Was Abstract Art Invented By Poor Artists?

[JamesDFarrow]

LOL!

I think you know what I mean by that. I read a great story yesterday on a web site (sorry can't remember the link) that had me wondering the real reason Abstract art started. Maybe it was a not-so-good" artist that figured he couldn't compete with others doing realism as he just didn't have the talent.

Anyway, the story was about an experiment they tried at a gallery. Went something like this. They placed an abstract sculpture of a horse in the realism section of the gallery. They got all sorts of comments as "it's not very good", "is it a stoneage sculpture", "a six year old could have done better", "it doesn't even look like a horse", etc...

A week later they moved it to the abstract section of the gallery. Then they got comments such as "it's wonderful", "I like the way they used exagerated disproportionate limbs to emphasize the main physical characteristics", "their use of textures is amazing", etc...

LOL!

So was it a lousy sculpture? I guess it depends on how it is "labelled".

James :)

[fused]

Sounds like total bullshit James and I doubt that such an experiment ever occurred. You really need to get out more, take off your blinders and expand your horizons.

Some people have the desire to create an art that is of their time. Like every other facet of human development, the creative aspects of art making did not stagnate by bogging down within one singular disipline or school of narrow thought. Visual Art has continued to expand it's horizons, just like Dance, Music, Theatre, Sport, Gardening, Engineering, Architecture, Cooking and every other form of human expression and endevour. How people "see and experience" the world around them continues to evolve and the way those visions are expressed has been altered by the available technologies of the times people live in.

There are basically two kinds of art, GOOD and BAD --of course there is also what you like and don't like-- but that's not the same thing. As you grow and develop as a human being your aquired tastes in everything will change. If they don't, then you should probably ask yourself why? Change is one of the few things in life that is inevitable and there is nothing you can do to stop it's occurance.

Almost ALL students of art start with realism, capturing the image of something on a page --and refining the skill that allows you to "make it apear like it's supposed to look"-- is where most people begin. This art is easy for anyone who encounters it to "understand" and it is a very safe place for an artist to exist. BUT it was an adventure for the student to get to that place and for many that place becomes another point of departure into the unknown. That new adventure is usually found in the form of abstraction.

My answer to your question, Was Abstract Art Invented By Poor Artists? NO it wasn't.

[GaryR52]

James, that was a very stupid post, in light of the fact that so many of us here are abstract and non-objective artists.

I, for one, have a degree in graphic design and have been through a full four year art program in which I did everything an artist can possibly do, in every style, medium and genre. I would imagine that's true of many of us, if not most of us.

Frankly, though I certainly can and have done realism in a variety of media, I am bored to death by representational art, in general, and I choose not to do it, not because I can't, but because it doesn't interest me anymore.

I believe that, if you read up on art history, you'll find that many of the artists who founded the various movements of modernism were "classically" trained, as I was, and that, like me, they chose to go another route, instead of doing the same old hackneyed crap that every artist had done for centuries.

When people express views such as yours, they are only betraying their own ignorance of art and art history, in my opinion.

Gary

[JamesDFarrow]

Sorry, wasn't meant as a put down of abstract art. The stuff I am working on is abstract. Just thought it was a funny story (whether or not it really happened). Didn't mean to offend anyone.

James :)

[fused]

If you are on a PC and click Ctrl H you can review yesterdays' browsings
and share the link that is spewing this ignorant dribble.

I would like to see the source of this crap.

[Judy Robins]

James, best go back and study up on your art history...judy robins

[GaryR52]

Sorry, wasn't meant as a put down of abstract art. The stuff I am working on is abstract. Just thought it was a funny story (whether or not it really happened). Didn't mean to offend anyone.

Apology accepted (by me, anyway), James. However, I found it about as funny as David Letterman's "Ape or Artist" bit.

