A painter’s note about the idea of decorative art…you said “painting’s primary function is to adorn… not on behalf of the artist, but on behalf of the space it embellishes..”
Perhaps it’s a question of who you think defines the function of the tool, and wether you’re willing to accept the ‘collector/curator’ as a responsible user. Most of us don’t intend to make decorations, but even the most ‘based’ works - an old Murillo drop cloth - become decoration when used wrong. Art is an instrument, zuhandenheit, ready-at-hand, and must be used as art, as something to interact with perceptually and contemplate openly. But, in the same way Kosuth used a chair as art when it’s better for sitting, art can be used poorly, as a proxy for a collector’s taste or an illustration of a curator’s intellect…as a decoration. Decoration is a warped mirror, a reflection of desire.
Yes, truly Great art has such a presence that it’s functioning as art regardless of how you intend to use it; wether it’s shouting a manifesto or whispering sweet nothings, we stop when we walk by, and we listen. That’s great art, but good art, the majority of what even great artists make, requires a good listener and a desire for discourse. It’s powerful, maybe even great, if you’re using it right. The fact that it can be talked over, used as arm candy, as the proof of a point, isn’t the fault of the object. It is, after all, just a thing.
The good news is that in its dormant, decorative state, good art doesn’t loose its ability.
It can function again, as soon as someone’s willing to use it as art…that’s not a bad bargain!
Thank you for the comment, Antone. (You're a great writer. I didn't know this. You should do more.)
"...in its dormant, decorative state, good art doesn’t loose its ability" -- this gets it perfectly. It may be the task of every painter, of every artist, to deliver into the world a work that is fully awake, fully alive. But of course you can't know this until it's out in the world, where that aliveness has to be recognized as such (not merely seen).
Used, listened to, discussed -- all interesting ways of thinking about it, particularly the idea of "using it poorly." A painting as an instrument, as ready-to-hand, this makes perfect sense from the standpoint of the painter; for the viewer, for someone like me, when the work is done, is presented as completed, when it makes it to another wall, well being ready-to-hand there is the decorative mode, no? That's how the work is being used, unconsciously as it were, used to adorn.
:) i love your substack because it’s exactly the engagement with art we all (artists) dream of. I agree on the task of every artist As you’ve put it so well - we’ve devoted our lives to exactly that.
I have some very great art in my place and I guess you’re right that it’s placed to adorn, but no, it doesn’t function that way. It rebels! It cast’s off its decorative chains as soon as it’s seen.
Art is like nature, or love, it’s truth beyond language…but/and sometimes it’s just the dirt underfoot or the body next to you in bed. You have to look up and reach out a hand.
"Art is like nature, or love, it’s truth beyond language…but/and sometimes it’s just the dirt underfoot or the body next to you in bed. You have to look up and reach out a hand."
Love this. Don't agree entirely, but hard to argue with. I'm at work on more of a think piece about the rise/return of the Romantic. I'm keeping this in mind for it.
A painter’s note about the idea of decorative art…you said “painting’s primary function is to adorn… not on behalf of the artist, but on behalf of the space it embellishes..”
Perhaps it’s a question of who you think defines the function of the tool, and wether you’re willing to accept the ‘collector/curator’ as a responsible user. Most of us don’t intend to make decorations, but even the most ‘based’ works - an old Murillo drop cloth - become decoration when used wrong. Art is an instrument, zuhandenheit, ready-at-hand, and must be used as art, as something to interact with perceptually and contemplate openly. But, in the same way Kosuth used a chair as art when it’s better for sitting, art can be used poorly, as a proxy for a collector’s taste or an illustration of a curator’s intellect…as a decoration. Decoration is a warped mirror, a reflection of desire.
Yes, truly Great art has such a presence that it’s functioning as art regardless of how you intend to use it; wether it’s shouting a manifesto or whispering sweet nothings, we stop when we walk by, and we listen. That’s great art, but good art, the majority of what even great artists make, requires a good listener and a desire for discourse. It’s powerful, maybe even great, if you’re using it right. The fact that it can be talked over, used as arm candy, as the proof of a point, isn’t the fault of the object. It is, after all, just a thing.
The good news is that in its dormant, decorative state, good art doesn’t loose its ability.
It can function again, as soon as someone’s willing to use it as art…that’s not a bad bargain!
Thank you for the comment, Antone. (You're a great writer. I didn't know this. You should do more.)
"...in its dormant, decorative state, good art doesn’t loose its ability" -- this gets it perfectly. It may be the task of every painter, of every artist, to deliver into the world a work that is fully awake, fully alive. But of course you can't know this until it's out in the world, where that aliveness has to be recognized as such (not merely seen).
Used, listened to, discussed -- all interesting ways of thinking about it, particularly the idea of "using it poorly." A painting as an instrument, as ready-to-hand, this makes perfect sense from the standpoint of the painter; for the viewer, for someone like me, when the work is done, is presented as completed, when it makes it to another wall, well being ready-to-hand there is the decorative mode, no? That's how the work is being used, unconsciously as it were, used to adorn.
:) i love your substack because it’s exactly the engagement with art we all (artists) dream of. I agree on the task of every artist As you’ve put it so well - we’ve devoted our lives to exactly that.
I have some very great art in my place and I guess you’re right that it’s placed to adorn, but no, it doesn’t function that way. It rebels! It cast’s off its decorative chains as soon as it’s seen.
Art is like nature, or love, it’s truth beyond language…but/and sometimes it’s just the dirt underfoot or the body next to you in bed. You have to look up and reach out a hand.
"Art is like nature, or love, it’s truth beyond language…but/and sometimes it’s just the dirt underfoot or the body next to you in bed. You have to look up and reach out a hand."
Love this. Don't agree entirely, but hard to argue with. I'm at work on more of a think piece about the rise/return of the Romantic. I'm keeping this in mind for it.