Provocation and Reaction

I remember Mom telling me once about a quilt that was on exhibition in the US, maybe in Houston, and a visitor feeling so aggrieved that they threw paint at it. Who knows why that person was so angry and why they happened to have paint with them, but how good that a quilt, a comfy, cosy, safe thing like a quilt could provoke such an action. To me that was the pinnacle of success!

A blog post about an exhibition that was part of this year's Festival of Quilts was drawn to my attention earlier. The writer was exclaiming how angry she'd felt about a body of work that was on display there. She was upset about the negative way in which she felt it portrayed women, that it perpetuated a myth or a negative state of mind. If you're inclined to do so, you can read it here and draw your own conclusions.

Of course what matters most is not the subject matter, but that the subject matters to the artist. Not to the masses, but to the individual and if it does, it is of course valid and worthy and right and should be exhibited. There is much to be seen in the art quilt world that is bland and forgettable and derivative, second-hand ideas and half-baked concepts. I would rather the work that was being shown was representational of a strong voice, even if it's one I might disagree with. Let's face it, if you're making work that everyone likes then you're in the middle of the road and that's no place to be.

If you see work whose subject matter or concept or driving principle doesn't resonate with you just move on, walk by, there's lots more out there to look at. But don't forget, art is the visual expression of one person's opinion, there's nothing to say that you have to agree with that opinion to appreciate the standpoint of the maker and the validity of their experience and emotion.

Ooh that got a bit heavy, back with something much more light and easy going soon...
Laura
x



Comments

  1. " I would rather the work that was being shown was representational of a strong voice, even if it's one I might disagree with. Let's face it, if you're making work that everyone likes then you're in the middle of the road and that's no place to be."
    That's exactly how I felt as the author of the post referred to above. and I told the artist so - it was great to be challenged and made to think and to have an emotional reaction to work. It was a GOOD thing she evoked a reaction in me. and it was irrelevant whether we agreed or disagreed if we were communicating over art. And It made me think about my art too and my writing - is it something strong enough to provoke a reaction - any reaction?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your take on this, Laura. Unless people are making art specifically to suit a sales market, I agree that whatever an artist portrays is all about the artist and not the audience. No one needs permission to express an opinion and if the viewer has a different opinion, that's about them, not the art work. Self-reflection, though, is always valuable.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Really interesting. The work in question evoked strong reactions in me too, but mainly because I can identify with feeling some of what it was portraying at different times in my life. Whether we agree or disagree with what the work is about, both points of view are valid and I think if a piece of work elicits a reaction then it must be a strong piece of work.
    I guess we all bring our own particular experience and perception to everything we look at, read or hear.
    Loved the show by the way...just didn't have long enough there!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't share Helen's opinion, but I am glad to see her thoughts expressed. Paint-chucking is contemptuous and ignorant but a heated debate is the best possible compliment to an artist. Whilst a work can often express a concept, and be the catalyst of change, the effect can only come about through discussion, a sharing of the experiences which both inform, (and I was one of the women who responded to Linda's research questions) and belie an artwork, (for none of us can truly experience sameness) and then through active shifts in behaviour. Having said all that, (yaddey yah), I do think that as a community of textile artists we should be supportive of each other and cautious with our criticism, ensuring that it is purposeful but kind, persuasive but sensitive, because to be an affected and affective artist and to exhibit, is to have laid down your shield and stood defenceless. Purple prose or what!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have read the article.... but its actually a sentence you have written,which I find very powerful. "....... middle of the road...."
    I like your permission to take that and add it to my blog, need to write it loud and proud in my notebook. Its a goal to aim for.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment