Concepts, Anyone?
Article Submitted by:
February 06, 2008
I find myself a part of conversations where many still believe that Art has been reduced to nothing worthy of praise. The social part of me tends to tactfully question the provoker(s) of this particular mindset. The selfish part of me tends to immediately defend the name of Art with both fists. And kicking stances.
Generally, what these provokers mean is that Realism Painting has diminished in painters and quantity.
Of course it has! For how long does the still life of three oranges and a wine glass stay original?! And The Crucifixion?
I would warrant the originality, and therefore: creativity of any artist who chooses to stay in the studio of their first painting lessons.
Please do not mistake the prior statement as an insult to those who do spend years on the same kinds of paintings. I truly believe that it is with practice that one becomes better; and with more popularity their paintings gain, their art becomes a signature style (Picasso, Van Gogh, Gaughin, Rembrandt, to name a few).
What I mean is, even Van Gogh has contributed works that an untrained eye could never recognize as his. It is with every experience and style that an artist can grow and realize the purpose and meaning behind their artwork. Whether it be trivial or significant, there is always something that their work gives back to their creator. But, I digress.
There have been artists in our more recent history (and yes, 1910 is still recent to me), who have changed the function of art as a mere visual practice. With Duchamp's urinal entry into a New York show in 1917, conceptual art was significantly influenced.
There is nothing beautiful or masterful about a ready-made Urinal. There is instead, something disgustingly hilarious about an already influential artist submitting such an item (Under a pen name, to add to the scene).
Skipping decades of art history ahead...
Jackson Pollock, Joseph Beuys, Orlan, Marina Abramovic, Chris Burden, and... well, Abstract art.
Such artists have expanded (width-fully) into performance art, political art, social art... the list continues. Artists now have concepts behind their work- whether it is to stand up for a political issue, or to displace stereotypes, or to set right an act of injustice.
Art has inherited a new purpose: To Speak. It no longer just sits there and looks pretty. It takes stands, rights wrongs, wakes up our leaders, and changes the world as we know it.
What isn't great about that?
