It's that time again to start thinking about artist statements. The idea of writing one always plagues me the last three weeks of the term. How is it, that it can be so difficult to put the ideas floating around in your head about your work in words? Lately, I find it hard to even have a conversation about my work, much less write about it for all to pick apart. In Project Seminar 1, my professor said my statement was too literal. It gave too much information to the viewer. I don't want to repeat that same mistake, so now I find myself in a place where I don't want to divulge any information. Which is also not good. I know I'm not the only one here. I mean, I've never met anyone that loved to write artist statements.
Artist statement aside, I am really pleased with my series thus far. I have added new images that to me, give a sense of place and function. With my last shoot, I felt like everything was finally coming together. I had direction.
It's always interesting to hear the viewer's opinion. What I feel about this work could be (and probably is) completely different from what everyone else feels. I'm not sure if sharing in this exchange of critique is helpful or harmful when thinking about writing an artist statement. Last term, I made the mistake of listening to my peers too much. As a result, I wrote a statement that practically spoon fed the viewer. As an artist AND a viewer, I hate that. This term, I need to take all suggestions into consideration, but at the end of the day, I've got to stick to my guns.
You're doing a really great job illustrating a narrative so it's almost a shame to divulge the entire plot in an artist statement!
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing to remember about artist statements is what they are: a statement from the artist. I'm sure you've had to explain this series to a zillion different folks. How did you explain it to your hubby? To the model? To the professor, some guy in the elevator saying your prints are cool, your parents, the character in the series, Leo..?
Hahaha, but really. It changes right? Think about the bare minimum. I'm not sure if this helps, but it's helped me describe things before. Whether or not you've realized it, you've kinda already told the artist statement. Now you just have to write down what you said!
Hope this helps! :)
PS hi Leo.
Try going through all the pictures and writing down phrases of what each one makes you feel. Not think, but feel. Then let's look at all those phrases and see what emerges.
ReplyDeleteI find that my artist statement is coming to me in bits and pieces and now I have to find a way to put them all together. I am also worried about telling the viewer too much about my project, and I feel like our photographs are similar in that matter. I think it was smart that you didn't tell us right away what your narrative was about last critique, because it helped us add context and a decipher the meaning of your pictures. If only we could translate the line between abstraction and abstraction into an artist statement - well, that's easier said than done!
ReplyDeleteI think we're all feeling this way. I always worry about oversharing with the viewer. Part of the magic of art is that people have many different interpretations of the work and I hate to rob that from anyone. However as I've been told multiple times these things are necessary and useful professionally and CAN be done without straight up writing your narrative down for everyone.
ReplyDelete