I don't like writing artists statements anymore. I'm assuming that when I put my best art foot forward the person looking at my work is not visually illiterate - especially considering the context in which an artist statement is asked for. If I apply for any kind of grant or residency that requires one I'm tempted to get cheeky. A-la Bruce Banner: Don't make me get cheeky, you wouldn't want to see me when I'm cheeky. I do my best writing in a conversational form. Many of my old posts on this blog are of stories or hypothetical ideas. I write (and often think) as if I'm Spalding Grey giving a monologue.
Sometimes though, after my morning coffee, I write enlightened emails instead of 2 sentence responses.
Maybe I figure that I have a mini-captive audience? Maybe I hope that an inspired dialogue will result?
Here is an email exchange with Chris who runs the gallery where I'm having my next show at in London:
Hi Chris,
Just wanted to let you know that the work was picked up yesterday.
I'll be bringing one more small piece with me on the plane so there is a little more to
play with in terms of the the work having a balanced conversation.
Thanks so much for arranging the flight and the shipping.
I'm really appreciative and excited.
Not sure if you're generally keen on titles for shows but I had some thoughts.
My work seems/needs to be looked at phonetically. All the bits, shapes, soft, subtle, hard, sharp parts
sort of spell out the image on a whole. Even describing my work to people takes some phonetic creativity.
I also like how a word when spelled out phonetically looks both abstract and of the english/latin language at the same time.
So something like:
\ˈpā-pər\ \ˈi-mij\
Another idea I had just came to me this morning when I was having a coffee at a cafe.
Often in my part of Brooklyn there aren't many cafe's without children being brought in
by people my age or a bit older. I heard a mother say to her son "Use your indoor voice".
That's something I heard a lot growing up. But I hear a version of that a lot as an adult (especially being an artist) - "use your inner voice" or "listen to yourself" or (in a more cheeky way) "listen to your inner child".
So I thought "use your indoor voice" in a lot of ways describes my work and the way one looks at my work.
It has a nice play on words and meaning.
Anyhow, just some thoughts.
I'll touch base with you in a bit.
Thanks again,
Aaron
......................
I like your suggestions for a title, 'use your indoor voice' has a nice direct evocation to it without being literal. Let me know what you decide so it can go on the card. Also, regarding the card, are there some hi-res images of the new work you could send?
Thanks,
Chris
......................
Who needs an artist statement?
Here are a few snapshots of some new work (click on to enlarge):
...a few details:
9 comments:
looks good, man. i like the indoor voice title. the one with all the pronunciation stuff is a little too deliberately clever.
i've always thought that the problem with artist's statements is the sense of obligation people bring to them. i think they should be optional. a great statement is a rare breed, but once in a while an artist will sell me on their work on account of it (smithson being the most immediate example... smithson is probably my favorite artist-that-writes)
I like artists who can write too. Generally not ones that write too much about their own work though.
Actually, many critics and essayists (I made that word up) were once practicing artists.
my big idea-- and this goes beyond writing, and into conversation, apprehension, comprehension, etc.-- is that it's our job (as artists) to make the experience of looking at/thinking about/being affected by what we make as expansive as possible. whether that means colors and shapes or nouns and verbs doesn't matter much to me...
Damn, I don't care if you are cruising around with a ridiculous pucker on your face, I like your work a lot.
thanks man.
Yeah Aaron, dopest. I'm feeling these. Wish I could catch these on the personal.
I'm with Dan I like the indoor voice title also. Titles to me are as exciting as the work. I've always hated the "untitled" bit unless it feels that the untitlement of it is placed there beautifully contextually.
How about "your indoor child"?
Artists statements most of the time seem to work against the art on the essence, nonetheless and I also here agree with Dan that a nice written one is a good thing, sometimes another piece of art. And to Dan's praise one of the best descriptions of work I had seen during undeergrad was his in Rome. He wrote a poem anf read it out loud, sat down, no explanations or elabos. Illness, props Dan.
Trenton Hancock Doyle has probably my favorites which are the simple tellings of the backgrounds of the story of how his mounds came to be. I just applied to RISD and was super glad they didn't ask for one, just a statement of purpose.
peace, cheers on the London show!
Did know that Trenton Doyle Hancock went to Tyler?
I recently saw a pbs special with him in it.
He's sort of a Sun Ra type but comic book style.
Hey RISD sounds good and has what seems like a perfect program for you and the faculty.
About the artist statements... Every time I write one
(many,many times over the last 10 years) it seems
so silly soon after. At least mine do. Its like listening to your own voice on tape... from junior highschool.
I do like the idea of poems or even bits of songs as a statement. If you could get someone to picture your work specifically every time he/she hears or sings "Row-Row-Row Your Boat"... that would be genius!
"your indoor child" is really funny to me. Like the boy in the bubble?.... or the child you've kept chained to the coffee table? or maybe a kid trapped on a snow-day that just wants to get outside and go sledding.
Trenton was doing his grad work when I was still there. He's downright coolness. I did a drawing in the staircase (wall) once and 3 weeks after people were telling me, "Hey Rubens I like how you changed that piece on the staircase blah, blah, blah... but I had no idea what they were talking about.
Trenton had gone over my piece. He and I got to be friends while there and the piece he did on top of mine was some serious illness. Dude is one of the most non pretensious peeps ever.
About the Sun Ra comment:
Once he, myself and another grad student were talking in his studio and I had said something about Sun Ra and his work to which he said that while in undergrad he had had a show somewhere where somebody taped it and put Sun Ra's music on top.
Trenton's going to have a show at the ICA soon, you should come bro.
peace
i love your work
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