What is Art?

I love interacting with art both contemporary and traditional art. However contemporary art often receives a bad reputation for being something that “anyone can do”.  I was talking with one of my friends who is actually a fine arts student (and in my opinion does some fantastic work). We were talking about what it takes to be an artist and what some of the students are working on currently. What they are working on is often highly conceptual, and the main complaint is that the public often does not enjoy or understand their work and why it is considered art. Most people enjoy traditional art because they can easily see the technical skill involved in its creation. There is often a clear message and story involved. It is seen to be worth a lot because of the amount of labor hours put into the work, expressed in the precise and detailed painting and drawing skills. A talent that few people are seen to possess.

Contemporary art on the other hand is often criticised as something that “anyone can do” with little skill or talent. However I believe that there is a lot of talent and skill that goes into creating a contemporary piece, but that it is manifested in different ways and is harder to discern. Saying that it is hard to justify why a plain mirror in the gallery in London, is artwork and worth a couple of thousand dollars despite the fact it looks exactly like a mirror you could have bought from IKEA for $10. And this is where the intention behind art comes into play. Art is all about intention. Sure “anyone can do it” but they haven’t, and that’s the point. As a Artists you have to convince other people of your artworks worth, you have to have them engage with the artwork for it to be of any value.  You aren’t just putting up a mirror, you have to explain what’s the idea of putting up a mirror in an art gallery. When someone else questioned “Why don’t you just write a book” if art is meant to have all these meanings and ideas behind it. Well that’s a different medium. The point of art is that it is visual manifestation of ideas. It is something physical that all can see, and take from it what they want.

Some of my favourite artworks are by contemporary artists such as Ron Mueck and Patricia Picinini. I think their work easily shows the skill and technical ability that can go into contemporary artworks. Ron Mueck is an Australian Hyperrealist sculptor and I would recommend seeing him if you ever get the chance. 

Ron Mueck, Big Baby II (1997), polyester resin, fiberglass, silicone, synthetic hair. 

These are huge sculptures and even those in my family who have little interest in art of any kind can stand back and appreciate the work. There is an overwhelming sense of scale and grandness to Mueck’s work which contrasts with the brilliant small details in the work.

Ron Mueck, Mask II (2001-2), mixed media.

The other Artist Patricia Piccinini (Another fantastic Australian artist in my opinion) looks at modern issues and concepts that are facing our world. She deals with ideas such as genetically modified organisms, the use of science to enhance nature, and our own ethical responsibilities. She uses all types of media to portray her ideas but I particularly like her sculptures.  

Patricia Piccinini, The Long Awaited (detail) 2008 Silicon, fibreglass, human hair, Plywood, leather, clothing 152 x 80 x 92cm 

Taking it to more extreme forms of Contemporary Art. I was confronted with the fact that even I have limitations to what I think is artistic expression. Casey Jenkin is an Australian Feminist Performance Artist. And when I saw/read about her latest artwork I was turned off and did not like it at all. I felt that it was purely done for shock value. Her artwork is vaginal knitting (no pictures this time). When asked about it Jenkin’s aim was to address taboos surrounding women’s bodies and female genitalia by attaching it to a normal traditional activity; such as knitting. While in theory I agree with what she is trying to do I think her artwork fundamentally fails to engage with its audience and turns people off. And that at the end of the day is what I think makes art valuable and what defines something as art and not something you walk by without a second glance. Its ability to engage with its audience. 

-Mrouge-

The Writers

So a while back I asked Andrea to write a post for me and my friends got offended that they weren't ask. Ok, they weren't offended but you know.

The idea here is to take turns to write one post a week and if we feel the urge, to post more, but hopefully at least one a week.

There isn't a plan on what we'll write. There's no particular topic of posts and conversation that we're all going to write about. I guess if there had to be a plan it would be to write what we want and generate some dialogue. I'm not going to lie, I have no idea how this is going to turn out. Hopefully it'll be fun, serious and a little bit distracting for everyone, readers and writers alike.

Each of the writers are vastly different. We have vastly different personalities, different levels of enthusiasms, different opinions and different styles of writing. But its not like, I chose these three, just randomly. They've all been reading my blog, telling me when they don't agree and when they do. They've all been there to lend advice, an ear or an opinion for me when its been required.

Josh: 

Differences: Not even from Melbourne, calls dinner tea

Became friends like normal people would

I've known Josh the longest. We have had the most conventional of friendship. We've been to all the parties, all the birthdays, all the day trips, the classes and been through stupid drama together. In the whole time I've known him, Josh is the neutral one of any group (or circle); the one listening to all the opinions before gently extracting an opinion out of it. He has tempered some of my more unconventional opinions more than once. Charimatic and disgustingly popular, Josh with all his 'diplomatic' skills and his pacifist stance on the world, makes him the most useful person to think your thought process through with. If anyone makes Josh take a stance on a topic, then you're doing well very (very) well

Andrea:

Differences: doesn't follow world politics (extensively)

Became friends via snap chat (because we're cool kids, My snapchat score would be about half of what it would be if it wasn't for Andrea.)

Andrea and I were placed in the same group for one of our engineering assignments. Over the past few years, Andrea has been the one most likely to challenge my opinions on stuff. Its easy to make friends with people who agrees with you, but so much harder to make friends with someone who is willing to post a challenge.  Without a doubt, Andrea and I have the most polarising opinion. I don't know if its fair to say, but Andrea is more likely than me to adopt the more popular and conventional opinion. But unlike most, Andrea can justify the 'popular' opinion (her opinion) without using the wonderfully useful argument ending line of  "everyone else agrees with me."

Steph:

Differences: doesn't go to Melbourne University

Became friends from that one night

If Josh and I have a conventional friendship, then Steph and I have the opposite. We skipped that stage where you make small talk for months and months and just became friends. Steph and I relish the chance to be proven right and go against popular opinion. In many ways, we're the cynical representing all the dark opinions that normal people would not normally voice out loud. For the most part, we agree on a lot of things and leave a lot of things unsaid, because  lets be honest, small talk isn't the most enjoyable thing in the world. For the most part, we have a good grasp on each other's opinion on topical conversation so we don't argue a lot. We're judgmental of everyone and everything which inevitably means that we're the harshest critic of ourselves. Because we're both stubborn people, too often we just agree to disagree.

At the end of the day, we're not afraid to disagree. Recently former US. President Clinton said, "We are less racist, sexist, and homophobic than we've ever been, but we do have one continuing problem:we don't want to be around anyone who disagrees with us. More than ever before."

Lets see how Sweet Sour Disposition will turn out.

~TastyJacks~