A disagreement
(part one)
I’m living in a hostel at the moment in Firenze while I search for more permanent accommodation. I thought it would be a somewhat claustrophobic experience but I am thoroughly enjoying the influx of globetrotters, all with a new tale to tell over breakfast.
I got into a particularly heated discussion about art yesterday with one young gentleman from Canada (early in the afternoon mind you, before the free Tuscan wine started flowing); at first he was gleeful that I was another artiste but upon my explanation that I considered myself a contemporary artist his disappointment quickly turned to fierce revulsion.
The young man considered himself a brilliant artist as he had studied Leonardo Di Vinci’s work for two years (he has no intention of attending an art school, they only ruin talented people, like myself). He taught himself to draw imitating the way Di Vinci learned to draw, because someone who cannot draw as well as Di Vinci has no right to teach art, I laughed and said so you must be a good artist then? Yes, I’m great came the blunt reply catching me off guard. He raged and seethed that contemporary artists are seeking to destroy Renaissance art. (I introduced him to some of Luigi Ontani’s work thinking him might be able to relate to the Renaissance inspired prints but alas Ontani is obviously mocking the old masters – despicable!). Contemporary art is a horrible business, people who think they are better than others purposely making work that the general public can’t understand. At which point I joked he must really hate Damien Hirst huh? Who? What? Whose that? Surely…? Tracy Emin? Never heard of her. All he knew what that contemporary art was out to destroy the work of the old masters; contemporary art and realism locked in a vicious battle to the end. (note, realism)
