Unit 7: Artists

7A. Vocabulary
• Art forms
I. Complete the sentences with the art forms below.
cartoon drawings classical music musicals mime
ballet sitcom sculptures dance painting
1. A __________ is a funny television programme in which the same characters
appear in different situations each week.
2. Carroll appeared in a number of Broadway __________ in which part of the
stories are sung to music.
3. The waltz is an easy __________ to learn.
4. __________ is a performance in which dancing and music tell a story without
any speaking.
5. There was a large __________ of his father on the wall.
6. He made detailed __________ of animals and flowers in his book.
7. The first scene of the play was performed in __________ in which actors use
movements of their hands and bodies, and expressions on their faces, without
speech.
8. Local artists were asked to create life-size bronze __________ for the garden.
9. Do you prefer __________ like Mozart and Haydn, or pop?
10. A __________ is a short film that is made by photographing a series of
drawings.

• Artists
II. Match each word below with its definition.
model conductor audience busker
stage hand choreographer sound technician juggler
1. a person who combines movements into dances to be performed_____________
2. a person who sits still for an artist to paint them _______________
3. a person who performs on the street throwing and catching a set of balls_____
4. a person who helps move the scenery _______________
5. the person who leads an orchestra _______________
6. a person who makes sure the microphones are working properly_____________
7. a person who plays music on the street _______________
8. the people watching the show _______________
III. Choose the correct answers.
1. I always give money to composers/ buskers in the street.
2. We went to the opening night at the theatre last week and we met a
playwright / cartoonist after the show.
3. The jugglers / sculptors are performing at the festival.
4. He’s at music college, training to be a composer / scriptwriter.
5. I saw a wonderful portrait of the countryside by a famous painter / sculptor.
IV. Complete the sentences with the words below.
rapper busker DJ folk group
orchestra string quartet choir
1. The __________ in the new club played some great records.
2. MoonDance only play traditional music because they are a(n) __________ .
3. I sing in a(n) __________ at school.
4. That man can’t sing very well, but he is a good __________ .
5. I gave some money to a(n) __________ who was playing the guitar outside the
station.
6. There are 50 musicians in that __________ .
7. My uncle plays in a(n) __________ with three friends who play the cello and the
violin. He plays the viola.
V. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to
form a word that fits in each gap.
Teenage Actors
Many young people are tempted by the idea of a career in 1 __________
(ACT). It certainly looks like very 2 __________ (EXCITE) work, but it’s not for
everyone. The rewards can be huge, but it can also be difficult to make a living. In
order to be successful as an actor, you must be 3 __________ (TALENT) and willing
to learn new skills. It helps to be 4 __________ (ATTRACT), but there’s no need to
be a super model. Many people who are not traditionally attractive have had
success. An 5 __________ (INTEREST) face is what people want to see. Sometimes it
also helps to look a little 6 __________ (DIFFER) from the rest. It means that people
who see you perform will remember who you are. A 7 __________ (QUALIFY) from a
well-known acting school can be useful, but not all 8 __________ (KNOW) is learned
at school. Experience really counts. Taking part in performances is often more
important than exam results. Beyond that, you have to be able to put up with 9
__________ (TIRE) hours of rehearsals and some 10 __________ (DISAPPOINT) along
the way. If you can do all that, you just might become a star.
• Artistic activities
VI. Complete the sentences with the verbs below in the correct form.
conduct appear direct carve compose
sing write act create perform
1. To Hoai often __________ very interesting stories about his native village and
animals.
2. Someone had __________ their initials on the tree.
3. Picasso __________ a complete new style of painting.
4. She has already __________ in a numbers of films.
5. Before every concert, she worries about how well she will __________ .
6. Who will be __________ the orchestra?
7. Schumann was better at __________ music than playing it.
8. She is __________ the role of Lady Macbeth six evenings a week.
9. He wanted to give up acting and start __________ his own films.
10. I could hear the birds __________ outside my window.
VII. Complete the story with the correct form of the verbs below.
rehearse practise test not work
move look at forget change into
The opening night was a complete disaster. The sound technician was late, so
he didn’t have time to 1 __________ the microphones. That meant that we didn’t
realise they 2 __________ until after the play had started. The lead actor 3
__________ his opening lines, so the lead actress had to say them for him. But the
lead actress hadn’t had time to 4 __________ her costume, so she went through the
entire first act with her jeans on. The stage hands wouldn’t stop 5 __________ at
the audience when they 6__________ the scenery. So they kept on dropping all the
equipment. And then in the interval one of the dancers twisted her ankle while
she 7 __________ the steps. Honestly, I don’t know why we spent so much time 8
__________ .

