Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Work of An Artist

I (don't) follow one of my colleague's blog- I check in now and then- to see what is being promoted. And that is the story- promotion. It is depressing. The latest share comes from interviewing a well known "icon" in the art world. From it we get the following suggested path to being a famous (not good, mind you) artist, the five or so rules can be distilled to this- be a personality (being John Malkovich) and promote, promote, promote it. Not a discussion about the work, but about the maker.

I find the self serving, constant use of "I" and "me" in each and every context an affront on the very core of being an artist. Sure, we as artists are by nature egoist in mentality. But it is the work, the audience, and the maker that are at the core of good works, not the maker alone. Or to describe it visually- picture a triangle (isosceles, please) containing a circle that tangentially meets all sides, a yantra of a sort.

The vortices of the triangle represent the maker, the object, and the viewer independently. The circle represents works that attempt to reflect what art should do- engage and enlighten. Works that lie outside of the circle and at the vortex of any two sides fail. They are either about self (get analysis), or pandering (full of insecurities), or tchotchkes (possible virtuosity aside).

Of course our media sources love the attraction of a "character" and the art world has had it's share. And this is the Commercial Design area I am talking about. But really, so much energy spent on what seems to be so little ground breaking: the self is the work; the work needs promotion; the promotion becomes the work. Seems like the wrong circle to be drawing...

2 (and a half) very good triangles

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