Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Week 6- Anish Kapoor Sculpture

1.Research Kapoor's work in order to discuss whether it is conceptual art or not. Explain your answer, using a definition of conceptual art. 
Conceptual art tends to be mostly installations. The ideas behind the works are more important and eventually become the structure itself. This makes Kapoors work conceptual art as his works are very much idea focused and the results of them are breath taking.   
"In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art". (Sol LeWitt)


2. Research 3 quite different works by Kapoor from countries outside New Zealand to discuss the ideas behind the work. Include images of each work on your blog.


Leviathan, by artist Anish Kapoor was a 35m high instillation in Paris. The structure was an act of protest against artist Ai Weiwei being put in prison. The giant structure was made from PVC that was stretched over a metal frame. You could also explore these majestic structures from the inside. The colours and sheer scale created their own unique space, which added to the overall viewing experience.

Kapoor said: "My ambition is to create a space within a space, responding to the great height and light of the nave of the Grand Palais.People will be invited to enter the artwor to immerse themselves in its colour and it will be I hope a contemplative, poetic experience."



 Leviathan, by British artist Anish Kapoor, Paris

 Leviathan, by British artist Anish Kapoor, Paris

Inside the Leviathan

Memory is an instillation piece made from "a twenty-four-ton, Cor-Ten steel tank". This work is a great example of using space to enhance the impact of the installation. The rich colours and segments make this pod intriguing. Enticing you to explore the work and the space its created. It reminds me of an acorn due to its colour and form or perhaps a capsule or alien pod. "Kapoor’s use of Cor-Ten steel and its inherent color properties relate the commission back to his early pigment sculptures". As you can see in the third photo of 'Memory' you can also view the inside of the steel pod that is morphed to the side of the wall. Kapoor creates these space defied pieces that not only appeal to the eye but also evoke the mind. Being able to view the work from the inside out allows viewers to appreciate the work by interacting with the space.
 "We not only have more to see, but have to exert more effort in the act of seeing. Kapoor describes this process as creating “mental sculpture.”

Memory, 2008
Installation shot, Deutsche Guggenheim

Memory, 2008
Installation shot, Deutsche Guggenheim

Memory, 2008
Installation shot, Deutsche Guggenheim

The Instillation piece 'Shooting Into The Corner' is a motion work involving a cannon and red wax. "an iron canon (left) shoots sticky splodges of red wax across a room repetitively every 20 minutes, also illustrates the “looking in” point. 
The cannon is aimed towards a wooden fire surround, this creates the eye to draw towards this point. Kapoor's statement about this work;  “almost a cliché – the artist just throws a bag of paint at a canvas and there it is”.
I like how this is an ever evolving piece, the more wax that builds up the more colour and form takes place. 

Shooting into the Corner - 2009
Shooting into the Corner - 2009



3.Discuss the large scale 'site specific' work that has been installed on a private site in New Zealand.


"Anish Kapoor, The Farm"


Anish Kapoor, The Farm
Anish Kapoor, The Farm

The piece 'The Farm' was named after the private estate outdoor gallery where the the sculpture was situated. This gallery is located in Kapara Bay north of Auckland NZ. The piece was specifically designed for this site and is dug into the hills, becoming part of the land.  "designed to withstand the high winds that blow inland from the Tasman Sea off the northwest coast of New Zealand’s North Island."
This piece is made from red PVC fabric and the fabric alone weighs up to 7200kg. “It’s the color of the interior of our bodies. In a way, it’s inside-out, red. ”Says Kapoor


4. Where is the Kapoor's work in New Zealand? What are its form and materials? What are the ideas behind the work?
Answered in above question


5. Comment on which work by Kapoor is your favourite, and explain why. Are you personally attracted more by the ideas or the aesthetics of the work?

I personally admire the piece Leviathan. I am impressed with the sheer scale of this work and how it creates its own space. I am impressed with how this work looks more than anything and how you can explore and interact with this it both inside and out.


References:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/anish-kapoor-the-prince-and-the-artist-515903.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385590/Anish-Kapoor-Leviathan-sculpture-unveiled-Grand-Palais-Paris.html
http://www.wallpaper.com/art/anish-kapoor-sculpture-berlin/2870
http://www.deutsche-guggenheim.de/e/ausstellungen-anishkapoor01.php
http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/anish-kapoor-on-show-in-india-–-a-permanent-public-sculpture-is-planned/
http://fabricarchitecturemag.com/articles/0110_sk_sculpture.html
http://www.spreadartculture.com/2010/07/07/anish-kapoor-part-of-permanent-collection-at-maxxi/
http://flavorwire.com/49064/daily-dose-pick-anish-kapoor

Week 5 - Pluralism and the Treaty of Waitangi

1. Define the term 'pluralism' using APA referencing.
Pluralism is the development of accepting a variety of cultures.
 "Pluralism in art refers to the nature of art forms and artists as diverse". (Caldwell 1999)
Artists that display Pluralism combine a mix of cultural techniques and references in their work.

2. How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture?
New Zealand has a very diverse culture, we are multi cultural and open minded overall. We a very welcoming to different cultures and that is why we have become and are still developing into a multi cultural nation. 
"New Zealand has evolved from a bi-cultural treaty based nation into a multi-cultural, multi-racial country. New Zealand has attracted migrants from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, who bring with them new and exciting languages, religions, clothing, food, dances". (Dr Nagalingam Rasalingam, 2003)


3. Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture?
The Maori culture was the dominant culture before 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

4. How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working
in New Zealand?
Without the treaty we would not be where we are now. As a country we have to respect our cultral past and how we have developed over time. We also have to be mindful of the Maori culture as it symbolizes New Zealand on a global scale. Working as a designer who is proud or New Zealand should in some cases even reflect in our work. The Maori culture also sells as well as the "Made in NZ" approach, many New Zealanders want to by NZ made . We need to preserve our culture as a nation, especially as globalization becomes more apparent, we can do this as artists and designers.  

5. How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?
In small places like New Zealand globalization can be seen as a threat to our culture. There is the potential threat of loosing the Maori history that has shaped New Zealand and  has made us known on a global scale.


6. Shane Cotton's paintings are said to examine the cultural landscape. Research Cotton's work 'Welcome'(2004) and 'Forked Tongue' (2011) to analyze what he is saying about colonialization and the Treaty of Waitangi. 
The piece welcome by shane cotton is made up of very symbolic imagery. The male head at the top symbolises Christ and the western influence. The head at the bottom represents the famous preserved maori heads. "Including the controversial motif of "upoko tuhituhi" or “marked heads” These heads represent the maori culture and ancestors. "In Cotton’s depiction of these ancestors and in referencing their after-life and the heavens, his work can be seen as a way to keep their identity and memory alive. The NZ bird the fantail, known as "Pīwakawaka or Tīwakawaka", is seen as a presence of death or "the goddess of death" in the Maori culture. The way that theses four images are balanced also resembles the shape of a cross, referencing religion. The combination of this imagery shows colonization and how it brought death through differences of culture and religion. The Pakeha, were dominant in this cycle,  yet we remain as one.  


Shane Cotton 'Welcome'(2004)

In the piece 'Forked Tongue', Cotton uses very dark colours and imagery. This may reflect death and the blood that was spilt throughout the colonization between the Maori and the Europeans. "The two main symbols are spiritual in preoccupation". This is represented by the bird and the koru patterns. "The tumbling birds could be human souls trying to find an afterlife paradise". The random, linked red lines throughout the image may represent the journey that the two cultures experienced when merging into one cultures. The cliff could represents mother earth and the difficulty each culture experienced.

'Forked Tongue' (2011)

7. Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflect the effects of colonization on the aboriginal people of Australia. Research the work and comment on what Albert is communicating through his work, and what he is referring to. Describe the materials that Albert uses on this installation and say what he hopes his work can achieve. Define the term 'kitsch'.

