Monday, September 22, 2008
On Questions
Last week we watched a video about the artist Robert Irwin and spent time talking about his questioning process. Irwin used a method of self-questioning to propel his work forward and to probe the effect and meaning of the work that he was creating. His big question in my mind is what to make and this lead him to an exploration of perception. But how does this question relate to anyone else but Irwin. In all likelihood it doesn't, but the process of questioning—not the individual question is a process that is relevant for all artists. Everyone must find the questions that are appropriate for their search—as Irwin said for his Getty Garden project-"always changing, never twice the same"
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3 comments:
While I share some of your sentiments, that some of his questions were very personal to him and therefore would not translate to all artists, I believe the question "What to make" must thrive in all artists. While I saw Irwin as using this question to delve into the concept of painting (painting on a canvas, a wall, or painting with light), this is a question of great relevance to our work. I am assuming particularly for yours (I am one of the two photo students, so I presume you are one of the people from the "crafts" building) - without thinking more deeply on what materials to use for what you make, how can you justify all your artist's statements? Technically, those are supposed to help viewers understand your viewpoint on life and how your work gives some greater meaning to the world ... so when your art IS materials, your meaning is ... infinitely greater when you have a particular reason for not only creating an object, but choosing a material from which to make an object.
Of course, if you're one who is in a more well-defined field (like mine - I can choose sound, light, photos, film, but in my particular field we tend to be limited on more tangible objects), my sentiment that your material (ie what you MAKE) is of great importance ... may hold less weight.
Just a thought.
Hello! I don't agree that we "find questions appropriate for our search," rather our search and our questions are completely intertwined...the questions that we are compelled to ask ourselves lead us along our search. Our search generates new questions, which leads us along new paths in our search...this is beginning to look like a "chicken or egg" issue!
Andrea
... I interpreted "Everyone must find the questions that are appropriate for their search" to mean that not everyone has the same questions (similar to how everyone's "search" / "art" are different). I didn't think that the original intent was saying one effects the other.
Did I misinterpret?
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