What is different in art and in life in general should not be
discouraging . . . rather, it should be inspirational. The things one
sees in our travels and naturally in our environment are meant to be discovered,
somehow understood. When one comes upon an object or piece of art that is different,
unconventional, even "ugly or unpleasant", the reaction should not be of disdain but
rather of questioning. Why does one dislike something or ignore it because it is out of
our ordinary experience or collective memory??? The introduction to it, our coming
upon it, may be sour . . . not pleasurable because it does not meet our standards of
beauty or does not communicate in our "common language." But differences are what
make our world interesting . . . more beautiful, more engaging.
What if you were the only white skinned individual in a tropical, African village????
Would your skin color first offend, or would it draw interest because it is out of the
ordinary? Would you seem to inspire interest or would you be ignored or even
shunned? All is in the eye of the beholder and the reactions ARE based on cultural
values, often centuries old and ingrained in a particular society. Then, if a work of art
is blatantly different, from what is typical in a region or from what is trending in a
society, is it acceptable, is it of value? Often in art history that which was "challenging"
and visually "difficult" later became that which was the most avant-garde and then
most fashionable. Life is not meant to be easy, neither is art. Good art is often difficult;
the best of what humanity has produced has been distinctly challenging - defying
standard codes of acceptance and traditions (values aesthetic and moral).
Thus, the rule is: When it offends, ask why! When it screams different or avant-garde,
ask: What does it mean? Do not walk about life with blinders on. Believe you have a
discerning eye and mind. Don't be a lazy viewer and don't be a lazy painter, sculptor,
designer, etc. Believe you can say something of value, lasting value. Deny no
experience, therefore . . . wade into the choppy waters and swim.
discouraging . . . rather, it should be inspirational. The things one
sees in our travels and naturally in our environment are meant to be discovered,
somehow understood. When one comes upon an object or piece of art that is different,
unconventional, even "ugly or unpleasant", the reaction should not be of disdain but
rather of questioning. Why does one dislike something or ignore it because it is out of
our ordinary experience or collective memory??? The introduction to it, our coming
upon it, may be sour . . . not pleasurable because it does not meet our standards of
beauty or does not communicate in our "common language." But differences are what
make our world interesting . . . more beautiful, more engaging.
What if you were the only white skinned individual in a tropical, African village????
Would your skin color first offend, or would it draw interest because it is out of the
ordinary? Would you seem to inspire interest or would you be ignored or even
shunned? All is in the eye of the beholder and the reactions ARE based on cultural
values, often centuries old and ingrained in a particular society. Then, if a work of art
is blatantly different, from what is typical in a region or from what is trending in a
society, is it acceptable, is it of value? Often in art history that which was "challenging"
and visually "difficult" later became that which was the most avant-garde and then
most fashionable. Life is not meant to be easy, neither is art. Good art is often difficult;
the best of what humanity has produced has been distinctly challenging - defying
standard codes of acceptance and traditions (values aesthetic and moral).
Thus, the rule is: When it offends, ask why! When it screams different or avant-garde,
ask: What does it mean? Do not walk about life with blinders on. Believe you have a
discerning eye and mind. Don't be a lazy viewer and don't be a lazy painter, sculptor,
designer, etc. Believe you can say something of value, lasting value. Deny no
experience, therefore . . . wade into the choppy waters and swim.
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