Albert's piece 'Sorry' is made from a combination of "Found kitsch objects applied to vinyl letters | 99 objects: 200 x 510 x 10cm (installed)". Kitsch objects are mass produced items that may be considered cultural icons. They are produced for a commercial purpose rather then sentimental value.
This piece is well known as Albert created it after the formal apology given to the native Aborigines of Australia by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the 13th February 2008. It symbolizes the countries colonization and the government acknowledging that the way they treated the Aborigines was wrong. It symbolizes cultural loss, hierarchy, racism and remorse.   
"Tony Albert has captured this outpouring of emotion. He introduces us to a forest of faces, each sharing elements of history with those stolen from their people, land and culture. Each represents a false identity, manufactured black faces made to fit white society".
This was seen as a bold ironic piece that captured a important day in Australia's history. At the end of the day it is just four letters on the wall, though in this case those four letters can mean all the difference in a moment of forgiveness.  



8. Explain how the work of both artists relates to pluralism.
Both of these artists display pluralism through their works. They each use a combinations of cultures to display colonization and the issues that arise when two cultures collide. 
Each artist honours the individual cultures and unites them at the same time. Each artist overlapped religion and belief to represent the transitions of culture, therefore displaying pluralism. 


References
http://www.rc.org.nz/report1.html
http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail-LRG.cfm?View=LRG&View=LRG&IRN=142200
http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/editions/shanecotton.asp
http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/fantail1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Māori_mythology
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/land-birds/fantail-piwakawaka/facts/
http://www.wallaceartstrust.org.nz/
http://eyecontactsite.com/2010/07/pondering-the-marks-and-symbols-of-shane-cotton
http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch

Week 4 - Kehinde Wiley and inter-textuality

1. Find a clear definition of Intertextuality and quote it accurately on your blog using the APA referencing system. Use your own words to explain the definition more thoroughly. 


"Intertextuality is the process whereby one text plays upon other texts, the ways in which texts refer endlessly to further elements within the realm of cultural production (Barthes, 1977).


"From within a framework of postmodern social theory, an interest in writing and intertextuality rejects distinctions between " real" and representation" (Stanley and Morgan, 1993; 3).
Intertextuality is many text entwined within one text. Its a way of incorporating  a numerous amount of text within one piece of writing. Its a great way of capturing a range of information from a number of sources into one text.


Kehinde Wiley, The Chancellor Seguier on Horseback, 2005; oil on canvas; 108 x 144 inches


2. Research Wiley's work and write a paragraph that analyzes how we might make sense of his work. Identify intertextuality in Wiley's work. 


Kehinde Wiley uses a combonation of different styles to create his unique, detailed paintings. He collaborates bold, symbolic imagery, intense colours with complex backgrounds to create these strong pieces of art.  


"Wiley creates a fusion of period styles, ranging from French rococo, Islamic architecture and West African textile design to urban hip–hop and the "Sea Foam Green" of a Martha Stewart Interiors color swatch".


His reoccurring subject matter of heroic, tonned black men, creates a new approach to traditional portraiture. His work contrasts the norm, intertextuality is present with the range of techniques and merging of styles.
"The subjects and stylistic references for his paintings are juxtaposed inversions of each other, forcing ambiguity and provocative perplexity to pervade his imagery".

The symbolic imagery and mixed styles intertwine a number of different issues inspired by the range of eras the art world has explored over time.    





3. Wiley's work relates to next weeks Postmodern theme "PLURALISM" . Read page 46 and discuss how the work relates to this theme.


Wiley's work firstly relates in the sense that he goes against the commonly seen portraits. On the majority art history books would only contain accepted portraits of europeans by european male artists. Wiley is the complete opposite of this, being an African-American and so is his work, as he uses African-American subjects. He is accepted in the art world now for his culture and his work, where in the modernist era he would have been ignored. This is an example of Pluralism.


4. Comment on how Wiley's work raises questions around social/cultural hierarchies , colonisation, globalisation, stereotypes and the politics which govern a western worldview. 


Wiley uses inspiration from european portraiture and idealized mythology paintings which were painted in a way to make the subjects appear dominant and superior. Wiley has also used this approach with his subjects to give them a important presence.  Instead of the once accepted european subject matter, he uses black males.
 "Part of Wiley's process was lifting his subjects straight from the street and rendering them-complete with sneakers, track pants, tank tops, and team caps-in the visual language of classic European portraiture". (M.I.A, Interview Magazine)
This technique symbolizes many global issues such as the western hierarchy which would have once been disgusted to see a black male painted in such a way as they were seen as the in superior. Globalization is present in these works as the Black prejudice way of thinking is on the majority no longer present. For example, America currently having a black president. I am not saying racism is no longer an issue, its just more globally acknowledged that we are all equal regardless of our ethnicity. These paintings very much touch on the idea of colonisation. Our changing world continuously is becoming more diverse as cultures mix. Shown in these pieces by a black males wearing european clothing.