• Cultural activities
VIII. Complete the sentences with the words below.
musical sitcom art galleries theatre
novels ballets opera concert
1. Last Sunday they went to watch ‘Swan Lake’, one of the greatest classical
__________
2. I’d far rather go to the __________ than watch a video.
3. Have you read any of Charles Dickens’ __________?
4. They also performed at a(n) __________ in Rome last month.
5. London is famous for its museums and __________, and they visited some
during their trip in London last month.
6. The Browns often went to see a Broadway __________ every week when they
lived in New York.
7. We watched America’s most popular __________ ‘Friends’ to improve our
English.
8. We regularly go to the theatre to enjoy __________ in which all of the words are
sung to music.
• Musical genres
IX. Complete the sentences with the words below.
pop rock techno classical music
heavy metal folk music rap hip-hop
1. __________ is a type of popular modern music with a strong, loud beat played
with guitars and drums.
2. __________ is a type of dance music with regular heavy beat and spoken words.
3. __________ is a type of popular music in which the words of a song are spoken
in time to music with a steady beat.
4. __________ is modern music, popular with young people, having simple tunes
with a strong beat.
5. __________ is considered important and serious, and has a value for a long time.
6. __________ is traditional music that has been played by ordinary people in a
particular area for a long time.
7. __________ is a type of popular electronic dance music with a fast, strong beat.
8. __________ is a type of rock music with a strong beat, played very loudly on
electric guitars.

• Aspects of music
X. Choose the correct words.
1. The choir has sung only two tunes / verses of the last hymn.
2. He knows how to slow down the tempo / chorus and when to speed it up.
3. We listened to the choir singing in perfect harmony / tempo.
4. It is a song with a harmony / beat that you can dance to.
5. She started moving to the verse / rhythm of the music.
6. The beat’s / chorus’s singing was excellent, and so was the orchestral
playing.
7. He wrote some great music, but the speeds / lyrics weren’t that good.
8. Melody / Chorus is not the central element in Martino’s compositions -
rhythm is more important.
9. I’ve heard that tune / tempo before, but I don’t know the words to the song.
XI. Complete the sentences with the words below.
symphony beat chords chorus harmony
lyrics melody movement solo opera
1. The __________ singer began to sing an aria.
2. The girl clapped at the end of the first __________ .
3. There were a hundred people in the choir, all singing in __________ .
4. Beethoven’s Fifth __________ is a very famous piece of music.
5. The boy quite likes the clever __________ , but isn’t keen on the music.
6. A drum __________ can go on for quite a long time, and can be a bit boring.
7. With modern jazz, there often isn’t a strong __________ .
8. It’s no good having a good voice if you play all the wrong __________ .
9. Dance music has a very __________ that makes people want to dance.
10. Live performers sometimes ask the audience to join in with the __________ .

• Cultural events and shows

XII. Complete the sentences with the words or phrases below.
magic shows open-air theatre circus comedy
club
art exhibition classical concert piano recital
musical
1. They’ve set up a(n) __________ at school so that students can practise acting.
2. The museum is holding a(n) __________ of Picasso’s work.
3. His secret hobby is performing tricks in __________ .
4. That musician performed a(n) __________ of classical favourites.
5. In summer there is a(n) __________ in the park giving concerts.
6. A(n) __________ is a play or film in which the story is told using songs and often
dancing.
7. The children loved being taken to the __________ to watch the acrobats and
clowns.
8. There were 200 people at the __________ in the City Hall, enjoying the music by
Beethoven and Mozart.

