You will read an article about contemporary art. Answer the questions based on what you have read.

A new trend in artwork creation in the last decade is to go larger than life. No longer are pieces that can be hung on a wall the popular choice for those with money to spend on high-end artwork. Now art patrons, including those with private collections, are looking for works that take up large spaces in huge warehouses. One of the most recent examples is Paul McCarthy’s rendition of a forest based on American mythology, which required an entire hall in New York’s Armory Building for display. Seventeen semi-trucks were used to transport the design to its display locale and it took a week to set up. The display included gigantic trees and houses and graphic videos throughout. This was not just a piece of art; it was an interactive show that welcomed the viewer into its world.

Not all of these grand new works are made so that the public can walk through them, but one thing they have in common is their ability to shock the senses with their size. The trend toward huge art can be seen in artists’ works from around the world. Massive paintings that cover one side of a four-story building in Sydney, a multi-colored chair as big as a house placed in the center of a park in Sweden and an enormous rubber lotus flower placed in the courtyard of a government building in Cairo are just a few examples of this new trend. Because of the popularity of such public displays, cities are now building enormous buildings that can be used specifically for this kind of artwork.

So, how are these works integrated into the more traditional museum and gallery world of art display? Public museums recruit highly visible retail corporations to sponsor the exhibits as advertising campaigns, allowing free access to the general public. These exhibits are often only temporary, moving from one location to another, and the artists’ use of inflatable materials has made this a very popular option. Making such a piece a part of the permanent collection is a challenge. “Purchase prices can be very high,” says one museum curator. “Our budget for these pieces has tripled in the last year thanks mainly to increased donations from various companies.” Likewise, private galleries want to get their hands on these pieces. They are revamping their spaces to fit these monster creations.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about this new trend. Jamie Rhoads, president of the Independent Artists Guild, is concerned that local artists, without the financial backing of a large gallery, will not be able to compete. “Before, it was just a matter of buying paints and some brushes if one wanted to be a successful artist. Now it’s gone way beyond that and I’m afraid of what that means for the independent artist.” Many of the monumental works require a whole team of people to execute the artist’s vision.

Which ONE statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?

– Outsourcing material production for oversized designs has helped to encourage more creativity in the art world.

– Using inflatable material is the newest trend in creating oversized, lightweight works of art.

– Finding funding to create oversized artwork is a major barrier for most artists.

– Public museums and private galleries are working together to sponsor new larger-than-life artwork displays.

– The design and construction of larger-than-life creations is a rapidly growing trend in the art world.

2 of 8
– Which of the following TWO statements are true about Paul McCarthy’s exhibition?

– It was located outdoors.

– It was on display in a newly built exhibit space.

– It was designed so that small groups of people could view it at a time.

– It included many TV monitors or screens.

– A large crew of people was needed to assemble it.

3 of 8
– Information in the article supports which TWO of the following statements?

– Oversized artwork can be found all around the world.

– Oversized artwork is too expensive for most galleries to purchase.

– Independent artists are now beginning to create oversized artwork.

– Exhibitions of oversized artwork are typically permanent installations.

– Both public and private art institutions are purchasing oversized artwork.

4 of 8
– The article suggests that which TWO of the following are likely consequences of the trend toward gigantic artworks?

– More use of multimedia in exhibits

– Construction of new facilities for exhibitions

– Fewer purchases of artworks by museums

– Increased focus on making some artwork portable

– Growing public interest in interactivity with art

5 of 8
– The article suggests that which TWO things are probably true about the independent artists mentioned by Jamie Rhoads?

– They rarely outsource the manufacturing of portions of their projects.

– They belong to organizations that support their craft.

– They work with minimal supplies and materials.

– They have access to gallery funding.

– They contract with corporations for sponsorships.

6 of 8
– According to the article, which TWO things are true about the new trend toward gigantic artworks?

– It has encouraged corporations to invest in sponsoring independent artists.

– It has become an international phenomenon.

– It will continue to dominate the art world for decades.

– It has changed the ways museums buy artworks.

– It has made public display of artworks more unusual.

7 of 8
The article suggests that which TWO of the following are true of the impact of the gigantic art trend on museums?

– Businesses have more influence on what artworks museums display.

– Museums have become more competitive with private galleries for artworks.

– Museums are spending more of their budgets on construction of exhibit space.

– It has become more common for museums to share artworks for exhibition.

– It is harder for museums to attract people to their exhibits.

8 of 8
Which TWO of the following statements are likely to be true, based on information in the passage?

– Private art collectors currently purchase most of the new outsized artworks being created around the world.

– Larger-than-life artworks have not been displayed in public spaces before the 21st century.

– Some artists use inflatable materials for their works because they want them to be displayed in many places.

– Businesses support museum exhibits because it is good publicity for their brands.

– There are fewer independent artists creating new works today than 10 years ago. From the reading, these are the answers: 1. The design and construction of larger-than-life creations is a rapidly growing… View the full answer