes. The descriptions create a vivid image of the exhibition. The reader can imagine colorful, dreamlike rainforest compositions filled with symbolic figures, spirits and natural elements.
Do the interpretations help understand the artist’s themes?
Yes. The interpretations clarify the artist’s themes of nature, spirituality, environmental awareness and coexistence between humans and the natural world. They help the audience understand that the exhibition is not only decorative but also conceptually driven.
⸻
2. My own art review (example)
Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Can fashion truly be “alive” even when preserved behind museum glass? The exhibition Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2024, attempts to answer precisely this question. Bringing together approximately 250 garments from the Costume Institute collection, the exhibition explored themes of rebirth, fragility and transformation through innovative display technologies.
The exhibition immediately creates an immersive atmosphere. Instead of presenting garments only as historical objects, it transforms them into emotional experiences. Expectations of a traditional fashion exhibition are replaced by an environment where technology, sound and visual effects revive fashion history.
One of the most impressive sections focused on delicate garments that could no longer be worn because of conservation concerns. Their presentation emphasized fashion’s temporary nature and its vulnerability over time. Rather than hiding deterioration, the exhibition used it as part of the narrative.
Another memorable aspect was the division into themes inspired by land, sea and sky. This curatorial strategy connected fashion with natural cycles and created continuity between the rooms. The exhibition moved beyond clothing itself and addressed memory, time and preservation.
Visually, the exhibition succeeded in balancing spectacle with reflection. Although technological interventions occasionally risked overshadowing the garments, they generally enhanced the visitor’s understanding.
Overall, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion was more than a costume exhibition; it became an exploration of fashion as living heritage. It demonstrated that garments can preserve stories, identities and emotions long after their practical life ends. For anyone interested in fashion, art or museum studies, the exhibition was definitely worth visiting.
3. The advice offered in the video seems useful because it emphasizes not only describing artworks but also interpreting them and supporting opinions with evidence. An art review should combine observation, evaluation and contextual information.
Biro Anna - painting department, 2nd year
ReplyDeleteThe exposition Regearsal of an intimate moment by Vârgolici Mădălina-Ioana, part of the expo-marathon festival of exhibitions at Casa Matei, presents an extremely personal selection of paintings which somehow manages to arise feelings of both empathy and melancholy despite the extremely intimate themes. The common quality of the works is the color palette and the lack of exquisite detail, especially when it comes to the faces and people presented, which reminds the viewers of the way the mind works when it remembers memories of the past, of people, homes or objects. Despite some affectionate themes, it is not an optimist exhibition, it is rather a melancholic one which invites the participants to think of their own relationship to their natal home and environment in which they grew up in. The small and old room made of hundred year old walls is a perfect choice for this kind of theme, even though chosen by default