Three Graces
Kehinde Wiley, 2005
Oil and enamel on canvas
182.9 x 423.8 cm (72 x 96 in)



5. Add some reflective comments of your own, which may add more information that
you have read during your research.

I found Kehinde Wiley's work to be extremely unique as you don't see many, if any paintings with coloured subjects let alone painted in this classical style. Also Wiley being African-American famous artist is uncommon. 
"What remains so surprising about these works today is that the 31-year-old Los Angeles native's black males remain a rarity in the fine-art world, despite their prevalence, even dominance in pop culture".


Triple Portrait of Charles I
Kehinde Wiley, 2007
Oil and enamel on three canvases
Three stretchers each measuring: 182.9 x 91.4 cm (72 x 36 in)



Reference:
http://www.sociology.org/content/vol001.002/fox.html
http://www.artnet.com/awc/kehinde-wiley.html
http://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/kehinde-wiley/
http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/recognize/paintings.html
http://www.artlies.org/article.php?id=1668&issue=59&s=1

Week 3- Hussein Chalayan

1. Chalayan’s works in clothing, like Afterwords (2000) and Burka (1996) , are often challenging to both the viewer and the wearer. What are your personal responses to these works? Are Afterwords and Burka fashion, or are they art? What is the difference?
Not all clothing is fashion, so what makes fashion fashion?


 Chalayan, Burka, 

I find Burkra rather interesting in the way that it plays with an already established religious fashion. I personally feel this is becoming art rather than fashion, though there is a very fine line between the two. Fashion is the art of clothing so if following this idea it makes all aspects clothing trends art. The way the head pieces are displayed in this particular collection makes me feel they are not indented to sell in bulk, it was more for the artistic approach and impact the pieces will have on the viewer. In this case making them art instead of fashion


"Any crossover between art and fashion has long been the source of controversy to say the very least. On the one hand, the art world views fashion's blatant commerciality as somehow threatening the sanctity of a more rarefied form of expression. On the other, any fashion designer who dares to describe his or her work as art..." Susannah Frankel, Fashion Editor, The Independent

 Hussein Chalayan, Afterwords, 2000



Personally I find this piece to be more fashion as it is something that is very wearable yet unique. In saying that it is very artistically structured which makes you appreciate this piece on a different level. The way that this garment folds up from a table to a skirt brings a whole new level to the fashion industry. Science, art and architecture meet the fashion world. I feel the colour combination works well in this piecel. The skirt is the dominant feature, yet is complemented by the light blue top. Overall i admire this piece, and can see how it would have inspired and set a trend of its own.  Fashion is very controversial in the sense that i may like something and you may hate it, yet it's still fashion. It is a very expressive industry not only  for the designers but also the people that wear the clothing. Globally people dress to express themselves which makes the fashion industry very artistic. I personally feel you cant catagorise Hussein Chalayan into either Fashion or Art, this designer has taken his ideas to a whole new level and created a category of his own.


"The way i construct a collection is that i work with the same principals. A collection can become a film or an instillation and it becomes also the collection. I don't really separate the way that i work, they all come from the same source. its just that i can apply that principle to a garment or a film or a object. My world is really all one, its just the execution of the ideas that can vary".  (Hussein Chalayan, sourced from video below)







