a ramble.
1. The basic Thing trying to be communicated is that of a Process. This can take many forms.
a. The use of time as a material;
(1. giving evidence of what has since past in the final work, (2. having time play an active role in the work (ie, a Movie)
b. The use of supporting drawings, writings, false starts and dead ends in the final piece. The reason behind this is to break the final piece from being stuck in one timeframe. If you paint, make the underpainting show through; use that as a tool. If you sculpt in rock, leave parts rough with tool marks.
Beauty is only skin deep. Yes, a painting can be beautiful, but the process of creating the painting can be momentous. A final Painting can be seen as only evidence that a process has stopped; that it is associated with death. Interest lies in problems and the solutions - of the process.
c. Viewer participation to mold the artpiece as it is being shown.
Art work does not have to be the blood, sweat and tears of one person. A set of limitations can be accured onto a piece by an artist or team of artists and then the Environment (if the piece is in a gallery, that's it's "Environment") can take hold.
2. The work, whatever it is, does not hide the fact that it is created from a type of Material. If it is a painting, it doesn't try to fool the eye in such a way as to trick the viewer that it is something else. Photo-realistic paintings aren't needed. If you want something photorealistic, photograph something. A material should be used as it is and all materials should be investigated, no matter their ephemeral qualities.
This in no ways negate the importance of "real to life", or "objective" work, but paint should be painterly, because it's paint. Trying to paint perfection will make you realize there is no such thing and that one should get over ones selve.
3. The idea that the hand made item is still of importance. In the age where multiple copies of something that can be created from an electronic file anywhere around the world at the same time, a unique Creation holds value and interest.
4. Pieces that can be easily appropriated are of increased interest if:
Everytime they are viewed, they are viewed differently, using laws of Randomness. Thus, no two viewings will ever be the same.
5. The idea of using various media, such as a visual part and a audible part (or time, or tatse, touch, feel, or what have you) and using them to create the entire "picture" is key to composition. The reason behind this is my theory that memories are a "snapshot over time", and not just a singular "snapshop" of a person place or thing.
For example, Writing works best when it describes what's happening using senses, not just stated the obvious (Show, don't tell). No one cares about the obvious. No one likes to be told what to do. Allow people to understand what's possible.
Although free to use all senses, the artwork will stay mostly visual, since this sense is the most developed in humans; 80% of the brain is used to compute visual signals.
6. Series of art can be done, but similar pieces should never be done using the same material. The time should never be wasted saying a similar thing in the exact same way. Do a sculpture of your painting, a movie about your sculpture. This will lead to great leaps in thought.
Why?
The lives we live today are increasingly complex and fast-paced. It is of interest to take daily observances and see them in a different speed or frame of reference, to be better understand your time.
Many things we do are complex and a way to allow ourselves to grow as a civilization is to share ideas and Processes. You should not be able to copyright a philosohy. The sharing of ideas is the basic responsibility of everyone.
All this work should make the viewer want to respond. A way for them to respond should be given.
"When he woke up, the Dinosaur was still there"
"'Shut up', he explained."
Leave a comment