I collected feedback from my Tutors, Viewers at my current exhibition and fellow students. This gave me an incredible push to step out of my comfort zone and evaluate my performance through the eyes of an outsider.
The result is that I formulated the idea of my work. This is not an imposed story, but what is in me and what I want in my artistic practice.
There was purity and understanding of my motivation. It’s a strange feeling when many small puzzles come together into one big picture.
So, without strange and fictitious stories being pulled onto my art - all respondents and viewers talk about tactility, physicality and sensations. Everyone wants to touch both the colour fields and my sculptures. But, since you can’t touch them at exhibitions or on phone screens, people get the sensation of perceiving my works, as if they were touching, smelling, or hearing my works. This comment from one of my fellow students gave me the key to my search.
My works evoke non-linguistic, non-conscious, pre-cognitive, and intuitive reactions. This is the area where the interaction of my art with the viewer occurs.
Now I think that my obsession with war and the people who support it is caused by the fact that I cannot understand how war can be justified if each of us came to this planet for happiness. Every child smiles for nothing, only after growing up and developing in a certain environment, this person change and lose this original feeling of goodness, beauty and joy. But this does not mean that he loses this feeling, he simply hides it, replaces it, and devalues it. Because the simple desire of every person, to be safe, with family and friends, to have enough food and water, or sometimes just simply to sit under the sun in the park, or to do what you love and much more - these are the simple motivations of everyone on this planet on the way to happiness. So my motivation is due to the fact that my loved ones have so lost the feeling of this desire for happiness under the influence of propaganda that they are ready to go to the military front and speak out even against their own child.
If my art communicates on such hidden and intuitive levels with a person, perhaps I can say something that will crack that confidence, disrupt that complacency and question the imposed beliefs. Perhaps I will be able to call upon the good that is inherent in each of us.
Actual question for my research: In what ways can I challenge established norms and perceptions through my artworks to disrupt complacency and inspire transformative action on a visceral level?
Propaganda turned out to be effective because it worked methodically for 20 years. I could use its techniques as a basis and present a different point of view, and other prospects. Just because propaganda globally limits understanding, focuses only on the selective presentation of information, simplifies and casts into question opponents.
Returning to the question of where I am in my art and what I want to show or do through my art is to find kindness in every person.
Returning to the question of where I am in my art and what I want to show or do through my art is to find kindness in every person. By my nature, I cannot accept the injustice and humiliation of a weaker or defenceless. At the same time, I clearly understand that the truth and justice for everyone is their own and it is difficult to determine its norms and boundaries.
In my art, I am simple and uncomplicated materials processed in the same simple way, they are very open, truthful, and kind. My art objects are open to the viewer and communicate with him at the level of soul and heart, appealing to the most natural feelings that are its own inherent in us from nature. At the same time, I strive to create a game of contradictions, differences in materials, work methods, symbolism, metaphors, or contrasts of feelings. This approach, in my opinion, brings an element of the discord in the perception of art and is a trigger to begin the thought process.
Art has the power to challenge established norms and inspire change in various ways. Therefore, I consider the following areas to expand my work:
1. Provoking Thought and Discussion:
Artworks that depict controversial or thought-provoking subjects can challenge societal norms by sparking conversations and encouraging viewers to question their beliefs.
This podcast thinks it’s uncovered Banksy’s real voice [online] At: https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/60354/1/this-bbc-sounds-podcast-banksy-story-uncovered-banksy-real-voice (Accessed 09.05.2024)
For example, Banksy's street art often addresses political and social issues, provoking discussion and raising awareness about important topics such as inequality and environmental degradation.
2. Highlighting Injustice and Inequality:
Art can shed light on injustices and inequalities within society, challenging the status quo and advocating for change.
Dorothea Lange, 16 Oct 2018 — 27 Jan 2019 at the Jeu de Paume in Paris, France, 21 JULY 2018 [online] At: https://www.meer.com/en/40796-dorothea-lange (Accessed 09.05.2024)
For instance, the photography of Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression captured the hardships faced by migrant workers, challenging perceptions of poverty and prompting action to address social and economic inequality.
3. Promoting Empathy and Understanding:
Art can foster empathy by allowing viewers to see the world through different perspectives. Works of art that depict the experiences of marginalized communities or individuals can inspire viewers to empathize with others and take action to support social justice initiatives.
12 Kehinde Wiley Paintings You Should Know, 2023-10-24 Equestrian Portrait of Charles I (2007) [online] At: https://www.singulart.com/en/blog/2023/10/24/kehinde-wiley-paintings/ (Accessed 09.05.2024)
For example, Kehinde Wiley's portraits challenge traditional representations of power and identity by depicting people of colour in positions of authority and dignity, promoting inclusivity and diversity.
4. Subverting Stereotypes and Expectations:
Art can challenge stereotypes and disrupt expectations by presenting alternative narratives and perspectives. Artists who use unconventional materials or techniques, or who depict subjects in unexpected ways, can challenge viewers to reconsider their preconceived notions and biases.
Cindy Sherman - Untitled #362 1954 Glen Ridge, NJ/USA [online] https://www.van-ham.com/de/kuenstler/cindy-sherman/cindy-sherman-untitled-362.html (Accessed 09.05.2024)
For instance, the work of Cindy Sherman subverts stereotypes of femininity by portraying women in a variety of roles and personas, challenging traditional notions of gender and identity.
5. Promoting Social Justice and Activism:
Art can be a powerful tool for social justice and activism, inspiring viewers to take action on important issues. Artworks that advocate for political change, human rights, environmental sustainability, and other social causes can mobilize communities and galvanize support for positive social change.
Picture of the AIDS quilt in front of the Washington Monument [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMES_Project_AIDS_Memorial_Quilt#/media/File:Aids_Quilt.jpg (Accessed 09.05.2024)
For example, the AIDS Memorial Quilt, created in the 1980s to honour and remember those who lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic, raised awareness about the impact of the disease and helped destigmatize HIV/AIDS.
6. Encouraging Critical Thinking and Reflection:
Art can encourage viewers to think critically about the world around them and reflect on their own beliefs and values. Works of art that challenge conventional aesthetics or push the boundaries of traditional artistic practices can stimulate intellectual curiosity and inspire viewers to question established norms and assumptions.
For example, the conceptual art of Marcel Duchamp challenged traditional ideas about art and aesthetics by presenting everyday objects as works of art, prompting viewers to reconsider the definition of art itself.
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