2. Chalayan has strong links to industry. Pieces like The Level Tunnel (2006) and Repose(2006) are made in collaboration with, and paid for by, commercial business; in these cases, a vodka company and a crystal manufacturer. How does this impact on the nature of Chalayan’s work? Does the meaning of art change when it is used to sell products? Is it still art?
We live in a world where advertising constantly surrounds us. We see it on TV, radio, internet, buildings, cars just to name a few. If you want to be successful in this day and age you couldn't  accomplish this without advertising. Designers play a crucial roll in this cycle as we need creative minds to constantly discover new and exciting ways to advertise. Our world has become so driven by this strategy it is becoming more difficult to stand out.  Companies turn to  celebrity endorsement to promote their business, such as the case with The Level Tunnel (2006). asking Hussein Chalayan to design "a pioneering work of art with a focus on taste". The result of this project, in which Chalayan had complete freedom to create what he wanted was named The Level Tunnel. It was a 15m long, 5m high, traveling installation that "captures the essence of Level Vodka". I believe this piece is very much still art, regardless of its purpose of creation. Art is more than just a leisurely hobby, in some cases it comes down to money and successes.   


The Level Tunnel (2006)












3. Chalayan’s film Absent Presence screened at the 2005 Venice Biennale. It features the process of caring for worn clothes, and retrieving and analysing the traces of the wearer, in the form of DNA. This work has been influenced by many different art movements; can you think of some, and in what ways they might have inspired Chalayan’s approach?


I believe Chalayan has been influenced by the post modern movement. I can relate this piece to some popular TV series such as CSI or detective movies, which are very popular globally. The idea of finding someones killer by analyzing their clothes and DNA relates to this piece. It also reminds me of 'you are what you wear', your clothes are part of you, they even hold you DNA. The world has also become fascinated with science and art combine, a hostile sterilized hospital environment. for example Damien hurst and how he preserves dead animals in tanks. 






4. Many of Chalayan’s pieces are physically designed and constructed by someone else; for example, sculptor Lone Sigurdsson made some works from Chalayan’s Echoform (1999) andBefore Minus Now (2000) fashion ranges. In fashion design this is standard practice, but in art it remains unexpected. Work by artists such as Jackson Pollock hold their value in the fact that he personally made the painting. Contrastingly, Andy Warhol’s pop art was largely produced in a New York collective called The Factory, and many of his silk-screened works were produced by assistants. Contemporarily, Damien Hirst doesn’t personally build his vitrines or preserve the sharks himself. So when and why is it important that the artist personally made the piece?


This practice would have been frowned upon back in the renaissance. Painters and craftsmen were famous for their own individual work. As our world is forever changing and developing it has become more accepted to have assistance and help when building or making your designs. In some cases it is more about acknowledging who's original ideas and concepts were behind the design, rather than the creation or factory process to create the final piece. In saying that it is still very much important that painters do paint their own paintings, otherwise it wouldn't be their special skill, which is needed to paint. Their talent is what makes their paintings famous and valuable. In design and fashion, it is more about who thought of the ideas behind the design and the final product, not focusing on who or what actually made it.


References
http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/05/level-vodka-tun.php
http://www.husseinchalayan.com/blog/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTBmvCJt__w&feature=related
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/5209/hussein-chalayan-at-the-design-museum.html

Sunday, 28 August 2011

WEEK -2 Post-Modernism, Ai Weiwei and Banksy

1. Define Post-Modernism using 8-10 bullet points that include short quotes.


  • Post modernism was an era that marked the end of modernism. "if Modernism is at an end, we are now facing a new period. The name given this new period is Postmodernism". (Witcombe,2000)
  • People became fascinated with 'pop culture' throughout the Post-modernism era. This influenced artists and what was popular. "Many artists turned with visible distress to the present and focused their attention on contemporary popular culture". (Witcombe,2000)
  • Post-modernisim was less structured with a more relaxed approach then the era of Modernism. "Postmodernism is associated with relativism. Relativism is the idea that 'anything goes' ". (Andreas Saugstad 2001) 
  • During post modernism people such as Nietzsche explored the philosophy of reality, what is it, what makes reality and how it is effected by social constructivism. "Reality is created by social reality. But the main idea is that there is no objective knowledge or absolute representation of reality. Many of our concepts and catigories are based on the social reality, and not because we can represent physical reality". (Saugstad, A. 2001 )
  • Post-modernism is a controversial subject as it has been discussed amongst a vast variety of fields, leading people to develop different ideas to what it means.  "Different Post-modernism thinkers may have different opinions, and people from different fields may have somewhat different definitions of Postmodernism". (Saugstad, A. 2001)
  • Post-modernism has been proven hard to specifically pin point. "Postmodernism is not easy to define. The term is used in philosophy, literature, social sciences and architecture" (Saugstad, A. 2001)
  • Postmodernists also explored the idea that we do not control nature, which has been believed in the past. "Nature does actually precede culture,not the other way around". (Saugstad, A. 2001)
  • There are cons that came from the postmodernists way of thinking. "Some postmodernists do not seem to take logical reasoning seriously, and instead of listening to reason and arguments, they may tend to focus on relativism and constructivism " (Saugstad, A. 2001)




