The critique process yesterday was much more informative than I have ever experienced in my ceramics classes here at UD. I learned how much more practice you all have had at presentation! I appreciate that the instructor tried to involve everyone in the process and that she kept us thinking about how to ask and look at things. I do wonder at just how far away from the original assignment some people strayed....the instructor seemed to allow these interpretations of her question " what makes something natural and what makes it artificial? " but I wonder whether some of the pieces actually addressed that issue as assigned?
Realizing that "conceptual" is a big deal around here, I was not surprised to see a lack of balance of interesting composition of most of the exhibit . I was however, rather surprised to learn that very few of the concepts were actually conveyed as the creator intended. It seems that the concept is just a spring board or a starting point for creating a piece. Since the answer to my question, "Does it matter that no one understands your concept? does it bother you? " was usually "No, let the audience interpret as they will", it sort of begs the question: what is the point of conceptual if you can't convey the concept?
After reading our assignment and links about art critics, I am convinced that it should be impressed upon art students to consider FORM, DESIGN, COMPOSITION, BALANCE, VALUES,LINE, PROPORTION,RHYTHM and SPACE/JUXTAPOSITION, NUANCES and CRAFTSMANSHIP /SKILL if we are to actually consider a creative work, a piece of art.
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2 comments:
I think those are some very valid points concerning the balance between concept and physical form. I think that regardless of what you wish to convey in a piece, and even if you want to send a certain message, each viewer is going to approach, read, and interpret a piece their own way, however one can (and often does) herd the viewer in a certain direction. I found it interesting how people approached the idea of "natural vs artificial", some took it very literal, and others definitely interpreted the question in very interesting ways.
To your question "what is the point in being conceptual if you can't convey the concept?", I think it is vital to acknowledge the context in which we are displaying our work. Our class is made up people at different stage in their art career, and I'd like to think that it is important for us (as art students in an institution) to learn what works and what doesn't work in terms of concept, presentation, and formal aspects of the piece. Had the work been presented in a gallery and failed to convey the concept to the viewer, I would be right there with you asking the same very question.
And I do agree that formal aspects can start to become lost when concept starts to carry so much weight, especially in a non-beginner class, when you aren't constantly being reminded to consider them.
In response to your question about conceptual art if you can't convey the concept, i think that sometimes that works actual concept is really only there for the artist. that the audience complete understanding of what the artist wants doesn't really matter.
i also think that part of art school and in these crits is to see how people react to you work and to understand how people think and understand what you are trying to say. so that sometime later on maybe the concept will be easily comunicated
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