There are lots of issues i have to get off my chest now in the beginning; the artist's statement is one:
Too Smart about Art
"I feel compelled to say something about art, but not too smart.
Almost anything smart about art is too smart.
Saying too much about my art isn't so smart for the art. I don't want to make smart art. I even wish there was another word for art."
I have to admit I committed these lines of cuteness. Un-censured, they popped out when I started to think about the dreaded, sometimes too serious and sometimes fascinating artist statement.
Don't really want to make one, but as I said, I feel compelled because:
Firstly, by really digging into the question of what's driving me I was hoping to clarify this to myself, and by doing that, I would miraculously know what I'm doing and thus do my doings better.......
Secondly, well, it's kind of expected that you're able to come up with somewhat more than a washing label about your work.
I do know what I don't want though - it includes cute, pretentious, constructed, self important or misleading.
What I want to achieve is this; simple, clear, honest... that's much harder.
Simple is what I want - I know it's possible.
There are people who have such brilliant understanding of their profession or interests that they manage to explain it simply, yet scientifically correct to any age group, and still make it interesting - no matter how complicated.
I've written several statements. Now and again I think I'm hitting right on in describing the connection between my thinking and doing.
Then I read it some weeks later and find that no; That's not what I do! Doesn't catch it at all..... and sounds sooo pretentious too.
Guess it's all in having someone else describing your work.....
Like this one in TIME (from December 6th), expressed about the photographer Kwaku Alston;
"Kwaku Alston's job is to capture the hidden facets of recognisable faces...."
Perfect. So simple.
But it sounds slightly pretentious when said about oneself.
My favourite statement, if you can call it that, is one by Jen Worden, fellow designer/artist. She writes a great blog with authentic feel.
She's clear: "I'm not here to make you comfortable."
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