In response (part 1) to Rob, Justine and David’s comments on my posting #11, thank you all for your comments, I’m delighted to have sparked such a discussion. Forgive me for being a bit tardy to reply, I am preparing for a solo exhibition and the opening is coming up on the 25th, so I’m a bit distracted…..
Rob, what sounds so interesting about the experience you describe with your Soviet sculpture is the location of this massive work. The first thing that comes to my mind is to ask whether this is an example of appropriated art (something David mentions in his comment), particularly given the political history of Northern Ireland.
Another point you make which I find interesting is the question of outdated political works. I must admit, I have always felt uneasy with political artwork, partially for this reason. Times change, society changes, values change, if we make art to last is it responsible to make work that is potentially confrontational or explosive? What does it mean for us as a society when work outlives it’s time and becomes something possibly ridiculous? Do we retire it with reverence or do we forget about it only to see it appropriated (perhaps) and used for purposes which are possibly inappropriate? There are lots of questions surrounding ‘responsibility’.
Justine, I’ve read your blog and that is one of the things I took away from it, was this concern from the workers that your work be more than just self expression. I find this compelling because this is a slice of society, what I mean is, there are as many people who are not interested in art as there are those in society who are. Do we only talk to those who are interested? Rather like preaching to the converted, isn’t it? And if we only talk to those who are interested, are we fulfilling our responsibility to society as David outlines in his comment? I share his idea “that making art is in its self socially responsible”, I feel a keen sense of responsibility to look at issues of existence, experience, of living life itself because I feel continued reflection on what it means to be human is something we and society needs to do, especially in times of increased technological advances and military conflict. I also feel a responsibility to discuss art issues with people who have no connection with art. I feel their grievances against art and artists are important because they are our real critics.
You ask “how can you justify your work as primarily self expression to people who don’t have a way into art; it is seen as self indulgent and useless”. That is a very good question and an important one. Why is self expression important? For me, it’s important because my expression of something interior may touch someone’s own experience. I think this is the essence of connection, it is how we stay connected as a society and one way we keep our humanity. But when people feel excluded from finding “a way into art” the importance of self expression breaks down.
I would be very interested to know what kind of art the quarry workers want from you because what I read behind their concern that you make art that is not just for yourself, is a desire to connect with you and what you are doing and what you produce. It sounds as if they are asking for a way in.
