When a private symbol system in a painting needs to be explained there's a risk of losing many otherwise interested viewers. Nevertheless, a lot of late Baroque and even 19C art purposely indulged in esoteric allegories thereby appealing to an audience of insiders who prided themselves on knowing the secret codes of imagery. This tradition of "puzzle" painting was swept away by the 19C turn to nature and art practice (how to paint/make over what to paint/make) in the West but continues in many parts of the world. Ordinarily, an artwork cannot be assured by its explanation yet is unlikely to be ruined by any explanation. WC
--- On Sun, 3/8/09, Chris Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Chris Miller <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Text and Images > To: [email protected] > Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 10:16 AM > Why can't the artist just announce that her work of > art consists of both her > painting and her explanation of it ? > > Obviously, this would be quite unconventional -- but > isn't that what we expect > contemporary artists to do ? > > BTW I -- if she did that, I would ignore her explanation, > feeling that it > would interfere, rather than enhance, my experience with > her painting. (just > as I've never paid any attention to what Smetana had to > say about a trip down > the Vltava - even though I love to float down rivers, and > just enjoyed that > music again last week) > > BTW II -- Via email, I suggested to the artist that she > post an explanation > next to each of her paintings, to which she replied: > "Sometimes I think people > assume any picture that is pretty must be shallow. I feel a > little unfair... I > will:" just forget it -- and let the images speak for > themselves." I don't > care what others think that much!" > > But... I don't quite believe that last line of hers. > > ************************ > > > if the connection between what is represented and what > is implied through > this representation is based solely on a private system of > signs/symbols, then > I might even > suggest that this particular work is a failure, at least as > an allegory for > something. (Mr. Asthetik) > > >only inferior work needs an explanation. (Boris) > > >I'm thinking of "The moldau" by Smetena. > Why not. (Mando) > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Click to learn about options trading and get the latest > information. > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/fc/BLSrjnxUZ1nkaYywgVpSQ7qZUAmXCp > NZLF8B8WVFUY2tWiT76BQTQCJxOOc/