7B. Grammar
• The passive
I. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in
brackets.
1. They were late because the flight __________ . (delay)
2. Reality shows __________ by millions of people every week. (watch)
3. Classes __________ next Friday because of the power cut. (cancel)
4. Paper __________ by the Chinese 2,000 years ago. (invent)
5. Today mobile phones __________ in developing countries. (make)
6. Ellen is happy because she __________ a pay rise. (give)
7. David couldn’t find his wallet because it __________ . (steal)
8. Those trees __________ next week to make room for an apartment building. (cut
down)
II. Complete the sentences in appropriate passive forms. Use the verbs
in brackets.
1. The most dangerous snakes __________ (usually transport) in special boxes.
2. In the late nineteenth century most machinery __________ (drive) by steam.
3. The manager was angry that he __________ (not tell) about the strike sooner.
4. The oil in your motorbike should __________ (change) long ago.
5. The road in front of their house __________ (repair) this week so they can’t use
their car.
6. The device must first __________ (unplug) from the electricity supply for safety.
7. Since then a number of complaints __________ (receive) about noise from the
club.
8. When I arrived, the passengers __________ (treat) by three doctors.
9. Some crops __________ (not harvest) yet due to this year’s bad weather.
10. The local bread __________ (usually, make) from a mixture of wheat and rye
flour.
III. Rewrite the sentences using the passive. Include the agent if you
think it is important.
1. I realised that someone had opened my emails.
________________________________________________________________________________
2. The Prime Minister gave a speech on TV last night.
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Someone has stolen all the computers from their office.
________________________________________________________________________________
4. My dad designed the new hospital building.
________________________________________________________________________________
5. The storm destroyed all the crops.
________________________________________________________________________________
6. They will deliver our new furniture at the weekend.
________________________________________________________________________________
7. The neighbour’s cat bit me on the leg.
________________________________________________________________________________
8. My brother will arrange everything in my birthday’s party.
________________________________________________________________________________
9. Somebody will give you instructions on arrival.
________________________________________________________________________________
10. People are spending more on smartphones than ever before.
________________________________________________________________________________
IV. Complete the sentences with the verbs below in the correct form.
kill leave publish teach use
follow
1. Her latest novel __________ next month.
2. The same currency __________ in about twenty European countries.
3. King Tran Du Tong __________ by Chu Van An.
4. Last year, a CD containing top secret information __________ on a bus.
5. Don’t look now, but I think we __________.
6. Over three hundred soldiers __________ by landmines since the conflict began
last year.
• have something done
V. Complete the sentences with the correct form of have or get and one
of the verbs below.
clean build cut deliver
look paint take take out
1. If your computer isn’t working, why don’t you __________ Phong __________ at it?
He’s good at that sort of thing.
2. I’m thinking of __________ my bicycle __________ pink. What do you think?
3. You’ll have to __________ your photo __________ if you’re applying for a passport.
4. I couldn’t afford to go to the hairdresser’s, so I __________ my friend __________
my hair.
5. I really need to __________ my school coat __________ . It’s filthy.
6. She __________ a tooth __________ yesterday.
7. Mum couldn’t be bothered to cook, so we __________ a pizza __________ .
8. My friend’s parents __________ a swimming pool __________ in their garden next
month.
VI. Complete the sentences with the correct form of have something
done and the words in brackets.
Example: I didn’t repair my bike. (repaired)
I had my bike repaired.
1. They aren’t decorating their house. (decorated)
They___________________________________________________________________________.
2. We don’t iron our clothes. (ironed)
We____________________________________________________________________________.
3. Nick isn’t cleaning his house. (cleaned)
He’s___________________________________________________________________________.
4. Nam isn’t going to test his eyes. (tested)
He_____________________________________________________________________________.
5. Linda hasn’t dyed her hair. (dyed)
She____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
6. Phong isn’t going to cut his hair. (cut)
