The Artistic Dilemma
Agnes Martin, the minimalist and abstract expressionist, gave a talk to the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1987. In that talk, she said the artist must look to himself, get to know his true and unconditioned self. For that reason Agnes said that the artist creates the culture and should give up the feeling that he is part of the existing culture and give up human knowledge and advice from anyone, depending on his mind for ideas. Additionally, she believed that artists do not choose to be artists; they have to do what they have to do.For that reason
Fiction VS Non-Fiction
It clarified some of my feelings about art, but I disagreed with her view that “the artist must give up non-fiction.” It is true that this belief was the base of art in the 20th century and was its weakness and strength. Art based on fiction and emotions in response to the real world is at risk of merely imaging the pain of life, death, and turmoil of the human experience. To put it another way, hiding in an illusion, the artist does not give hope or direction for man to create a new world. Instead, the artist becomes a sophisticated doodler. A default result occurs when the artist has little or no training in the skills of drawing, painting, or sculpture and has nothing to say.
The Connection of Art and Knowledge
Historically, periods of technical skill and beauty in art coincided or proceeded periods of great leaps in knowledge and technological advancement. As a result, art is closer to an idea of perfection; it is when the artist can soar like a bird. Releasing the mind, pen, or brush from the bonds of convention. In fact possibly giving a new view of our world, the artist works with observation, analysis, discovery, and inspiration.
Art lost connection to its historic goals. With the invention of the camera, artists became obsolete. Oscar Wilde saved the day by selling the world on the idea of “Art for Art’s Sake” Previously, paintings inspired religious zeal by showing pictures of biblical events for people who could not read. The artist recorded historical events and people’s appearances or even explained scientific thinking( Leonardo Da Vinci). Art went beyond simple emotional responses to war, illness, beauty, and color. With impressionism and the other isms, the artist was free, and as time progressed, artists could emote, self-indulge, and doodle, often with curious images that artists could not explain.
Artists lost the skills of the old masters, and critics lost the ability to judge.
Today, painting is either photographic, sometimes even copied from photographs often designed to confuse, mystify or shock the viewer.
Art is not a pure replication of reality.
Real artistic pursuit is like walking along the ridge of a roof. You may slide down on the side that will take you into lifeless accuracy or slip down the other side with the result, meaningless line, and color. Undoubtedly, it is holding both at the same time, which is the real challenge of the artist. Art is this challenge that is the gift that the artist can give to the world. To that end it is this position that I have tried to hold on to, walking on the edge, not slipping down one side or the other. I hope you enjoy seeing the efforts I have made to climb back to the ridgeline.ArtUndoubtedly
New Mediums a Loss or a Gain
Computer skills may offer a new medium to replace the pencil and brush. Indeed we can see great results in movies and advertising. The knowledge and organization required to get results mean the solitary artist is up against obstacles challenging to overcome with the decline in the technical skills of drawing, painting, and sculpture.