I was talking to a fine-artist/sculptor friend of
mine recently and he said "I think we need street art, I think it will become
known as the movement of our time." , I had not considered this. It sort
of brings my hopes back up a little for this generation, you may recall my
little rant two blogs ago...
Ahem, to quote myself;
"I wonder what
the history books will say about this era concerning the artistic movement. You
can’t really call it the “Untalented Movement” or the “I wanted to be an artist
so that is what I will do regardless of my actual ability to draw or sculpt or
do anything useful movement”. "
I would be quite
pleased if our legacy was left as the movement which pushed the boundaries of
where art was displayed and why. There is also something more appealing about it
when it's illegal or in defiance of the snooty gallery people and everything
they stand for. I realise that sounds childish but it still gives me a thrill.
I have been of the other end of the stick though, I have had my work displayed
in galleries, I have gone to openings and viewed shows/displays, I have mingled
with artists/designers/buyers/owners etc and every single gallery opening has
been boring. Good for networking admittedly, the standard of the work has no relevance
to my experience here by the way. I have seen some astounding work at boring
gallery openings and private views, but they all have white walls and everyone
shuffles around quietly, leaning in to see the work more closely whilst never
daring to touch it or breath to hard on it. Then they will straighten up and
look for the nearest person to convey their opinion about the artwork to. I
want music, free beer and wine (although the wine is pretty standard I suppose),
artworks which you can touch and really get a feel for, some bright colours on
the walls or even a changing projection on the walls showing the making process
of the work, film would be brilliant because you can't appreciate the work that
goes in to something unless you see the process. Better still would be an area
where the artists were working alongside the gallery showing, really giving the
audience a chance to see first-hand all the effort and planning which goes in
to the pieces. An outdoor section with outside-appropriate works which were an
extended part of the exhibition indoors would be another great way of showing
the audience how they could display their newly purchased artworks. My gallery
would be awesome.
I guess I just wish
that galleries would embrace the ethos of our artistic culture a little more. I
realise that silent, white-walled galleries with snooty attendants are
necessary for some people to purchase art, they don't feel they have something
high-class enough unless they have that experience to accompany their purchase.
People who like the think they are richer than they actually are most probably.
So yes, I hope
against hope that we will be remembered as the Street Art Movement rather than
the 'bloody talentless artists' movement. I can dream, but only history will
tell.