2. Use a quote by Witcombe (2000) to define the Post-Modern artist.
The post-modern artist is "reflexive" in that he/she is self-aware and consciously involved in a process of thinking him/herself and society in a deconstructive manner, "demasking" pretensions, becoming aware of his/her cultural self in history and accelerating the process of self-consciousness.   



3. Use the grid on pages 42 and 43 to summarize the list of the features of Post-
Modernity.
Throughout Post-modernism people became focused towards pop culture and became used to simulation and real-time media substituting for the real. Fascinated by what was on the likes of "MTV" the "As seen on TV" became more powerful than unmediated experiences. Art was focused on the process, performance, production and interextuality. Art was also used as a way to recycle culture, authenticated by the audience. 
4. Use this summary to answer the next two questions.

5. Research Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's 'Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994)
in order to say what features of the work are Post-Modern.



Ai Weiwei, Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola logo'(1994)

The pop culture inspiration is very present with this piece by Ai Weiwei, which is very much post-modern . Incorperating the Coca-Cola logo to something rustic and crafted like this urn causes his art to relate to a wider audience due to Cokes globalization and popularity.   "Influenced by Dada, Duchamp and Warhol, he has created playful, inventive and often absurd art works"
Ai Weiwei work, such as this urn causes controversy as in this case he uses a valuable urn and paints something as common and materialistic as the coca cola logo. This was his way of  incorporating pop culture to this post-modern piece. Some see this as art, some see this as degrading a special object. 

"What’s most horrifying is how much it rings true. It’s no different than selling cultural treasures as trinkets and doorstops, or installing a coffee shop into the Forbidden City, especially when doing it to your own."

"Instead of writing “R. Mutt” on a urinal, as Duchamp did, Ai paints the Coca-Cola logo onto yet another priceless Han Dynasty urn. Ai’s prodigious output runs the gamut from shock art, sculpture, film, editing, writing, photography, furniture making to architecture on the grandest of scales"

Post-modernists believe science is understood as "interpretations of phenomena"  this can be altered by "perceptions, subjectivity, culture and politics". Scientists disagree with this theory.  As a post modern artist Ai Weiwei uses culture and materials to explore the surrounding world, stating "that he does this not for the sake of producing art, but to seek enlightenment for himself which, to him, is the same as expressing his creativity."




6. Research British artist Banksy's street art, and analyze the following two works by the artist
to discuss how each work can be defined at Post-Modern.(Use your list from point 6.)


Flower Riot, Banksy
In this piece Bansky has taken an image that is from a negative riot setting and replaced what the rioter is holding (typically an explosive) with a colourful bouquet of flowers. The colour used for the flowers contrasts the black and white image of the rioter. Banksy uses current affairs and controversial issues, for his works and alters them to cause the audience to step back and think about the world and what is happening in these situations. This shows Banskys post-modern approach and how effective it can be.


Los Angeles (2008), Banksy
Bansky has become famous with his controversial street art that adapts to the surroundings on the buildings using bold, quirky and effective subject matter. In this work he has taken something as global as the western burger and fries and played around with the idea of evolution. Using the image of a cave man to contrast the way we live now compared to how the world used to be. Together the cave man holding his combo look so awkward, maybe this is Banskys way of saying nature didn't intend us to eat burgers and fries like we do so commonly now. The way the artist collaborates these common images and issues makes his work very post modern. 

References: 
http://www.artzinechina.com/display_vol_aid109_en.html
http://panicinthestudio.tumblr.com/post/6050927261/ai-weiwei-han-dynasty-urn-with-coca-cola-logo