He_____________________________________________________________________________.
VII. Rewrite the sentences with the correct form of have something
done.
1. The workers painted their house last year.
They___________________________________________________________________________.
2. The photographer is going to take my photo.
I_______________________________________________________________________________.
3. The plumber is going to install our new shower.
We____________________________________________________________________________.
4. The hairdresser has dyed my mum’s hair.
My mum_______________________________________________________________________.
5. The mechanic is repairing Tom’s car.
Tom___________________________________________________________________________.
6. The dry cleaner has cleaned Jacks’ coat.
Jack____________________________________________________________________________.
7. The builders are changing my neighbour’s windows.
My neighbour__________________________________________________________________.
8. The doctor tested Anna’s eyes last week.
Anna___________________________________________________________________________.
7C. Word Skills
• Indefinite pronouns
I. Choose the correct words.
1. There was no one / anyone else on the train.
2. It’s dark. I can’t see anything / something.
3. I’m really hungry. I’ve had anything / nothing to eat.
4. Does anybody / nobody mind if I eat garlic?
5. He’s smiling. He must be thinking about anything / something funny.
6. You can get online anywhere / nowhere in the airport.
7. ‘I can’t find my ticket. It’s somewhere / nowhere to be seen.’ - ‘It must be
anywhere / somewhere.’
II. Complete the indefinite pronouns in these sentences. Use some-, any-
or no. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.
1. Does __________ one know the answer to this question?
2. Would you like __________ thing to eat?
3. __________ body wanted to go to the cinema with me, so I went by myself.
4. There was hardly __________ body I knew at the party.
5. I don’t mind where we go on holiday. __________ where as long as it’s warm,
and sunny!
6. I heard a noise outside. __________ one’s outside.
III. Complete each sentence with an appropriate indefinite pronoun.
1. Does __________ know where the bus stop is?
2. That coach is empty. There’s __________ in it.
3. We arrived in plenty of time because __________ gave us a lift.
4. That suitcase is very light because there’re nearly __________ in it.
5. I didn’t buy __________ in the duty-free shop
6. The nurse gave the small child __________ to drink while he was waiting for his
mother.
7. Let’s go __________ different on holiday this year.
8. There’s __________ to sit in the cinema. Every seat has been occupied.
9. We never go __________ nice at the weekend.
IV. Complete the sentences with the correct indefinite pronouns.
1. Did you hear __________ during the night?
2. Let’s go on holiday __________ really hot and sunny.
3. There’s __________ else we can look. It’s gone.
4. __________ is wrong. He’s not answering his phone.
5. I didn’t tell her __________ about the weekend.
6. My dad hasn’t been __________ in his new car yet.
7. __________ called while you were out but I don’t know who it was.
8. The teacher explained the homework but __________ was listening.
9. I haven’t got __________ to wear for the party tonight.
10. There’s __________ on TV tonight. Let’s go out.
7D. Reading
I. Read the text, and decide whether the sentences are true (T) or false
(F).
Not here!
Where would you expect to find graffiti? On walls and bridges? Perhaps in special
exhibitions? But probably not all over the front of a historic Scottish castle.
But soon that’s exactly where you will be able to see it. And this is not vandalism
on a grand scale. Four graffiti artists, who are well-respected in their home
country of Brazil, have been commissioned by the owner to completely cover one
side of the castle with bright, colourful graffiti.
The reason is that the outer covering of the walls of the castle is in very bad
condition and in a couple of years it will need to be replaced. The family thought
it would be interesting to have the graffiti painted on until then. The artists will be
staying at the castle and working on it for a month. After that it will no doubt
become a tourist attraction for visitors to the area.
Most local people support the idea but there have been some negative reactions
from people across the country who think it is completely inappropriate. But the
family are convinced that when it is completed people will love it. They hope they
are helping graffiti to be accepted as a valuable and respected art form.
1. The graffiti at the castle will not be permanent. __________
2. Artists from different countries will be doing the graffiti. ___
3. People living near the castle don’t like the idea. __________
4. The graffiti will include dark scenes from history. __________
5. It will probably be popular with visitors. __________

