Evolving? Staying true to one's own Artist vision

The contemporary art world is a constantly evolving space where artists use various mediums to express themselves. With the rise of social media platforms, artists now have a new outlet to promote their work and connect with a wider audience. However, does this increased accessibility comes with its own set of challenges.

On one hand, social media provides artists with a platform to showcase their talents and reach a larger audience. It serves as a tool to connect. Social media also provides artists with a way to have exposure to curators and galleries, which can lead to opportunities.

On the other hand, these platforms can have negative effects on the creative process itself. Social media can create a pressure to create work that is aesthetically pleasing and will receive high engagement, rather than focusing on the artist's own vision or message. This can lead to artists producing work that lacks authenticity, resulting in a homogenization of content.

Additionally, social media platforms have algorithms that prioritize certain types of content. This means that certain artists or styles may receive more exposure than others, regardless of their quality or message. This can create an environment in which popular trends are imitated, rather than unique voices being celebrated. When one looks at the number of Artists doing very decorative work, more in the style of abstract expressionism, you wonder might merit this work has. I think it might sit well in an Art therapy setting very well.

Furthermore, social media can also promote a culture of commodification of art. Artists may feel compelled to create art that is easily marketable and Instagrammable, rather than work that challenges the viewer or pushes the boundaries of conventional art forms. This can lead to a narrowing of artistic expression and a lack of diverse voices being represented.

Overall, while social media has undoubtedly benefited the art world in many ways, it is important to recognize how it can also have negative effects on the creative process and the diversity of voices present. It is therefore important for artists to stay true to their own creative vision, and not allow external pressures to dictate the direction of their work. It is important for the uses of these new media, to recognise it is not a passive medium like say more traditional form. the more creative you are with it the better.

Is your work "instagramable"

In the digital age we live in today, it is no longer enough for artists to create work that is simply visually appealing or aesthetically pleasing.This premise could be argued. Do Artist do this? I hope not. Aesthetics is a continually evolving thing, for Artists making are evolving in uniquely different ways.They need to also know how to market their work effectively in order to reach a wider audience and gain recognition in a competitive industry. Social media has emerged as an invaluable tool for artists to do just that. Not only can they showcase their work to the world, but they can also interact with leverage user-generated content, and get real-time feedback on their work.

The use of social media has revolutionized the way artists approach their work. In the past, artists would have to rely on traditional forms of marketing, such as gallery exhibitions or print advertisements, to get their work noticed. However, now artists can use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to build their brand and attract a loyal following.

Social media has also changed the way artists create their work. With the ability to instantly share images and videos of their work with the world, artists are now more inclined to create work that is visually stunning and shareable. For example, one of the most popular trends on Instagram right now is “aesthetically pleasing” photos. This means artists are paying more attention to the color palette, composition and lighting of their work in order to make it more “Instagramable”.

Social media has also allowed artists to collaborate in ways never before possible. They can easily connect with other artists online, and even collaborate with them on projects. Artists can also use social media to connect with clients and get commissioned work, which means they can create work that is specifically tailored to the client's needs. The Artist can form their own relationship with clients, who are interested in the themes he or she are working with. The client can see how the Artist is evolving.

In conclusion, social media has become an indispensable tool for artists in the modern day. Social media allows artists to showcase their work, interact with fans and collaborators, and even change the way they create their art. It is safe to say that social media has changed the nature of the artist's work some might say for the better, but others may say, for the worse. Artists who embrace it will undoubtedly see their career prospects enhanced. However, are we heading toward an art environment that becomes a re-proposing of ideas, where Art history will be repackaged, photoshopped. Whereby the driving impulses of the original creators, them making sense of their world, and their dialogue with the medium, has been lost, to the “instagamable” image. The most seductive work are selected. The goal is to be Notice.

Fast Art: Have some fun with it

Following on from my previous post about instagram where I was going on about fast and seductive making being just as valid as more considered works, I think possibly it can be. I think I should set myself the challenge of making weekly “stretch” pieces. Give myself a time limit to get whatever I have in my mind completed by a time period. For me while making I keep on remaking, edging toward a piece that I can considered finished. I personally mean by finished would be when a piece has me at saying “what have I made here” As when it needs to be left alone just to be. I might come back to it, or take ideas or a material theme to use on something else. But there is freedom in not knowing, where it put forwards more questions.

I think I am coming to thinking that these social media platforms are just another tool for connective exploration and having fun with if use for such. But as with everything tools can be used in harmful ways.That being said, a lot has been written about how Social media is changing and change how we relate to one another. The private space is becoming smaller. Not to be seen. Where one becomes the person who is outside looking in at this virtual life. A life not grounded in actual social interaction, of active dialogue, where you can not be right all the time.

Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday.

Chris

Instagram Art: The new landscape for creators

The question are the new platforms for sharing and connecting shaping the Artworks made. My initial response to this question is yes. It has to be the case, that you shape the presentation of ones works, to be visually appealing, to grab the viewers attention.

Sometimes when scrolling through my instagram feed, I generally see two types of posts. The first, being of an Artist showing his or her process, a studio picture, a work in the making. This post I generally like, as some of the posts can be inspiring, and provide a bit of information. How another Artist has set up their studio and such like can be interesting. The other type of post, is the visually seductive one, that resemble almost a stage set, a make believe world. The question for myself, is it enough. An Artist comes upon a visually seductive technique, and this technique becomes the Art. You could say this is just as valid, as say a more challenging visual presentation. Is one fast Art, and the other opening the visual window of the viewer.

This is the area I’m fascinated on exploring in next Blog

The power of Style: it's seductive quality

Where style takes over from content, where the style of the Artist becomes the content, this is an interesting question. When you see work that is extremely visually seductive, my mind immediately goes to that of Jeff Koons. big and brash. Banal reproductions of everyday objects, balloons, old style sculpture with a shiny ball. Are these objects to baffle the viewer. Or are these works a reflection in a mirror held up for us. What is Koons saying, carrying on in the foot steps of Warhol.

I find this work can be view in various way, as funny, whimsical, playful. Maybe it is true that we expect Art work with a capital A should be something serious and meaningful. Personally, I like to see something of the Artist in the work. Work that leaves me not particularly curious, or surprised, or touched, or realising something can be seen in a different way, leave me with the question of WHY. I do find Koon’s work takes all the oxygen out of a space, imposes its will on all around, ungenerous to the viewer. Demands attention like a spoiled child. Maybe it is work of its time, the want it now culture, needs instantly gratified, and never satisfied, in our feed back loop.

However, I think for me the space we crave, a space for self reflection, is the space that Art works can create, and allows the viewer to share in. There is not one way of looking,

Work of David Hockney

It was a revelation after watching an interesting program on David Hockney. A humbling experience. His dedication to his Art, his pursuit of his vision and his creativity, are all inspiring for other creatives. Over his career, it is remarkable he has shown the picture plane to hold an infinite depth. Within it’s apparent constraints, a play between the viewer, the space was explored. The traditional medium of painting played in this limitless space. In a culture that is slave to the immediate image, force fed the fast food of the spectacular, that numbs the senses, where an ever greater dopamine hit is required, there seems no compromise with the space which Hockney’s work creates. I find myself having to raise my game, to put aside my visual laziness, and baggage. Off I go now to have a look at his drawings, particularly Arrival of Spring 2013.

Studio Life: Managing time- making lists, something that needs not to be done so much

One of the things I find difficult is managing time. Finding time to get down to the studio, To get one’s head in the right place. Arriving down at my workspace, it usually takes half an hour to have your head relax and think about what you are going to achieve in those precious few hours you have to create something, or work on moving a piece forward. I know anyone trying to create knows the frustration, false starts and dead ends a work can take. Mostly, for me, making is a voyage . A voyage where the end destination is not always clear. In the corner of the studio Mr self doubt might come a calling. Not usually doubt in the process, but doubt in creating, using up resources in making something that has no financial value.

Maybe it is the sign of the times, putting a price on everything, where the most valuable things, experiences, things remembered, things shared are often overlooked. It would be a little trite to say , these things are priceless; experiences stand outside of the commercial world. One valuable lesson my 2 year old son has shown me. He lives in the moment, with all his nowness. It’s what is in front of him. My mind is racing with later, yesterday, the past, a possible future, its all crazy when you think on it. Managing my time in doing something now and enjoy that sense of discovery now that is something to be practiced. So less of the making lists, more with doing.

The work of Kim Sooja

Discovering new work from an Artist I haven’t been aware of is a great surprised. The Artist is Kim Sooja. By starting to explore her practise has made me reflect on my own Art practise.Object making of things of no real commercial value, save the time, and materials, I have found a difficult thing to do. There is such a pressure these days to get monetary value for an activity, especially when it is taking up resources. That is something I think I want to explore.

Halo: kimchi and chips

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This was the first time I’ve seen a piece of work by Kimchi and chips. I really enjoy it on a number of levels. The setting was perfect Somerset House on a beautiful Sunny day. A work that was unpredictable, relying on the whims of nature, and what it gave was changing with how people engaged with it. A piece that interrupted the so easy autopilot I find myself engaging in, where the familiar blinds one.