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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Hello and welcome back to the VivaLing Podcast! Today, we are travelling around the world to discover four amazing pieces of art. Art can be made from many different materials. It can be made of paint, wood, clay, fabric, and many other things. Today, we will explore four different artworks and ask one important question: What is it made of? We will also use our senses to describe art. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Let’s begin our journey!
Let’s hear from 3 different VivaLing coaches and me and the artwork we think is fantastic.
My artwork is The Mona Lisa, a famous painting from Italy by Leonardo da Vinci. A painting is usually made of paint and a surface like canvas or wood. The Mona Lisa is made of oil paint on a wooden board. To me, it looks mysterious and lifelike. Her eyes follow you around the room.
I always thought the painting looked so big, but in fact, it is actually quite small. The painting looks like it feels rough, but I imagine it probably feels smooth because the paint is on wood. Many people love this piece of art, and I am no exception.
My artwork is the Terracotta Army from China. It is a group of thousands of soldier statues.These statues are made of clay. Clay is a material that is soft when artists create with it, but it becomes hard after it is heated. My guess is that they feel hard and heavy, almost like stone. To me, the soldiers look strong and serious. Each soldier has a different face and hairstyle. It is incredible that artists created so many figures by hand.
My favorite kind of artwork is a traditional wooden mask from Africa. Many traditional masks are made of wood. Some masks are also made with metal, stone or even animal skin. A wooden mask can feel smooth or rough. It can look colourful, powerful, or mysterious. Masks are often used in dances, celebrations, and storytelling. They help people share important traditions and stories.
The artwork I particuarly like is a bit different. It is a traditional Japanese kimono. A kimono is clothing, but it is also a form of art. It is often made of silk, so kimonos feel soft, cool and smooth. Kimonos often look bright and colourful, with beautiful patterns of flowers, animals, and nature. The designs can tell stories about Japanese culture and history.
Okay, now a couple of questions for you. Do you remember two different pieces of art being described as smooth or rough? Which 2 were they? If you said The Mona Lisa and an African mask, you are right!
Which artwork consists of many, many pieces with different facial expressions? You’re right if you said the Terracotta Army from China.
Today, we discovered four different kinds of art: a painting, sculptures, a mask, and clothing.
We learned that art can be made of many different materials. Art can look beautiful, have a unique feel when you touch it, and tell us stories about people and places. That’s the wonderful thing about art, the storytelling, and what’s even better is that each person can walk away with a different story from the same piece of art.
Your homework: Think of a piece of art that you think is pretty cool. What is it made of? What does it look and feel like? Tell it to your VivaLing coach or family member.