Visual Culture Database Form ARTE344 Spring

2017
Provider: Samantha Butkus
Number:
6
Big Idea/Subject:
Change
Major Theme:
Irony
Medium/
Presentation:
Iron, nails
Visual Components:
Texture, metal, line,
shape
Category:
Fine Arts
Pop art
Pop culture
Non-art

Authorship: Man Ray

Title: Cadeau
Original Location: Tate Modern Art Museum
Description/Interpreta A worn metal clothing iron stands freely with its
tion handle cut at the top. The handle is bent to the
side, positioning it outward from the natural form
of the iron. On the flat surface of the iron that
would normally be used to iron material, 14 metal
nails are attached in a straight vertical line. They
are spaced closely together in the middle of the
surface and are a more polished metal than the
iron that it is placed on. This combination of items
is representational of an ironic change of meaning.
Any object can be altered to have an entirely new
meaning, and this piece is a marriage of two items
that perform opposite tasks in their original form.
An iron is used to smooth materials out and nails,
while usually are used to hold things in a specific
place, would tear up material if drug across a
surface. The combination of these materials is
 purposefully ironic and representative of change.
Use in Teaching: Students will view ordinary objects that have an
alteration to change their meaning and in turn,
learn that it is a good thing to approach ordinary
things from multiple perspectives. This idea can be
drawn out through irony of objects to add greater
emphasis. Students will learn how material choices
can change the meaning of a piece of art.

Possible Questions:
What is irony?
How can material change the meaning of a piece?
How can materials represent change?
How can ordinary materials be used in art to
emphasize meaning?

Source: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/man-ray-
cadeau-t07883