A Fresh Look

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After a few days of not stepping into my little studio I went in for a brief moment to get something I needed. I’ve been working on one of the pieces for the new collection and there it was on top of the table staring back at me. I have not been there in days and I guess she was trying to let me know about our unfinished business. I have been busy writing and working in the fabulous accounting side of business (please insert sarcasm here) and have not been sculpting since last week. I know I always say that studio time is one of the most important priorities, but in my defense I also talked about how important it is to step away from your work from time to time to seek inspiration. Nevertheless, I gave a fresh look to the piece almost by accident. The impression I received was very pleasant. I hope people can react to it in unique ways when the time comes.

I posted a few preview pictures of the work in progress in social media platforms and woke up to very interesting and encouraging comments. Certain aspects of the sculpture cause people to question my intentions and also to take a broader look at society. That confirms that art speaks. I hope this piece and the others in the collection cause people to wonder, question, discern, judge, and to measure the ways of society and our role in it from a different perspective. If my art could somehow lead people to consider the attributions of our human nature as a starting point to understand the world we live in that is so much more that what I bargain for. That is more important to see than seeing my art dead in a gallery or museum.

Likewise, this is the intention of the book I’m writing in which I present the philosophical sense of the pieces and the cognitive process I go through while creating art. The pieces will be introduced in the book in a way I haven’t done before (maybe because this is the first book I write). In a few days I will be reviewing the book for the first time after the first complete draft. I’ll be giving it a fresh look and I hope I get the same or even better impression that what I received with the sculpture. The sculptures and the book were developing together from the start and I hope the book, which includes pictures of the sculptures, can express the essence of the pieces as the sculptures can without words carry the essence of the book.

Let Art Speak

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Back in November 2014 I wrote How to Explain Your Art and it became very popular not only in the blog but also in Ezine Articles and Fine Art America. In several discussions in LinkedIn I believe the article was misunderstood by some. The article was never intended to explain a specific piece of art but our general intent in creating art. Each individual piece should speak by itself. At least that is what I aim for as I explain in my artist statement:

“I am inspired by the fluidity, dynamism, and power of the human body.
I experiment with techniques and media that allow me to portray the figure in its balance between vivacity, emotion, strength, and sensibility.
I aim to provide each piece with its own soul, a life, and a story to tell on its own.”

A few years ago I painted a face of a lady with a crown of flowers and a very colorful background. The day I posted the picture on Facebook I received two comments from two different ladies. One of them expressed how happy the painting made her feel. On the other hand, the second lady expressed how sad the painting made her feel and how she cried when she saw it. The same painting was speaking in two different ways to two different individuals. The painting had no meaning in itself, or better said, no intended meaning. However, these two ladies found meaning by themselves.

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In my current exhibit closing January 24 the torsos speak differently to different individuals even though there are no faces. The body itself communicates to the viewer without explanations. Each piece can tell a story to the viewer and even more important, each viewer can create their own story. If I explain each piece I am stealing from the viewer to find meaning on their own. I would be also limiting the story to one instead of leaving it open to interpretations and an unlimited amount of stories as the viewers can find.

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I would preferably let art speak. Maybe it wants to tell you something if you just listen. Stop and observe. What domes to mind? What is it trying to tell you? How are you letting art speak to you? Words are not always necessary. You can feel it too without trying to articulate it. Just feel.

A Tale of Two Sculptures

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Last year during one of my shows, I observed a lady coming in to look at the artwork as I was talking to someone else. After looking at all the sculptures, she came back to Abased. She stood there for a while. Then she moved towards Freedom and stood there for a while. She went back to Abased, then back to Freedom. I observed while this continued for several minutes.

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Abased & Freedom

Done with my conversation I approached the lady and introduced myself. I mentioned I was observing her going back and forth between the two sculptures. She mentioned how the sculptures were almost talking to her in a way she could not understand or articulate. I told the lady the definition of Abased (belittled or degraded). Instantly the conversation took an interesting turn. She said:

“That explains a lot. This is how my husband makes me feel (pointing at Abased) but I want to feel like that (turning and pointing at Freedom).”

Without saying another word, she turned away and left. I was stunned and honestly wished she stayed around longer. I was curious to find out more about what the sculptures were saying (figuratively speaking). Still, three things were clear during this short interaction. First, art has the power to speak to people. People can find a connection in art that generates a silent conversation with the soul, the logic, and the senses. No words are necessary for this connection.

On the other hand, some people need some help when they try to articulate that connection; when they try to understand what they see, what they feel, and what they perceive. While it is not necessary to explain some people seek for a deeper understanding, a hint, a spark that provides and explanation they can ponder. Again, it would be better for art never to be explained. Nevertheless, some people want to express their connection. That cannot be denied. Otherwise, we might be shutting down their interest and a great opportunity to provoke consciousness.

[Read also: How to Explain your Art & Artists are Communicators]

That takes me to the third point: expressing the connection could be the first step towards healing. Too bad the encounter was cut short. When someone understands their internal situation (and sometimes external) through art, and consciously expresses that revelation, healing is possible. Articulating what no words can explain (which not necessarily is a contradiction) could transform a life, and that is one of the most rewarding achievements of art.

[Read also: Art Changing Lives]