When “It” Stays With You

“It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.”
― Albert Einstein

Recently I have wandered into various Contemporary Galleries… (and this should be said…just because you/I or anyone else that is an artist, doesn’t mean we like all art! <—I don’t think I’m alone in this? I dislike Dada…and to say dislike is an understatement and Contemporary art makes me question my own sanity and why I journeyed into the experience in the first place but that being said…) I did in fact wander into multiple Contemporary Galleries this past week and while some work did very little for me there were some pieces of work that really stayed with me and not because I liked them all that much but more so because I can’t seem to stop questioning them.

In thought I am reminded of what art really is. I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Joseph Comellas an artist that resides in Santa Fe and has been successful in his career as an artist painting beautiful organic landscapes in bold beautiful colors using oils. Mr Comellas posed the question, and I am paraphrasing, if I thought painting with acrylic was just a fad?

I couldn’t help but think what an odd question/thought. Hadn’t acrylics been around since the 1900’s. I know it is considered a modern medium and perhaps Manet would scoff at the use of acrylics. However Manet is considered to be the father of impressionism is he not? Impressionism was change brought about in new technique, new methods of thought to deliver art and evoke emotion. Now there are purists in art using traditional methods, oil, charcoal, conte…etc..and they have their ideals when it comes to media but is it right to consider acrylics a fad? I happen to LOVE oils…I also happen to be allergic to them…Ergo my alternative is ACRYLIC (So I really hope it is not just a fad…) *worried brow look with eyes wide and questioning???* 

(And though this post is not about acrylics vs oils it plays a roll in the thought process of what makes art art?)

In a contemporary gallery you never know just what you will get as far as media is concerned and if you enter a contemporary gallery for the very first time with the thought that you may see some unusual paintings…you may be in for a big shock when you wander around the gallery and never see a single painting!

My experience thus far with contemporary art has been similar to my reaction to the Dada movement…(let’s just put it this way, at the mention of Duchamp my blood begins to boil! The mere thought of having to look at another picture of that dog gone urinal aka “The Fountain” or “Bicycle Wheel” makes me want to gouge out my eyes) *mayhaps a bit over dramatic but still* And what really gets to me is the man could paint and I actually enjoy his paintings!

 

Bride/Mariee – Duchamp – oil on Canvas 89.5×55.25cm The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

Now Contemporary art, for me, has been an experience to where it is similar to my reaction to Dada but I don’t completely loathe it just yet. My experience at the exhibition FEAST at Site Santa Fe in April 2014 was honestly my first real experience in a full Contemporary art setting, that wasn’t in a book or on the internet…shameful I know… but after walking through the exhibition I knew the gods were methodically keeping me away for a reason!  While some work stayed with me…others did not and again not because I particularly enjoyed them…If you have never heard of Felix Gonzalez-Torres and his Candy installation, read the story behind it and then tell me if it is a “joyful” experience, especially after you’ve taken a candy from the pile. If anything there was a sense of guilt but it did stay with me as a memorable display as I am now writing about it…

Felix Gonzalez-Torres – Candy

 

Similar to Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s Candy

Ai WeiWei – Plastic Crabs

Ai WeiWei’s determination and perseverance as a Chinese contemporary artist and the messages he delivers with his work, for me, puts him on a well respected platform. His work is one of the reasons I continue to walk into Contemporary galleries since my first experience at Site Santa Fe and hold on to the hope that I will experience something that really stays with me!

(candy? Plastic Crabs?…and I suddenly fear Acrylic being a fad? not that I am calling Candy or Plastic Crabs a fad at all but they are different and definitely not oil paintings or any other traditional media) ahhh…the mark of Contemporary!

So then what is art and what makes “it” art? My answer is “When “it” stays with you! <— it really is that simple! 

The work of art can make you angry, happy, sad, joyful, thoughtful so on and so forth…now…as mentioned above, Dada and Duchamp… it is art…sadly…and I don’t have kind thoughts on it, clearly…but it is art and I do have thoughts, many and as a result I can’t even argue that it isn’t art.

With all this thought on art a new form of art has been brought to my attention and it is definitely staying with me and I can’t help but question it. Maybe it isn’t even new art really, but it is new to me. I am even tempted to create a piece to see what artistic process I go through in the creation. Within the Contemporary galleries I have ventured into since that fateful April day…I have come across projected media in various ways. The work is not a painting on a canvas/panel/wall, it is not stationary in that it is film and the delivery through projection is repeated in sequences some with sound some without. My questions for it are, “Is it more film experimentation/animation rather than an installation?”, “What classifies it as Contemporary art?”. I can’t help but think about Metallica’s One video and see influence of this video movement in Contemporary art. I can’t help but want to experiment myself and I can’t even decide whether I actually like it or loathe it! I am curious however and I want to know artistically what I go through in the process. I love to film things and I love creating my own music so I know this is a challenge I can take on. Stay tuned as mind is really wanting to travel down this rabbit hole!

 

For now I leave you with some examples in “video art”…including Metallica’s One video let me know what your thoughts are!

 

 

 

 

Art – When “it” stays with you!

 

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