II. Read the text, and choose the correct answers.

Hustling
In the last year the viewing public have learned a great deal about a certain type
of criminal in the extremely successful TV series Hustle. The first Hustle DVD is
released this week and it’s set to be a best-seller.
Hustle is all about the adventures of a group of con artists. Con artists are people
who persuade rich people to give them lots of money to finance projects or plans
that do not exist. The ideas are often very complicated. Sometimes the group
create a real background for the trick by hiring actors, offices, or houses to
persuade the people they are conning that they are genuine. For them, lying is an
art!
In reality, con artists are criminals, but in this series the group take money from
the rich for a reason. The rich person might have committed a crime themselves
or might just be a really nasty person. However, unlike the famous Robin Hood,
who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, the ‘Hustle’ group keep the money
for themselves.
This is an excellent series and this DVD is a must for those who like their stories
complicated but very clever.
1. This text is __________.
A. giving a review B. a news article C. educational
about con artists
2. The con artists in Hustle are __________.
A. actors B. very creative C. genuine business people
3. Con artists in the real world __________.
A. give money to B. steal money that C. work in offices
the poor isn’t theirs
4. In Hustle the con artists __________.
A. make a lot of money B. can be quite nasty C. help poor
people
5. The stories in Hustle __________.
A. are easy to understand B. are true C. are not
straightforward
III. Read the text, and mark the sentences T (true), or F (false).
Gilbert and George
Contrary to public opinion, the members of Britart were not the first to
experiment with shock tactics. Contemporary art lovers have been viewing the
works of art duo Gilbert and George in major art galleries worldwide since the
1970s.
Gilbert, born in Italy, and George, from England, met at art college in London in
1967. Soon after they started working together as performance artists, whose
show ‘The Singing Sculpture’ consisted of them standing on a table sprayed in
gold paint, miming a well-known song.
From this moment on, Gilbert and George adopted the identity of ‘living
sculptures’ in both their art and their daily lives. They are always to be seen
wearing their trademark suit and tie, and they never appear separately in public.
In front of the camera they walk with robotic movements, and their voices
sometimes sound unnatural when they speak.
As for their art, their most famous works are huge, brightly-coloured photo
montages on a black grid. Gilbert and George often feature in these works
themselves, along with friends, flowers, and other symbols. In their later work,
they have experimented with more unusual materials, which has attracted a
great deal of media attention.
Some people question Gilbert and George’s talent and refuse to see the value of
their work. However, in the world of contemporary art they are regarded as two
of the very best. At the age of 65 they are still going strong, as their success in
the 2016 exhibition at Tate Modem shows.
1. The members of Britart were the first artists who aimed to shock the public._
2. Gilbert and George started to work together at art college. ___________
3. They first became known as sculptors. ___________
4. They always wear the same type of clothes. ___________
5. They often use photographs of themselves in their works. ___________
6. The press is interested in their work because of their talent. ___________
7. Gilbert and George stopped exhibiting when they turned 65. ___________

IV. Read the text, and choose the best answers.

Wyland’s Whaling Walls
Some of the largest and most beautiful outdoor murals in the world have been
created by the American artist Robert Wyland.
Wyland’s murals are called ‘Whaling Walls’ because they describe an animal that
he is passionate about: the whale. His inspiration lies in the whales he has
studied and swum with as a diver and practising environmentalist.
Wyland’s first encounter with the sea was on a family visit to California when he
was fourteen. The experience of seeing his first whale in the Pacific Ocean had an
enormous impact on his life and his future. When he returned home, he threw
himself into the study of marine life. In 1977 he painted his first ‘Whaling Wall’ in
Laguna Beach, California, which is now a famous landmark. His goal is to paint a
hundred ‘Whaling Walls’ in ten years.
The whales in Wyland’s murals are all painted life-size, which means the ‘Whaling
Walls’ are absolutely huge. He never knows exactly what he is going to paint until
he approaches the blank wall with his paint sprayer. His painting technique is also
unusual, as he uses none of the traditional methods typical of such large projects,
like sketches, outlines on grids. Most of his murals take about a week to make
and he has done painting tours where he has painted seventeen murals in
seventeen weeks.
However, Wyland does not only paint whales because he likes them. His main
objective is to bring the serious condition of the whale to the attention of the
public in the hope that it will not become extinct. And he has chosen his medium
well. It is not easy to walk past one of his giant murals without admiring the
beauty of his whales. We can only hope the real thing outlives Wyland’s artistic
representations.
1. Wyland paints his ‘Whaling Walls’ __________.
A. on the outside of buildings B. on the inside of buildings
C. in art galleries D. in buildings by the sea
2. Wyland’s interest in whales started __________.
A. when he saw one in a documentary
B. when he started studying marine biology
C. when he went to Canada
D. when he was a teenager
3. Wyland’s murals are planned __________.
A. carefully before he starts painting
B. when he’s standing in front of the wall
C. in a sketch he makes beforehand
D. on his computer
4. Wyland paints whales because __________.
A. he only likes them
B. he wants to show people how beautiful they are
C. he wants to save them from extinction
D. they are very big
5. The word ‘murals’ in the text is closest in meaning to __________.
A. walls in the streets in the shape of large whales
B. the methods that Wyland has used to paint pictures of the whale
C. large pictures that have been painted on a wall
D. large photos of the whales on the walls in public places

