Comments on: Artist's statement translated http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 09:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: osmo http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147140 osmo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147140 Yes... good english is are relevant Yes… good english is are relevant

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147162 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147162 This is great! But the thing about artist’s statements is that they are really not spurred into existence by artists, but rather the general market that demands a thing/object not hang in a gallery without an explanation. Most folks—inside the art world and outside—need to have things justified to them or else “Why bother?” or “Who cares?” It’s an odd codependency. This is great! But the thing about artist’s statements is that they are really not spurred into existence by artists, but rather the general market that demands a thing/object not hang in a gallery without an explanation. Most folks—inside the art world and outside—need to have things justified to them or else “Why bother?” or “Who cares?” It’s an odd codependency.

]]> By: DWax http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147171 DWax Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147171 If you're into ridiculous artist statements, check out my site http://www.declareitart.com it's a collaborative project where pretentious artist statements are written about non-art items on the street. The statements are then weatherproofed and glued into place and left for random folks to discover. Here's one of my favorites that might resonate with the BoingBoing crowd- http://declareitart.com/2010/09/20/surveillance-statement/ If you like it, consider writing and posting one of your own! If you’re into ridiculous artist statements, check out my site http://www.declareitart.com
it’s a collaborative project where pretentious artist statements are written about non-art items on the street. The statements are then weatherproofed and glued into place and left for random folks to discover.
Here’s one of my favorites that might resonate with the BoingBoing crowd- http://declareitart.com/2010/09/20/surveillance-statement/

If you like it, consider writing and posting one of your own!

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147177 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147177 Still, I think too many artists put more attention and energy into their artist statements than they do into drawing classes. Still, I think too many artists put more attention and energy into their artist statements than they do into drawing classes.

]]> By: flosofl http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147444 flosofl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147444 mn_camera, I really like that. And to tell you the truth I would probably truly appreciate your showing more than most I have been to. Your statement cuts through the crap, and I would be intrigued (and it made me laugh out loud). It would probably motivate to scrutinize your photos much more than I might otherwise. Because I'd be genuinely curious as to *why* these particular photos gave you enjoyment, and to see if I could get that same feeling of delight. mn_camera, I really like that. And to tell you the truth I would probably truly appreciate your showing more than most I have been to. Your statement cuts through the crap, and I would be intrigued (and it made me laugh out loud). It would probably motivate to scrutinize your photos much more than I might otherwise. Because I’d be genuinely curious as to *why* these particular photos gave you enjoyment, and to see if I could get that same feeling of delight.

]]> By: LydiRae http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147447 LydiRae Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147447 I graduated art school (SJSU) in 2009 with a BFA, and none of my instructors ever took a serious look at my statement. It's really a shame, because it's hard to be taken seriously without the ability to write in this form, or espouse artsy nonsense at a moment's notice. The english class I was required to take before graduation was an english competency course, and we never analyzed or wrote a statement. Funny enough, while a good statement is required to get your work looked at by gallery owners and museum curators, the average person won't give a crap about it. It's a totally indecipherable language, one that just looks useless and egotistical from outside the art world. I graduated art school (SJSU) in 2009 with a BFA, and none of my instructors ever took a serious look at my statement. It’s really a shame, because it’s hard to be taken seriously without the ability to write in this form, or espouse artsy nonsense at a moment’s notice. The english class I was required to take before graduation was an english competency course, and we never analyzed or wrote a statement.

Funny enough, while a good statement is required to get your work looked at by gallery owners and museum curators, the average person won’t give a crap about it. It’s a totally indecipherable language, one that just looks useless and egotistical from outside the art world.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147194 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147194 She's not really an artist. I can tell because she didn't use nearly enough five-syllable words. She’s not really an artist. I can tell because she didn’t use nearly enough five-syllable words.

]]> By: mn_camera http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147196 mn_camera Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147196 I split an empty space with a friend/colleague for a month for a show of paintings (hers) and photos (mine). She told me I needed a statement. What I wrote: "I make these photos because they are the photos I want to see." She put it up, though I think she was appalled. I split an empty space with a friend/colleague for a month for a show of paintings (hers) and photos (mine).

She told me I needed a statement.

What I wrote:

“I make these photos because they are the photos I want to see.”

She put it up, though I think she was appalled.