Gary

[sculptor]

wow----so much defensive invective

Reminds me of:
highschool----bob shenk did a lay-up before Gym and then chinned himself on the basket-ring--and the backboard shattered---coach nelson asked whomever had done the damage to step forward and no-one did------so, (moving on), coach called the roll, when he got to "shenk", bob blurted out, "I didn't do it" whereupon we all laughed, and coach said "I want to see you after class bob".

James' original quote is plausible:

Anyone who has ever set-up a group showing knows that the setting affects the perceptions of the viewers----same-same theatre----even setting up a vegetable stand, one normally places items to create a positive comparative analysis---

Also-----many non-representational artists chose that path because their appreciation of the figurative was insufficient to engender the love of the genre necessary to make the hard work of bringing it to fruition worth while.
and
many, simply didn't/don't have the talent.

I once made a set of built-in cabinets which were to fill existing irregular trapezoidal niches--- (easy to accidentally make a trapezoidal dresser---not so easy to intend one--drawer slides and etc)--they were excellent where they stood, but if you were to take them out of context and show them next to nice squared dresser or chest of drawers, they would look as though the craftsman had no ability or was quite insane.

Context matters:

Whether or not the quoted article reflected an actual event or the author's imagination is wholly immaterial to the thread.
All defensive posturing by the nonpracticioners aside:
We all know that the figurative is the only true form of the art of sculpture.
so
Lighten up guys:
"It don't mean nothing"

rod
sculptor (http://home.mindspring.com/~mandali/index.html)

[jvc stone]

LOL!



"I like the way they used exagerated disproportionate limbs to emphasize the main physical characteristics",

James :)

I guess that by that criteria some of the worlds oldest sculpture (stone age fertility figures) would be "abstact"
:D
JVC

[sculptor]

I guess that by that criteria some of the worlds oldest sculpture (stone age fertility figures) would be "abstact"
:D
JVC

abstract fersure:
and maybe, just maybe... part of a dildo collection?

also some greek statuettes with 52 breasts--------oh my goodness

call these abstract figurative?

[bluedogshuz]

:mad:
What is this? Abstract art is about as new as jazz. I don't listen to Chic Corea and think about Louie Armstrong?! Rodin isn't Calder. This whole thread is dumb. I'm quite certain that as our collective knowledge and consiousness as humans evolve we also express ourselves in less concrete ways. I for one used to use geometric forms to express feelings in a certain way and you know people do interpret them and read them back to me. I was amazed the other day when someone saw an object grouping and "saw" what I was thinking about when I did the piece. I was embarased because it had sexual connotations and the person that purchased the piece had "seen" something else. I do not have a problem with realism or figurative work or representational anymore then listening to country music and then listening to jazz fusion. If any art work sucks it sucks, period. If the artist that produced abstract art were poor (i assume you mine lacking skill) they sure as hell had vision. I have been going to art museums for 40 years and I always was inspired by the modernist and the GIANT VISTA they created!

[GaryR52]

Abstraction may be nothing new, Blue, but, so what? Representational art is about as new as the cave paintings at Lascoux. What's your point?

Sculptor, what "defensive invective" are you referring to? We only, rightly, pointed out to James that his post was offensive to a large portion of the audience here. That's not defensiveness, it's a simple statement of fact. Would you walk into a synagogue and yell out something anti-semitic, expecting that no one would be offended by it? No, of course not. It only takes a brain and some common sense to deduce that a remark (or an article) that implies that any artist who does abstraction is a talentless charlatan might not be well received by a group that is at least half composed of abstract sculptors. Again, this is not defensiveness, just pointing out the obvious.

Gary

[Araich]

One of the crappy parts about moderating a forum is being called to make judgements about the direction a thread may be taking...

It should be noted that one of the main ambitions this forum has, is to support the fellowship and camaraderie of sculptors, to foster the good humored exchange of ideas, friendship and support. Respect must be paid to each others work and views, and generosity shown whenever possible.

Or else it wont work.

Lest this go bad and because it has contributed so little (IMHO) I am closing it.