N. Raghavan, Rain V (2009)One reason I like zapping through artist's pages instead of always looking carefuly at their artist's statements and curator's notes is that I don't need to undo the damage of their own thoughts about their work.
The latter often makes the experience of the work dull, as if our aesthetic wings were cut by the discursive blade. It is not that it isn't informative, which it often is. It's that it is rarely inspiring.
(Then again, this very blog may also be seen at such an angle).
19 comments:
Yes, agreed to your first few statements, and the attribution of honest to the last. I have wondered about this as well, but I imagine that as long as one creates 'something' we are all somewhat 'safe'.
Great painting. Made me think of Rothko. Just watched the play on Broadway and it got Tony awards this week. Exciting:)
Its not really the place of the artist to decree where their art slots into art history, or Art History; being as it is a construct of art historians. Mind you, that doesn't stop me trying to explain my work to the casual browser.
Artist statements IMHO are aids in understanding the artist, their focus and what his or her work is about. The artist statements that I have read give insight into their art. Surprisingly, most of the artists that are creating valid work, and carving out new directions in art express themselves fairly well. Chuck Close, Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler, David Row, to mention a few. As an artist myself, I gave a lot of thought to my artist statement because it is a statement about myself, my work and what I do. www.johnborys.com
I don't think explanation is important in art and sometimes it even spoils it, as you suggested. Art is a lot more about feelings than it is about words.
And, though the artist's feelings while creating is what gives the piece a meaning, the viewers / listeners / witnesses's feelings give another meaning almost as relevant.
great , artist work always need comparing, each art come from an hardwork
incredibly capturing abstract! nice job!
that is SO true. I think the traditional art world is too fuddy-duddy. Stuck in old ways. The artist's statement, to me, is ridiculous. I know no artist who likes writing them, and I've never read one that sounded sincere.
BTW too coll that you're in Poland, my newest friend escaped from communist Poland in a hockey bag (she was a baby, and the bag was being carried by her father.)
Peace & joy!
...in my humble, though educated opinion, art can only exist as a dialogue between a creator and his audience. though questions of intent and critical opinion may apparently claim merit in such discourse, what matters, simply, is the message that is received by the individual.
then again, this is still only an opinion.
really nice painting, no more word needed
I am always surprised by what others see in my artwork. I wonder if it's their emotions that they are weaving into the piece or if I've somehow created an emotion or story that I hadn't intended.
"I think the traditional art world is too fuddy-duddy. Stuck in old ways. The artist's statement, to me, is ridiculous."
You do know that the artist statement can hardly be considered traditional? Statements have only been around for the last 50 or 60 years. They are actually a off shoot of artists who wrote about their process and thoughts.
If you look at history most artists wrote about art often. The statement just fills that gap because today most artists do not write about art at all.
If an artist can't write a sincere statement you have to wonder if their work is sincere. Most artists communicate something about their experiences so it helps to know what those experiences are.
Sorry but I have to agree with Art Fag City, Myartspace Blog, and about a dozen other blog authors about the need for artist statements.
I have to agree that the artists who write good statement are often the ones who have a clear vision of their work. I know of few artist who have made a social impact who did not in one way or the other write about their art.
Read Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo and you will appreciate the emotion behind his work more.
The artists who hate writing statements are often mediocre, prone to steal what others have wrote, and have the attitude that their work should automatically be as repsected as Picasso or someone else just because they to are an artist.
I agree with CLEO in that art often does not need a description. It should be left to the imagination so that the art is portrayed in the persons mind on an individual basis - this is the true joy of art
I find your thoughts very refreshing, nice blog! :)
From one hand the artist statement helps to understand the missed points by observer, but from another hand it can mislead to enjoy by his/her own way. In fact, I love don't disturbing my visitors.
Regards,
Ortikali
www.kozokov.com
Well, I think it is kind of difficult, I want the best of two worlds: I like to read what is written about pieces of art, but I also want to experience myself. What I often do is I walk through the exhibition I am visiting twice; First on my own, then reading the text for the special pieces, after I have formed my own opinion and when I have a thought. But the artist's or the curator's thoughts on the pieces often helps me discover things I would otherwise have missed.
Same goes for tours, I do enjoy taking tours as you learn a lot from them, but at the same time I do want to have a chance to form my own opinion first.
The painting with the frog is, by the way, gorgeous!
This is an interesting painting. Its one painting that makes you think. And I think art should be like that. It should be more than just a pretty painting hanging on your living room wall. It should be something that stimulates thought or evokes feeling. I am a painter myself. I face paint for a living. One popular design that people usually choose is a clown face. And sometimes I get my Clown Face Paint Ideas by looking at other artists work.
Thank you for this beautiful painting !
The talent and creativity just blow me away! The colors and textures are great
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