The arts are always a reflection of the times in which they exist. Impressionism was invented during the Industrial Revolution and after the invention of the camera. In the Renaissance, a time of celebration of MAN and everything human kind was capable of, sculptures were of “perfect” human forms (albeit often religious figures, but remember who THE patron was). These are not coincidental circumstances but rather small glimpses into a long tangled web of history and social/cultural influences. Each time the world is in a period of transition the arts reflect this and here we are transitioning again.
Damien Hirst: For the Love of God” at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence on view November 26, 2010 – May 1, 2011
Today, galleries celebrate artists who use animal carcasses like Damien Hirst (yes you can infer my opinion on this subject). In fact, artists who make these kinds of choices today are heavily rewarded for such decisions. The Tate just last week awarded a sound artist The Turner Prize (a visual arts award). It is as if the idea of being visual is actually repugnant and doing things that just might make people smile, that would invite a greater audience to appreciate the arts, is foolish. Or, gasp, dare I say it: commercial?
Where is the art world turning to? What is next? I certainly hope no more Damien Hirsts. Art is becoming ever more self-absorbed, elite and uninviting. Since when has art had an impact on people and made a difference? There is a history of such occurrences. Look at the Guerilla Girls for example. This group of anonymous artist women dress as gorillas (get the word play?) and make public appearances and create art as a team for social commentary and social justice. Why are we not more focused as an artist culture on promoting and celebrating changes for the better?
Do women have to be naked to get into U.S. musuems? China 2007 A Guerilla Girl Action
Is post modern art now truly history? What is next? In a world so inundated with images, has the fine arts lost a role of visual importance? Has seeking to redefine its role alienated even more people from its world and made it increasingly more elite?
All of this makes me reflect on my 52 week project: were my mostly self-portraits a selfish endeavor? Should my commitment for the coming year be no self-portraits? Has my endeavor been supporting and buying into the above ideas?! I did them because I was scared to ask others to pose, because it was faster and easier to use my own face. Since when is the easy way out the right way? And while people can learn from my art, would engaging others in the process open my art to more people?
Why do I like portraiture? Because I can focus on real people. Why do I like silly faces? It feels more genuine, a less posed version (insert irony here) than traditional poses that lead to a specific interpretation. How can I reach that tangible, genuine state in my art and share it with others?
JR resonates with me so much probably for the above reasons. He uses funny faces as a means to address a serious topic and force people to see the real people who are everyday heroes, who live in the impoverished, alienated areas of the world. I want to paint to make a difference like JR. (See my post on the Artist JR for more information on this amazing man).
Be Creatively Courageous: How might your art impact others? Share your experiences in the comments below.
As far as the Guerrilla Girls poster and message goes I’d say that there is nothing strange about the situation. Men have always been more open about their sexual desires. Men are the ones that chase women and are more willing or anxious to get into sexual relations so is it bad or strange that they express some of it in their art. And in the contemporary art world I’d say there’s almost an equal amount of female painters who are free to do the same if they feel so, I at least haven’t come across too many that do. Jenny Saville, Paula Rego, Kathe Kollwitz are some very great artists in my opinion but their interests seem to be in other places, all good in my opinion and no need to complain about the amount of nude females in paintings by men.
Best,
Paul
Thank you Paul for your thoughts! My point in the post of including that image was more that less than 3% of artists exhibited IN the museum are women and its ironic that there are more women on walls as visuals than women artists. I’m glad to see the post seems to have generated some interest and thought from you. Best wishes!
Definitely understand the point but it speaks to the systematic controlling of gendered positions. For me, the point is more about the issue that women would have less chance for exploring these themes due to societal pressures. Simply put, would an emerging male artist have a better chance at appreciation than a female contemporary? Before the point of name recognition, or to get to that point?
I’ve had many friends shot down on sexual work of a tame nature because they were labelled as sluts and whores.
Absolutely Brad. I completely agree. Thank you for joining in on this conversation.
Men have been more “open” about their sexual desires because there was a history of shame around women talking about sex. Back when women were unable to vote they were not allowed to speak about sex because it was thought it wasn’t a topic for women to talk about. It’s not that men are naturally more open and women are more anxious about the topic, it’s that men in society conditioned women to be this way. Bad take
Thank you for this. Yes. Yes. Yes.
I feel I cannot, financially, afford to be an artist. However, as I’m writing this, I’m re-membering the world renown French artist who as a housekeeper, made paint from fruit juice, and painted sitting on the floor. She had a nerveous breakdown and spent the rest of her life sequestered in a group home. What was her name?
Hi Christine, I don’t know of the artist you speak of, but I promise you there are affordable materials and sometimes that brings the spark you need to create. Paper artist Jenn Stark discovered her medium because she had little money and it was the cheapest item in the art store. I know artists who work on cardboard, use paper mache (all you need is newspaper and glue), who work with discarded pencils, or even go to the garbage dump to collect items for their art. Collage is also a very affordable art medium. Don’t let that inner critic limit you: you deserve to create. No one needs fancy materials to be an artist <3 You already are one.
Carry I don’t get it, didn’t you also wrote an article about the fact that it was a good idea to give permission to all artist to create art just for the joy of it. Now you say all artist should have something relevant to say and all that stress to talk about social issues. The thing is we all want to say something important but I find that many clients do not always want art that reminds them of all the problems in this world and they also see art as an scape from stress. I have that dilemma in my work because deciding if my art is about joy or about awareness creates a completely different body of work. Artists need to care about profits because without it they can’t create anything.
Hi Sasha,
I suggest you read this article again. I’m talking specifically about the art world and its gatekeepers, and how I think we should ALL be the gatekeepers, and feel entitled to participate in the arts and culture, not feel like outsiders because we “don’t get” some of the art.
How is this not aligned with my other messaging?
Warmly,
Carrie
Oh thank you for the answer! Yes I do agree with this post. As a woman and an artist I would tell you that sadly in the art industry it is also other women who would not support women. In ten years in my career is women who have never given opportunities and in fact they have try to obstruct my career. I think is sad because it comes from the same roots of gender control in a financial system and cultural system where women can’t get most opportunities and men get the jobs with better salaries.
I’m sorry that has been your experience Yvonne <3 Thank you for sharing it. I'm fortunate that I'm seeing great organizations and women run galleries who are showing up and their goal is to uplift other women. I hope that positivity spreads far and wide.