I'm moving this discussion here because, well, it's become a dialogue, and damn if this blog isn't called "The Dialogue." So to catch up, read my original post and Tiina's reply.
Tiina, I agree that "art = life" makes sense as a metaphor, rallying cry, or Zen koan. Where I believe it possibly falls short is in creating a useful theory of art, and Ben has finally convinced me that knowledge of theory is actually important in the work of an artist (okay, it wasn't Ben that convinced me per se, but he was the first to try, so I'm giving him the credit).
The more I think about your reply, the more I'm convinced that I also disagree that art doesn't need to be seen (or heard, or felt, or tasted, or smelt). I don't believe a painting is itself art. Art isn't a thing so much as something that happens (kind of like love). It exists somewhere between the painting and the person looking at it. Art is communication, and I guess you could say people communicate with themselves all the time. For me, however, the connection isn't complete until someone else sees it (or hears it, or feels it, or tastes it, or smells it).
P.S. I also agree that shoes on a power line are a kind of folk art akin to graffiti. Hmm. Anyone up for a shoes on a power line project?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
A uses B to communicate C to D.
That's my definition of Art. "A" being what we have come to call "the artist" "B" being what we call "art" - and "D" being the Audience... Let's fill in the blanks a bit.
Bob uses painting to communicate "his sadness" to Sarah.
Victor uses "shoes on a powerline" to communicate a sense of impossibility possible to "the people of Los Angeles."
You get the idea. B is Art. So - I think you both are right _ yea, we don't have to see it to be it art - but I don't think the FULL CIRCLE of art isn't complete until someone experiences it.
As for C - well, that's what so many people argue over... Me and Tiina have recently been discussing this thing called Art Racism. Where assholes such as myself will call other people "not an artist" when basically I'm just judging their "purpose" - their C.
Sometimes, Art can be just to entertain.
Ron Howard uses Movies to communicate his joy of entertaining to Audiences.
Movies are Ron Howard's art form and Ron Howard - by definition - is an artist.
Yuck.
But, it's fact. I'll post more on Art Racism once I get a hold of it a bit more... but that's what I think. I think that sort of defines it. Art can be so many things.
My Mother uses Fowl Language and Anger to communicate her frustration to Me.
Sometimes Art isn't pretty.
I heart Art Racism and it's convoluted nature.
I suppose I view the original artist as an observer, an audience to their own piece- so really once that individual views his/her piece, it may or may not become art for them. Because as always, what is art to one is not art to another. I don't necessarily think that anything can be offically deemed art, because we evaluate each piece for our selves- just like, as you said, love. If one person loves something, and then I encounter the same something it's quite possible that I may not fall in love. So neither love, nor art is universal.
I think our main difference is that I believe that the original artist viewing their piece alone may deem it as art (for them, and them alone- no universality, cause that's of course, impossible), versus you need a third party. It's art with a purpose (A-B-C-D: communicate with others) versus art with no purpose (A uses B to communicate C to A: not to necessarily communicate with others).
I just really believe we can't quantify it no matter how hard we try.
PS. shoe project? that is so my dream and I am so game. Build it and she will come.
PPS. Ben has been doing too many logic puzzles. :)
I love that Ben has admitted to being an art racist toward Ron Howard.
Love and art seem to have a lot in common, I guess, not the least of which is that each are used to express a multiplicity of (sometimes contradictory) concepts. But before Ryan makes fun of our pretentious conversation again, I'll move on to something else.
Post a Comment