]]> By: Angryjim http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147212 Angryjim Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147212 I visited a friend's MFA program crtique and determined that the whole point of getting a master of fine arts degree is learning to speak this language. Because the work was rather unimpressive, but oh man they way they could talk about it! I visited a friend’s MFA program crtique and determined that the whole point of getting a master of fine arts degree is learning to speak this language. Because the work was rather unimpressive, but oh man they way they could talk about it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1148240 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148240 Huh. Seems like a lot of people here are pretty certain about what art ought to be. Alright, admittedly the signal to noise ratio is not so great, but there's good stuff out there, even amongst those works accompanied by sesquipedalian monstrosities. Huh. Seems like a lot of people here are pretty certain about what art ought to be. Alright, admittedly the signal to noise ratio is not so great, but there’s good stuff out there, even amongst those works accompanied by sesquipedalian monstrosities.

]]> By: GreenJello http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147218 GreenJello Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147218 I won't hire her, too honest, the suckers ^H^H^H^Hcustomers would be put out. I won’t hire her, too honest, the suckers ^H^H^H^Hcustomers would be put out.

]]> By: CyberCraftRobots http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1149014 CyberCraftRobots Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1149014 I LOVE it! I'm forwarding this to every artist I know who has not already forwarded it to me. (I'm burning up bandwidth for no good reason other than creating an excuse to not go to my studio, while providing same for others in my profession) I LOVE it! I’m forwarding this to every artist I know who has not already forwarded it to me. (I’m burning up bandwidth for no good reason other than creating an excuse to not go to my studio, while providing same for others in my profession)

]]> By: Teller http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147237 Teller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147237 Pretty smart, Charlotte. Pretty funny. Pretty smart, Charlotte.
Pretty funny.

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1148016 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148016 Alas, to quote my brother: "Why don't you get a REAL job?" Alas, to quote my brother: “Why don’t you get a REAL job?”

]]> By: dolo54 http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147260 dolo54 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147260 "I hold Testudines in the highest esteem." Translation: "I like turtles." “I hold Testudines in the highest esteem.”

Translation:

“I like turtles.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147267 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147267 The google ads over the subtitles are the most entertaining and relevant part. The google ads over the subtitles are the most entertaining and relevant part.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147779 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147779 As a teacher with an MA in English Literature, I can attest that the same sort of highfalutin double speak is used by folks like us to discuss books and short stories and poems. My thesis proposal sounded quite a bit like Young's artist's statement. In her---and my---defense, our ability to speak and write this way is a survival technique to protect us against those who feel that dedicating one's career to making and/or talking about any art form is not legitimate and doesn't deserve a salary. As a teacher with an MA in English Literature, I can attest that the same sort of highfalutin double speak is used by folks like us to discuss books and short stories and poems. My thesis proposal sounded quite a bit like Young’s artist’s statement. In her—and my—defense, our ability to speak and write this way is a survival technique to protect us against those who feel that dedicating one’s career to making and/or talking about any art form is not legitimate and doesn’t deserve a salary.

]]> By: harryhoody http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1149066 harryhoody Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1149066 I actually have a BS in Art. True story. I actually have a BS in Art. True story.

]]> By: Palomino http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147279 Palomino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147279 My oh My! Is she facing a firing squad? Her words spill out like a confession. It's sad watching someone squirm while they try convince themselves of their own untruths. "Ready! Aim!..... My oh My! Is she facing a firing squad? Her words spill out like a confession. It’s sad watching someone squirm while they try convince themselves of their own untruths.

“Ready! Aim!…..

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1148303 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148303 You're right. There is some good stuff out there, but I think not enough. As far as realism goes, more people need to stop copying, tracing, or blowing photographs up on the wall so they can match the subject matter to a T. They need to start paying more attention/practicing more in drawing class, because they're reducing the process to a grandiose exercise in paint-by-numbers. With painting in particular, the medium is just as important as the message. If efficiency and expediency were the only things that really mattered, there would be no justification for hand-crafted anything. You’re right. There is some good stuff out there, but I think not enough.

As far as realism goes, more people need to stop copying, tracing, or blowing photographs up on the wall so they can match the subject matter to a T. They need to start paying more attention/practicing more in drawing class, because they’re reducing the process to a grandiose exercise in paint-by-numbers.