V. Read the following letter and do the tasks that follow.

 Behind the Scenes
Who makes films? Actors and directors, of course. But if you watch the credits at
the end of a film, you’ll find hundreds of other names and jobs. Most of the
crucial people in filmmaking aren’t famous because they do their work behind the
scenes. Here are four important jobs.
Makeup artist: Making characters look believable
The makeup artist’s work sounds simple, but there’s more to it than making the
lead actress look beautiful. If the hero gets a cut on his face, the makeup artist
must create that cut and ensure it looks exactly the same tomorrow and the day
after. Some films may require actors to look older or younger, or like a monster or
a space alien. Putting on special makeup can sometimes take more time than the
actor’s scene! For example, Jim Carrey’s makeup artist needed two and a half
hours every day to transform him into his character for the film, The Grinch. The
audience should notice the character, and not the makeup.
Property Master: Setting of scene
The property (or “prop”) master is responsible for selecting parts of the set and
costumes. This includes large items like furniture and vehicles, but also small
items like tools and weapons. When you see a mother cooking breakfast for her
kids, the prop master has chosen the stove, the frying pan, the plates, and almost
everything else in the scene. For a prop master, details are everything. In the
2011 film The Social Network, the prop master had to find the exact model of
computer that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg used when he was studying at
Harvard University back in 2004. Part of the job is also keeping track of every
item purchased for the film and making sure no item disappearing during
production.
Special effects coordinator: Making the impossible look real
After a film, people often ask, “How did they do that?”. In films, people can fly,
dinosaurs roam through cities and spaceships travel to other planets. These are
all the work of the special effects coordinator. This person is responsible for
creating fires, and explosions, rainy days, or snowy nights. Most special effects
nowadays are made with computers. A big film like Avatar took several years to
make, and had many special effects companies working on different things. One
company had about 120 people working exclusively on the look of the aliens on
the planet Pandora.
Foley artist: Creating the sounds of the cinema
Think of your favourite scary film and its sounds - footsteps, loud rain, and
creaking doors. All of these are the work of the Foley artist. Many sounds can’t be
recorded during the filming of a film, so Foley artists produce them in their
studios. They create the punching and kicking sounds of a fight scene, and the
wind, rain, and thunder in the background. They often have unexpected methods
- for example, to make the sounds of bones breaking, Foley artists have recorded
the sound of celery sticks being snapped in half. In a Foley artist’s studio, there
might even be special floors for recording different kinds of footsteps.
So next time you watch a film, be sure to look for these jobs in the credits. The
film wouldn’t be the same without these hardworking people!
Notes:
- People who work behind the scenes help to make a film but do not appear in
it.
- founder (n) = a person who first started a company or an organization
Task 1. Choose the best answer for each question.
1. The names of people who work behind the scenes __________ .
A. are not in the film credits
B. are not very famous to the public
C. appear first in the film credits
D. get the attention most
2. The work of the makeup artist is __________ .
A. to make actors look younger
B. to make actors become unrecognizable
C. to transform an actor into a monster
D. to make actors look like the characters
3. Which of the following is true about the makeup artist?
A. People notice the makeup artist when they watch a film.
B. People notice the characters, and not the makeup artist.
C. The makeup artist’s work is quite simple.
D. It always takes a makeup artist more time than the actor’s scene.
