So it is degree show season and I came across this article
“Artspeak alert: what not to write or say
From ‘radical unreality’ to ‘leggy plasticity’, we collate the most baffling examples of art lingo going” from The Guardian. It’s like stories about diets coming at the start of every January and are we now going to have an artspeak bashing every May? I think there are some words included on the info graphic that justify some confusion and which I have only just noticed is in the shape of a skull!?! But really, are most of those words necessary in their inclusion? I struggle with it as I am now a few years into the system and supposedly brainwashed by artspeak and reluctant to drop the language that has been part of my art training, especially ‘materiality’. But, really, are ‘over’, ‘combine’ really words which leave our audience baffled and alienated? If so then whether they ‘get’ our work is really the least of their worries.
I agree that the text presented at exhibitions etc. should not leave the audience feeling the work is only for the art elite. This pushes them away, makes them feel stupid and if they do not understand a ‘description’ then they really don’t stand a chance with understanding the work. Can’t we have the work at the fore, shouldn’t the artwork itself be a means to understanding the art?
It’s not that I am text shy, far from it, I enjoy writing about my work/research etc but I am not very keen on the artist’s statement. I will write one, only because I might have to, or think I should have one on my website. It might be though that it’s in the affective nature of my work though, it has a form of autonomy and it exists for the audience without needing any further guidance or told why I did what I did and what it all means TO ME. Of course if this is of interest, then that’s fine, I am happy to supply this, but my problem is too much emphasis on the text. I don’t know if you have ever been to one, but the season is nearly upon us, the maize maze. When you go in there is an option to have map to find your way back out again, now really what is the fun in that!? That’s how I feel about art, I don’t want to go see some work and be given a map.
But it’s that time of year when we are put in the position that we provide our artist’s statements with our shows, there may be exceptions but I think it is generally the case. This sends many students into a panic which often breeds the crappy statements that are quickly put together. Often aping those they find online, extracting words that sound good. My studio space backs onto the iMac suite and I overheard a conversation between two students doing just that. One says to the other, what about ‘alchemy’? But said a word I have no recollection off, which sounded nothing like ‘alchemy’, a completely made up word, so how the other student knew what she was trying say I have no idea! Anyway he asked her what she thinks it means, to which she replied “I don’t know, I thought it sounded good”. This is most of the problem, artists are taking words that they don’t understand, so how on earth will the audience? It does need addressing, else following graduation students enter the art world just continuing this cycle.
I have been guilty of all this myself, and probably still do to some extent. So take some time out, don’t panic write, don’t quickly put something together that looks right. There is plenty of advice on the web for good approaches to writing the statement, get Google-ing. Also, get some help from your peers, help them in return, ask someone you know who has strength in this area for their advice on what you have written.
Anyway, I have spent most my afternoon, procrastinating on the internet which led me to coming here to write. I could waffle all day about this but I shall go now so I actually have some work to waffle about come July.
