03.01.09
Art Throbs
Disjointed Additional Bits on Art
Before Irrational Man, I had a disdain for abstract visual art (excluding Picasso’s), because too many people have abused modern art and used it as an escape from their inability to paint or sculpt realistic proportions and thereby rely on seemingly profound explanations to convince others of their art. But at least I have now been taught and reminded that genuine abstract art also exists and why it exists.
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I think that nowadays, the difference between the mere artistic and the real artist has been lost or shrouded, but I have to contemplate more on this.
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The recent discussions on art brought to mind a funny incident from several years ago. There was a certain painting exhibit in Cebu where the artist hung his paintings on steel pipes in the middle of the room and therefore exposing both the front and back of his artworks. It did not turn out to be such a good idea since the room had opposing entrances and if people entered from one side, they would initially see the un-aesthetic backs of the framed artworks. Fortunately, I arrived through the favourable entrance and after circling the entire room, found out that the artist was pretty good except for his piteous framing job; visible staple wires, paint-stained plywoods, and untidily tucked canvasses thrived behind the pretty façade of the paintings. I tarried there and observed the other exhibit goers and noticed two men in their twenties come through the disadvantageous entrance. I expected them to react negatively to the artworks’ posterior but no, they suddenly went into this deep discussion about abstract art. One of them even pointed to a certain painting’s rear and seemed to philosophize about what he saw. Curious, I peeked through their huddled bodies and lo and behold! I saw a streak of paint and they were trying to explain it! But ladies and gentlemen, this very abstract art that they were so intent in construing was merely an accidental streak of paint smeared on one of the pieces of plywood that the artist chose to mount his canvas on. The real painting was on the other side, and these two men did not know it.
(Perfect story line for an “AbsurDom” entry, huh?)
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When I got back from Cebu a few days ago, I had a sudden urge to pick up the paintbrush after nearly a year of a visual art caesura. It was the first time since Maya that I felt inspired to paint, but even as the color of my thoughts appeared on the canvas and every brush stroke felt exhilarating, I realized that I still cannot claim to be an artist. I look at Papa and know that he is the real artist and it would take perhaps a lifetime or two to become like him, and yet he barely talks about art. I feel like those two men.
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marmuyco said,
March 1, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I agree with you in a lot of ways.
But then consider, Jackson Pollock used to draw and paint chrysanthemums but felt, they weren’t expressive enough.
It’s like Phillip Glass. Not everyone likes his music, you think?
Or Thelonious Monk.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
March 1, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Yes, Sir. Thanks for coming by. While there is no doubt about Thelonious Monk’s artistry, I simply think that modern art (especially modern visual art) has made it more difficult for us to distinguish the false from the true. Thanks to a recent explanation and reminder that true artists exist even in this genre, I am slowly opening my eyes to more artists of this period. =)
kendi said,
March 2, 2009 at 1:17 am
“Curious, I peeked through their huddled bodies and lo and behold! I saw a streak of paint and they were trying to explain it! But ladies and gentlemen, this very abstract art that they were so intent in construing was merely an accidental streak of paint smeared on one of the pieces of plywood that the artist chose to mount his canvas on. The real painting was on the other side, and these two men did not know it.”
kendi said,
March 2, 2009 at 1:20 am
i duno where the rest of my comment went, but i’ll just retype. oh well. tsk tsk. i think the above statement is funny. hehe.
if drifting’s a form of art, i am a master of it. and it’s but better to observe real artists nalang, like your dad. :D
lovely painting mir! thanks for the demitasses! :D
Miracle ♪♫ said,
March 3, 2009 at 8:21 am
Hehehe The incident was really funny, Kendz. You can imagine the look on my face when I realized what was going on. haha =)
Hmmm… the art of drifting… sounds interesting. hehe
Thanks also for the medical/musical gift, Kendz! Gipanghambug jud nako sa party that night. =D
rian said,
April 10, 2009 at 9:27 am
I wondered how they felt when the actual painting was on the other side. hehe.
I still have so much to discover about cebu. laag ta meer. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
April 10, 2009 at 1:16 pm
If I were in their place… I’d have wanted the ground to swallow me whole. hehe
Nah, prehas ta. I haven’t been in the most interesting nooks of Cebu yet. Mas daghan pa siguro ka nasuroyan, Rai. Cge la-ag ta… I know of the perfect guide. Kaila pud ka niya. haha ;-)