4. All of the following are the duties of a prop master EXCEPT that __________ .
A. he decides which objects actors use in a film
B. he chooses the furniture and items to make the scenes look real
C. he collects all the items from the old days
D. he uses the same items throughout the film
5. Special effects coordinators __________ .
A. direct actors to act scenes needing special effects
B. make every detail come true and real
C. look for places with rainy days or snowy nights to film
D. usually need computers for their job
6. Most of the sounds we hear in a film are __________ .
A. recorded during filming B. recorded in the studios
C. made in simple ways D. recorded before filming
7. Which person can make the restaurant look exactly the same in the next
scene?
A. the makeup artist B. the prop master
 C. the special effects coordinator D. the Foley artist
8. The special effects coordinator can make __________ .
A. a fire start in the family’s kitchen
B. us hear a car accident outside the window
C. the hero’s skin look pale after his space flight
D. a man sit in a car from the 1990s
VI. Read the text, and mark the sentences T (true), or F (false), and
correct the false ones.
Outsider art: how it found its way in
Modem art can be strange. Here’s some of the work that’s turned up in galleries:
a sliced-up shark, a video of a wall falling down, a self-portrait made of wire and
string, lights going on and off. No wonder someone said about the modern art
scene, ‘The lunatics have taken over the asylum.’
And there’s also the rise of outsider art. What exactly is it? It’s art produced by
people who are on the edges of society: prisoners or people with mental illness,
who are untrained as artists.
They often have a history of institution (orphanage, asylum, prison), little or no
education and an obsession with art-making. Their work tends to show fantasy
worlds and extreme mental states, and it’s made of anything that comes to hand.
In the past, art meant oil paintings and watercolours. These were painted using a
canvas that was placed on an easel. The artist would do a sketch first, using a
pencil or perhaps charcoal. Then he or she would apply the paint with a
paintbrush. In contrast, outsider art can mean sculptures of gorillas made of tin
foil, plastic Star Wars figures glued to boards, chairs made of chicken bones and
stuffed squirrels fitted with angels’ wings.
So what’s happening now? It seems that outsider art is becoming insider art. At a
recent Venice Biennale, one of the world’s biggest art exhibitions, the main
attraction was an installation: Il Palazzo Encidopedico. This was a copy of a 1950s
work by self-taught Italian Marino Auriti (1891-1980). According to the Biennale’s
artistic director, Auriti had built ‘an imaginary museum that was meant to house
all worldly knowledge - from the wheel to the satellite’.
Why is outsider art suddenly popular? For several years there’s been a growing
interest in ‘alternative’ art: graffiti, collage, handmade objects, digital
photography and multimedia works. As a result, major museums and galleries are
starting to exhibit the work of self-taught artists and art dealers are capitalising.
Among today’s finest outsider artists are the Dutchman Huub Niessen, whose
drawings are in permanent collections all over Europe, and the Brazilian Marilena
Pelosi, who says, ‘If I didn’t draw, I would die.’
One of the earliest outsider artists was William Edmonson (1874- 1951). The son
of former slaves, Edmonson was a self-taught sculptor and the first African
American to have an exhibition at the Museum of Modem Art in 1937.
Another outsider artist was Guo Fengyi (1942-2010), from China, who made ink
drawings. She had worked in a rubber factory but retired at thirty-nine because of
ill health. Later she began to have visions - for example, of imaginary beasts and
angels - which she included in her work.
1. Outsider art is produced by people who went to art school.
2. Outsider art usually consists of oil paintings.
3. William Edmonson is a recent outsider artist from the USA.
4. Guo Fengyi made art out of rubber.
5. The Venice Biennale refuses to show outsider art.
6. There is less interest in outsider art now than in the past.