With painting in particular, the medium is just as important as the message. If efficiency and expediency were the only things that really mattered, there would be no justification for hand-crafted anything.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1148305 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148305 Hmmm. Most of these comments reflect the general view that art is not valid and that most artists are trying to get away with something. Having a specialist language (both written and visual) is considered pretentious for art but not for physics for instance. Using words to give background to the art or an explanation of the artist's intention is useful and sometimes the words will be difficult because it can be difficult to talk about visual art with words since it is made up of pictures (writing about art is like dancing about architecture). This video is funny, but the artist statement isn't a bad one, I understood it. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it is wrong, it might mean you need to learn more about it. Hmmm. Most of these comments reflect the general view that art is not valid and that most artists are trying to get away with something. Having a specialist language (both written and visual) is considered pretentious for art but not for physics for instance. Using words to give background to the art or an explanation of the artist’s intention is useful and sometimes the words will be difficult because it can be difficult to talk about visual art with words since it is made up of pictures (writing about art is like dancing about architecture). This video is funny, but the artist statement isn’t a bad one, I understood it. Just because you don’t understand something doesn’t mean it is wrong, it might mean you need to learn more about it.

]]> By: genre slur http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147558 genre slur Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147558 Fuggin LitCrits everywhere know. Agreed with above IE if you need to issue a statement you're doing it wrong. Fuggin LitCrits everywhere know. Agreed with above IE if you need to issue a statement you’re doing it wrong.

]]> By: jimmitude http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147321 jimmitude Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147321 Great! and my daughter, who just graduated with her BFA also loves this. DWax, awesome site. I used to paste silly ads/statements from snack food (as always, cholesterol free!) or small appliance/tool (does not deplete the ozone layer) packaging onto my work phone because it was one of the few rules my company hadn't thought of yet. Similar to your artist's statements, but in a more sparse,zen like format. Oooops, almost slipped into artspeak. Great! and my daughter, who just graduated with her BFA also loves this.

DWax, awesome site. I used to paste silly ads/statements from snack food (as always, cholesterol free!) or small appliance/tool (does not deplete the ozone layer) packaging onto my work phone because it was one of the few rules my company hadn’t thought of yet. Similar to your artist’s statements, but in a more sparse,zen like format. Oooops, almost slipped into artspeak.

]]> By: jtegnell http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1148103 jtegnell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1148103 This is exactly why I changed my undergrad midstream from BFA to BA. This is exactly why I changed my undergrad midstream from BFA to BA.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147348 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147348 HA! I don't know her, but I'm pretty sure I already like Ms Young. If pretentiousness could be graphed, then artist statements would surely define one of the highest peaks on the graph. Clue to aspiring artists: if your work actually requires you to issue a separate statement explaining yourself, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. HA! I don’t know her, but I’m pretty sure I already like Ms Young. If pretentiousness could be graphed, then artist statements would surely define one of the highest peaks on the graph.

Clue to aspiring artists: if your work actually requires you to issue a separate statement explaining yourself, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147360 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147360 the bummer is that to get any notice in the 'art world' you need this kind of bullshit buffer between the audience and you work. no one will look at you unless you can talk like this. the bummer is that to get any notice in the ‘art world’ you need this kind of bullshit buffer between the audience and you work.

no one will look at you unless you can talk like this.

]]> By: MacBookHeir http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147105 MacBookHeir Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147105 Very funny. This sort of sub-title technique could be applied to any video job resume or bragging small talk overheard at a schmooze party. It's our job as human beings to embellish and exaggerate. Now, can this artist brag that she had her video linked on Boing Boing/ ("achieved worldwide fame on groundbreaking website") Very funny. This sort of sub-title technique could be applied to any video job resume or bragging small talk overheard at a schmooze party. It’s our job as human beings to embellish and exaggerate. Now, can this artist brag that she had her video linked on Boing Boing/ (“achieved worldwide fame on groundbreaking website”)

]]> By: bfarn http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147115 bfarn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147115 I too got my BS in BS. Hats off to ya! I too got my BS in BS. Hats off to ya!

]]> By: knoxblox http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147126 knoxblox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147126 Hilarious! As an artist, I thought I was only one of a few who hated the craptastic legalese of most artist statements. One of my favorite GraphJams: http://graphjam.memebase.com/2010/05/22/funny-graphs-art-abstract/ Hilarious!

As an artist, I thought I was only one of a few who hated the craptastic legalese of most artist statements.

One of my favorite GraphJams: http://graphjam.memebase.com/2010/05/22/funny-graphs-art-abstract/

]]> By: duncan http://boingboing.net/2011/06/24/artists-statement-tr.html#comment-1147129 duncan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1147129 This is a nice example of post-intentionalism. This is a nice example of post-intentionalism.

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