Sunday, January 5, 2014

What it's About

One of my favorite art instructors was/is well known for asking us the tough questions.  First and foremost: What is it about?
     "Yes, I see what it is," she'd say, "but what is it about?"  What it is and what it's about are rarely one and the same when it comes to art.  As artists, we want our work to communicate something to the viewer, but a painting of an apple does not necessarily mean to convey the idea, "here's an apple."  Visual art, like a written passage, is not very satisfying if it doesn't require you to make inferences.  Most readers/viewers will tend to feel cheated if the creator of the work hits them over the head with their message, and it's also just not very interesting.

When I showed my latest piece to my family on Christmas day, my son-in-law wanted to know what I was thinking when I made it; he wanted to know what it's about. A legitimate question, but for me, it's not always an easy one to answer.  I mean, I know what it's about, but it's always difficult to put it into words.  After all, if I were good at putting words together, I'd be a writer, not an artist. For me, creating meaning from color and line and form is so much easier. But it's our responsibility, isn't it, to help others interpret what we've created.


Theory of Flight
ingredients: vintage book cover; vintage book pages, ledger page, children's writing paper and book parts; image transfers; vintage stamps; vintage map fragment; found objects; brass wire; acrylic ink; hand stitching; feathers


So here's what I told him :
I was thinking about flight, and how unlikely it seems. Like, how do things fly if they're heavier than air?  I know there is a scientific mechanism, called lift, but really, when you think about it, it just defies common sense.
We talked about how there is a fundamental mystery about it, something we can't really fully understand just by using our senses.  I guess the pulley and those other metal things represent the scientific theory, the causation of something happening, how it affects something else which causes something else to happen... and you have flight.  But really, isn't it a bit like magic? The objects, feathers and drawing could just as easily represent a magic spell as something scientific.

As we discussed this, I felt like he 'got it', and was able to come to a deeper appreciation of the piece, as opposed to just seeing it as something decorative.  And I was wondering what other artists think about this aspect of being creative.  Do you think we should be able to talk about our work, or are the viewers 'on their own' so to speak?  How much do you explain, and how much do you leave to their own interpretation?






p.s. I apologize for the terrible quality of the photo, but I have tried numerous times with a borrowed 'point-and-shoot', and they never come out totally in focus. Anyone know somebody with a used DSLR they want to sell?


15 comments:

  1. love your explanation Sharmon! sn an illustrator and glass engraver I have been compelled to try to tell the whole story in all it's wondrous detail leaving nothing to the viewer's imagination but am learning (after a lifetime of maing and looking at art) that it is a much more satisfying experience if just enough detail is offered to engage the imagination, then the work can fly, as your work does so well!

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    1. oh yikes too many typos but you get the jist?

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    2. you're so right, Mo; it's important not to overdo the explanation; give them just enought to go on, and let them take it from there!

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  2. I know and can relate to exactly what you are saying Sharmon - fair call we artists' are not writers, I too have learnt along the way (as my assemblage works at times are extremely challenging to explain), most folk are wanting an insight as to what motivates us to make the work we make. Sometimes not an easy task... when you can arrive at a place of commonground with the viewer that is asking for more then comes a sense of connection and deeper appreciation to the work in question which is a very rewarding experience on it's own.

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    1. ps. this is a very lovely piece too! :-)

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    2. Hi Kim, and thanks. Yes, I do think it's important and worthwhile to communicate to viewers about our motivation; I also agree that it's not always easy. Many times those looking at our work are not artists, and need some guidance toward an interpretation. Besides, no one will buy art they feel stupid about, right?

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  3. A beautiful piece,,,, which for me,,,,speaks for itself. I am either turned on by good technique...especially in watercolor,,,,i.e. if someone is a good "negative" painter,etc....I guess cause I know how much work it takes to get to that point when you can "see" that way and then to be able to accomplish it on paper,,,etc. Even apples turn me on:) even when it is just and apple for apples-sake... Your piece has a wonderful story......but I don't like discussing it,,,,I just feel it. If that makes any sense at all:) and I find most of the time when the discussion starts it ruins the mystery of the piece and takes away from the impact,,,,,but that is just me.

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    1. Cynnie, I agree about a piece speaking for itself, but I also will admit there have been times when I could have used a hint or a clue. I don't really like discussing it either, but if someone asks, is it rude to say "figure it out yourself"? Lol Thanks for commenting, and don't worry about proofreading, I knew what you meant. :~) xo

      p.s. i like your point about the mystery and taking away from the impact- also true.

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  4. ohhhh proofread before I press publish....AN apple.....................eeeeeks!

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  5. hello Sharmon, sometimes i think some people have, like talent to look at art and others have to learn how to do it. taking the time to look , taking in colors and mood, forms, images, graphics and asking themselves what do i see and feel looking at this work .maybe also a matter of being open and aware of one's own senses.
    sometimes people are maybe a bit 'lazy' when looking at art ;)
    titles are good to give a hint, making it a bit easier to understand what the artist is telling or feeling,i like looking at a work not knowing the title and than after some moments look at the title to see if my experience matches it.
    it is as you say, we know what it is about but sometimes that isn't easy to put into words and even than i don't believe we have to explain every detail.

    i love the movement in this work of yours. it makes me want to make flight movements with my arms ;),(we have had a lot of fierce wind here lately and i was watching the 'acrobatic' birds, amazing) i like the diamond forms in it and the colors.
    it makes perfect sense to me, it's beautiful
    xx
    happy 2014!

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    1. I agree with you completely, Renilde. I think some people have to be taught how to look at art, which is what 'art appreciation' courses are for, I suppose. Being open, yes, that can also be hard for some. Titles are a big help, too, in most cases. Thank you so much for the kind words! Happy new year to you!

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  6. excellent post, and I am confronted with this for every show and for that matter whenever I show my work to anyone who is not an artist! It certainly helps, I think, to explain what we were thinking or trying to convey to non artists, because they want to understand what it means... which I find odd.. why can't they just appreciate the piece? Funny about the artist/writer comment... my cousin is a writer and she is the one who always asks me..."what does it mean?" Drives her crazy that I use book pages in my work and she tries to read them!! Whatever!!
    I personally do not feel the need to have any artist explain their work to me, nor do I need an artist's statement. I prefer to let the work speak to me, and I interpret it using their artistic language, imagery or not... to me your piece said... flight, movement communication and a connection with the scientific... but it is also just very... COOL!

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    1. Cat, it's interesting that you say you don't need an explanation; I think that we, as artists, have more of a familiarity with the language, so to speak, than some people do. For example, I didn't really 'get' dance very well until I learned more about it by becoming a dancer. I also wonder if they're afraid they'll be wrong in their interpretation, and feel foolish or embarrassed. It's weird, but I guess it takes practice... or maybe just being open to the emotional message.... Thanks also for sharing what my piece says to you. xxoo

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  7. When I've been at an opening and someone asks me what one of my paintings is about, I always say, "I'd love to hear what the painting says to you first and then I'll tell you I was thinking when I was painting it". That way I learn from them and they learn from me and we have an interesting dialogue about it. Which is what art is about, I think. We are speaking to an audience through color, form, imagery, media....etc. We're not always there to have an actual conversation usually, so I like to jump on the opportunity to hear what their thoughts are before I tell them mine.
    Writing is part of my creative process and it's so necessary for me to feel like a painting is resolved. But that's just me! Great question. And I love your piece.

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    1. Bridgette, I like what you say about asking the questioner what they see in it first- I'll try to remember that! I do consider my art- the image- to be the message, as it's in a visual language of its own. Thanks for commenting and for the kind words. I hope you're having a lovely new year so far!

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