Artists who involve themselves in intense periods of production as a tool to develop refine and resolve work and ideas:
RICHARD LONG English sculptor 1945
(quoting myself https://www.marinawittemann.com/post/4-research-point-for-project-2-materiality-of-form )
“It was a good photo but it wasn’t a great photo. The photo wasn’t the artwork. Nor was the line he’d made, which wouldn’t last. The artwork was the walking. This was a landmark in conceptual art.
"I’m not there just to take photographs," he explains. "I like to move stones around, carry stones in my pocket, make circles, make lines..."” I walk the line: How Richard Long turns epic journeys into art 10 May 2018 [online] At: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1lwlwQLyGK4FR0lTPTklBh9/i-walk-the-line-how-richard-long-turns-epic-journeys-into-art (Accessed 02.11.2022)
Time. Motion.
RICHARD LONG CIRCLE IN ALASKA, 1977 [online] At: https://www.inglebygallery.com/content/feature/86/57819/ (Accessed 02.11.2022)
The materiality of Long's work in motion. Movement and activity. The artist exists physically, so he moves stones, walks, takes pictures - does something. These actions captured in the photograph become a confirmation of the artist's movement from one point to another. The human matter moved in space and leaving a temporary trace is one of the forms of materiality.
MARINA ABRAMOVIC Serbian conceptual artist born 1946
The best example of an artist who involves herself in her work in order to create a resolved work is Marina Abramović.
Her tool is her mind and body. These are performances related to time flow. The work is not born in seconds but is distributed over a period, which also affects the state of her body and mind. Thus, time becomes an unavoidable part of the work.
Marina Abramovic on performing 'Rhythm 0' 1974 [online] At https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijKz3JzoD4&ab_channel=IlSapere-Youtube (Accessed 22.08.2023)
AGNES MARTIN American artist born 1912
Artist Agnes Martin sees her imagination as pure and true creativity. She broadcasts, translates what she sees in her imagination. She does not seek to copy reality or be inspired by nature; her inspiration is her inner visions. But for what artist is it not?
Canadianart, Agnes Martin, Untitled (Image #4), 1998. Lithograph on paper. 63/75 limited edition. Collection of the Mackenzie Art Gallery. © Agnes Martin / SOCAN (2018). [online] At https://canadianart.ca/reviews/agnes-martin/ (Accessed 22.08.2023)
In contrast others artists who embrace the immediacy and expediency as a tool for discovery:
CAI GUO-QIANG Chinese artist born 1957
motherboard 2013 Cai Guo-Qiang Paints with Exploding Gunpowder [online] At https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViVEUa9bn8w&ab_channel=Motherboard (Accessed 22.08.2023)
For the Chinese artist, the explosion of gunpowder gives unpredictability and lack of control, which are also present in our lives. In contrast to the two previous artists who involve themselves directly in the physical realization of the work, Guo-Qiang lets go of a carefully prepared project to take its course and chance finish the artwork.
WALTER DE MARIA American artist born 1935
Another example of immediacy and expediency in art can be the work of Walter De Maria The Lightning Field, 1977.
Frieze, Walter De Maria, The Lightning Field, 1977. Long-term installation, western New Mexico. © The Estate of Walter De Maria. Photograph: John Cliett; courtesy: Dia Art Foundation, New York [online] At https://www.frieze.com/article/robert-weathers-lightning-field-interview-2022 (Accessed 22.08.2023)
All the time different, all the time new artwork exists on the verge of time and space. It would seem that this work exists on its own without its creator, but we understand that there is a significant difference between the lightning that struck the lantern and Maria's lightning. Repeatability and site specificity.
Comments