What others think is not what should drive your life.
I find that people are too caught up in what others think of them, and more often than not, these people seem to be some of the most insecure people. This is probably because they are living life too sheltered. Almost like taking the easy way out by appeasing anyone and everyone. Sometimes, you learn more when you venture out on your own. You learn from your mistakes. You grow from your experiences. (That is unless you're too stubborn to admit you were wrong).
This concept seems all too familiar in the art school.
Since when did we have to start making art for everyone else? Isn't art a means of expressing oneself or raising awareness for another cause? Maybe I got it all wrong. I agree that art should be viewed by a wide spectrum of people; however, I don't think you should change your concept or idea because people are uncomfortable with it or don't understand it (of course constructive criticism is welcome).
I recall last semester, a fellow student of mine had an installation set up. She did not put up an artist statement because she did not want the statement to serve as a bias for other people's interpretation of the installation. She wanted the individual experiencing the installation to create their own meaning for the work. Of course, she was willing to share her idea if asked, but she wanted that initial experience to be something of its own to each person.
When it came to critique, our graduate assistant/teacher criticized her for not having an artist statement. When the student explained how her lack of an artist statement was part of the concept, the GA grilled her even harder. It was a very intense moment in the class. Everyone was silent; we were shocked at the response.
I sat there speechless and stayed that way until class let out. Is this really art? Is this how they teach you to be an artist? I didn't know there were such guidelines on creating art. I was angry, disheartened... discouraged, really. Where is that freedom of expression?
I don't know.
I want to say that if this is art, then count me out; however, I am not afraid to defy all things "art" that this school teaches. If anything, that is going to be my semester long project.
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Hmm...you know, I have had a lot of similar experiences in my studio classes at UGA. I get uncomfortable about writing a statement, or defending my work during a critique, because most of my work is a reaction to very personal experiences that I don't necessarily want to describe to the whole class. I mean, that's why I make photography: to express my emotions in a strong, yet ambiguous way. One of my favorite positive responses to a photo series was that the viewers could perceive, from the photos I'd taken of my husband, the intimacy & familiarity of our relationship. This is exactly what I was going for--without having to describe all the details of my very personal relationship.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can understand why instructors want us to learn how to write statements and defend & explain our work. Of course part of it has to do with being able to sell one's self--you're not gonna be able to get grant $ or clients if you can't explain what your work is about in a way that makes sense to others (especially those who don't consider themselves artistically-inclined). But, also, it can be helpful to be able to look at one's own work and analyze & explain it. After I stopped being pissed-off that I felt forced into a box of art-vocabulary, I tried to use the statement to my advantage...to really dig deeply and figure out what my work is about. 'Cos, honestly, it's soooo easy to make up some cop-out excuse, like, "I just like taking pictures of beautiful things." And I hear people give these excuses all the time at art school: "well, my original idea didn't work out, I couldn't figure out the color balance just right, I didn't have time to shoot enough film...etc....so this is what I got, and I know it sucks but I think it's pretty cool." (Ugh, that's the worst...when an artist tries to excuse their work right off the bat, or when an artist tells the viewers the work alreaady "sucks." To me, that's just babyish fishing for compliments.)
Anyway...I personally feel that if I am going to be an artist, I have to go all-out, I have to really CARE about what I'm doing. Part of really caring is being able to understand and explain WHY I like photographing the things I do, and what I am trying to express with those photos. I like photographing a lot of "cliche" subjects as well (like abandoned buildings, or people playing music)...but, being able to describe WHY I like it helps me to feel like it's less of a cliche.
Art school is a really weird environment...it's not really your own world, but it's definitely not "the real world" or "the art world" either. In order to help myself grow as an artist, I've tried to put something personal into every assignment, even the most mundane Foundations courses... I figured, if I don't want to feel like I'm being made to simply follow orders & make art the way other people tell me to, then it's up to ME to make the assignments worthwhile & try to create something meaningful each time. Otherwise, it's far too easy to get burnt out on "this business of art."
-stacey-marie (smp10@uga.edu -- I'm in ARST2800 w/you :)