JD • Art History is White ...
Star Artist & Writer For Hire
txxx• As a discipline of scholarship, art history is essentially European. It seems to go hand-in-hand with a materialistic mindset. In most other cultures, art has been traditionally spiritual - and anonymous. It comes as no surprise to me that such art remains "off the radar" of western art historians until it manifests as an influence to western (i.e. Euro-cultural) artists.
BRichards • Yes, and up until 40 years ago, when I was studying, white women artists weren't much in it either if you are referring to using a general Art History text like Janssen.
So what's your point? Currently there is a world cultural awareness in the arts like never before. The Chinese and Asian artists are pushing through with exploding art markets for their work.The Middle East now has Art festivals for their regions. Even if you are a white male its still a tough business as a profession.
Looking at your site JD, and viewing it with your claim of being a Star Artist, it seems that studying the histories of all art forms, practices, techniques and how they have been used and developed by the various nationalities might inform your work and talent more so you can express your thoughts in less grand and general statements. Study hard, work harder. Good luck to all artists, your struggle is with yourself and your ideas, its not a competition with others.
JBoncales • Perhaps what JD is trying to say is, that making art in a Western setting, studying Western art, raised like a "white" person when that person is of Eastern heritage, is a little bit more challenging than expressing oneself while representing one's "own" culture.
He's not making a grandoise statement, just an accute observation of identity as an artist when understood in context.
What is American/Western identity these days? Can it change, or is it permanently institutionalized into what we learned in Western art history?
BRichards • As an artist you decide what to do as your vision. You work to improve your skills to be able to realize that vision. To best describe who you are. I have used Latino culture in some of mine, Tattoo flash, Calligraphy,faux finish, etc., things in the cultures around me not necessarily what I was given by birth. You make the choices.You change the history, if you do, by furthering it in another direction. I have no clue what "American/Western identity these days" is, especially in artwork. Using the current crop of presidential candidates? They are not representative of the culture or ideas I identify as "American". It is not "an acute observation", it is a Rush Limbaugh type declaration to get attention. Labeling yourself as a "Star Artist" is another. Please view the work JD has on his site
to see the basic issue more clearly. The discussion is a tempest in a teapot and a method to call attention to JD as an influencer not an issue of current relevance in moving forward.
JBoncales • "Acute observation IN CONTEXT".....The key to my comment is "in context"
("Star Artist", JD's self-proclamation is another cultural identifier-- generally unappealing to our sense of modesty, but it is declared in the mode of a Rapper...).
Many artistic expression have been ignored, neglected, and discounted, including the colorful world of graffiti/street art.
As artist we must be open, and not denigrate someone's self-expression.
I'm not naming names, but influential art critics have admitted to the institutionalization of ART in the hands of the irony-drenched gatekeepers of the Chelsea/57th Street gallery nexus. This trend has to change to keep up with the times and in order to be competitive in the Global Art market, keeping in mind the recent boom of the Chinese art scene. (Many art afficionados like to say that the Chinese art scene is not saying anything relevant and that they're emulating the West, and what already occurred in the West. But let's take a closer look. Along with their art, is an economic boom, which seems apace with our decline?)
If we are honest we would re-examine ourselves, and see that what is taught as Art History is biased to a certain color/a certain form of expression. Thousands upon thousands of non-white artist have expressed themselves, expressing the myriad of identities that only can be expressed through art, and yet, we don't hear or read about them, making their work irrelevant....and why?
As you say, "study hard, work harder....your struggle is with yourself and your ideas, it's not a competition with others"...Hm. along with JD I ask, should we study what is obliterating our identities? not in competition with your work, but this is part of our struggle with ourselves and our ideas...
And who knows, this type of "tempest in a teapot" declaration may be the key to furthering history in another direction.
JD • I am a star artist and writer ...
JD Siazon
Star Artist & Writer For Hire
http://www.jdsiazon.wordpress.com
BRichards • MOCA ( LA) just had it's most popular exhibition in their history and it was based on "street art". How much more institutionalization do you need? You may want to become better informed about what is current as the history of art cannot change as it is the past. The future is being changed by a huge influx of cultural merging of styles,forms, attitudes and materials.
To study "what is obliterating our identities" is an argument against information gathering or education in general.. I see the study of art histories of various cultures as information to use, to better understand my culture or that of others not a mandate of how I must make my work. There are no longer any academies or the type of criteria to meet as in the 19th century, You are free to make what you want in this post Duchamp world. JD can say he is a star artist and writer...
No matter what form your art takes or the cultural influences you place in it, there will be an assessment of it made based on the art history you draw from as it is ultimately in comparison with that precedent. To state something does not make it so in all cases. To believe it does not make it a fact because you think it. I am not denigrating anyone's art, just trying to understand the original complaint posted and understand it's relevance
based on the images presented as basis for the statement.
Jemina, I do not believe we are in an artistic decline and China is ascending in theirs. It is a new market. To believe this, as you stated you paraphrase JD and are saying "All new art is Chinese."
JBoncales • I'm aware of the impact of Banksy, Shepard and the street art movement in NYC LA Miami and around the globe.
Bruce, like you, I do not believe we are in artistic decline.
Art history is useful tool to understand culture--but a study of contemporary art forms, practices, techniques and TECHNOLOGY---how they have been used and developed is equally informative.
And as for saying that "assessment of art must be made in comparison with the precedent", I don't agree. The Impressionists broke away from the Academia of their period--and there's no point in comparing the two styles.
It is useful to remember that history can always be re-written, as new findings emerges, and new cultural ascendancy takes root--
However, currently, the way most art history books is written is, as how JD expressed it. And yet just because it has been stated, does not make it so, just like as you pointed out earlier, " white women artists weren't much in it [art history] either."
Bruce Richard's work can be found at www.brucerichardsstudio.com/
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