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Art Bollocks
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Message
Posted
Never mind the bollocks look at the setting! I note another artist, albeit one who used to photograph his work on gallery walls, is now posting images which seem to be the painting superimposed on a photograph of an elegant room - as much, if not more, photograph than work of art. For those who may have noted I haven't posted a painting for a while, it's not because I am struggling for inspiration, but saving up to have a complete house maker-over, with total decluttering and large, large expanses of neutral flat colours on the walls and ceilings, which will clearly make it easier for you to appreciate my paintings. Visual bollocks rule.
Posted
Writing of Kasimir Malevich’s Eight Red Rectangles, Arsén Pohribny said “Here the whole magic of a feeling for life which had shed the fetters of utilitarianism was already displayed. It was not so much the geometric form, which expresses only objectivity, but a feeling he called ‘a feeling of pure non-being’ expressed in the movement of colour-forms which was the most important thing…it is enough to make one giddy”.
I would say, of the object of the comments here (if I have the right one), that given that English is not his first language and that that is indicated in some of the grammar and sentence structure, a degree of tolerance and forbearance would not be out of place. I do wish, though, that artists would not fall victim to that perceived requirement to write their statement/biography in the third person, when it is (usually) clear that it is self-penned.
But then what does John Petty know? He comes from a home in which there was no literature and he attended a very poor secondary modern school. At fifteen he left that school without any qualification. His understanding of the English language comes only from his extensive and sustained interest in reading.
Posted
A prime example of the theme of this thread on TV the other night. A re-run of Andrew Graham Dixon's 'Art of France.' He's not my favourite art presenter, he has a tendency to suddenly launch into the art-babble we're going on about. In the final episode he got onto the subject of Marcel Duchamp's 'sculpture' of a bottle rack. It still hangs proudly in a famous gallery. It's actually JUST a bottle rack. A tubular shaped frame with rods sticking out...you stick empty wine bottles over the rods. So called 'ready-made' art. Apparently Duchamp didn't chose ready-made items that he LIKED, or DISLIKED, because that would imply 'taste' was involved. He had to be indifferent about these choices...they became art because he said they were art. After explaining this, Dixon went into exactly the kind of BS babble that we all love so much...he explained what Duchamp meant. (I won't go into it...it involved 'phallic' symbols...funny how they often do with these critics.) How Dixon knew what Duchamp meant is beyond me...I don't think Duchamp knew what he meant either.
Duchamp is quite interesting, in a perverse kind of way, I'm sure he was joking. Having got on that merry-go-round, and found that some sections of the art establishment swallowed it whole...he couldn't get off, didn't want to, he was having so much fun. Didn't do any harm to his bank balance either. He made a lot of quotes that will enrage you, or merely dumbfound you...one of the most telling ones, for me, was 'A sense of humour is the most important thing in life, it's the only reason for living.' So, he was a prime mover in this anything is art malarky, but I think he was a joker...unfortunately, the joke's on us.
All this prompted me to dash out a cartoon, which I'll post. An interesting sideline to this is...if everything is art, then we all live our everyday lives surrounded by artifacts that are in fact 'priceless' works of art. Maybe I'll change my name to Marcel Duchamp and flog my worn out washing machine.
Lew.
Posted
Yes it did, Jen. I read somewhere that the Tracy Emin bed sold for 2 million recently. Yes, somebody actually forked out two million of real money for it. You have to remember, unlike most 'art', it has to be 'recreated' everytime it's displayed. It has to be made, unmade, and then re-littered. Can't recall who bought it, apparently it's been 'loaned' to Tate Britain, well, you wouldn't want it in your house, would you? So, if 'ready-made art' is your thing, you know where to find it.
The oddest thing about all this is that Tracy Emin IS an artist, it's all she's ever wanted to be, all she could ever be. I'm NOT an artist...I'm someone who likes dabbling with paintbrushes. Being an artist is a state of mind, not merely a certain nimbleness of hand and eye. So although I don't like her work, I have to concede that she IS an artist. (Hang on...wait a minute...have I lapsed in art babble BS?? Maybe. Sorry. It's infectious.)
Lew.
Posted
I'm with Lewis on this - I am sure AGD really doesn't believe the nonsense he sometimes spouts and that Duchamp was taking the piss - (assuming his urinal was actually used 😊). As for TE I saw her bed and it did nothing for me - perhaps it should be displayed alongside the Urinal - it would make far more sense. On a serious note I do admire her - her marketing skills are top notch and if people fall for them so be it. Certainly her artistic skills are questionable but it's all in the eye of the beholder as we regularly say here on POL.
Posted
Sorry should have added that I DO disagree with Lewis on one point - Lewis you ARE an artist - I often tell people at my sessions that anyone who picks up a marking implement, be it pencil, brush et al, and makes marks is an artist regardless of ability level and shouldn't hold back in using the term. It is a great encouragement to regard yourself as such and can be a great positive half-full state of mind to all who take up this great activity.
Posted
It's the art market that I struggle with. Sometime in the 1970s, when I was very interested in photography and not long from being a student, one Saturday morning the light fell on our unmade bed (a mattress on the floor) and the light & shade on the white sheets, the empty tea mugs, the bedside reading matter etc. was really quite appealing. I spent about an hour photographing it. I do understand and appreciate the art in the ordinary but I also understand why people get so infuriated by unmade beds, tents, and piles of bricks. In Tracy Emin's defence (perhaps) it was Saatchi, that promoted all the YBAs, including Emin and Hirst. They're not going to say 'no thanks. I'd rather live in poverty' are they? The only one of the YBAs I have time for is Jenny Saville. Her drawings and paintings can be quite disturbing but she can draw.
Posted
Lewis your definitely an artist, and one that inspires too. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The difference between you and Tracy Emin is confidence in making others believe. That's what it all boils down too. Of you have the confidence to see yourself as something then no matter how bad you are at it you will succeed.
I have a friend and we both make cards like birthday Xmas etc, I'm not confident in mine and I panic that they are not good enough so I only give mine to family and friends etc, she has all the confidence in the world and sells regularly. Everyone of our friends tell me all the time I'm better and I should sell mine, but I just can't, what if people hate what they receive? See it's all confidence. I have too much self doubt. She has none she's so confident on what she does.