Despite the fact that this semester has been primarily about skill-building, I'm moving towards creating completed and fully realized figurative paintings. This semester has caused a lot of my questions to resurface: What is the value of representational (other word: realism, figurative art) art? It often feels one-sided and more about the physical act of making than communicating a concept.
I like the process of mastering something. Painting is another outlet for my academic interests and I approach painting the same way I approach a paper on a book I loved in my English class. It's a place to see growth and a physical space for self-actualization (whether I realize it or not)--I'm thanking John Hegel for this one.
Although, it's too hard to be therapy--painting doesn't provide the same catharsis for me that it does for others. But in a pleasurable way, painting provides a space for a healthy amount of self-awareness. I am aware of the physical movement of each brushstroke, each mistake and step forward, and all the intricacies that come with the medium--all with the added relief that my anxious mind is distracted for the time being.
So, in its many forms, is representation primarily the personal narrative of the artist? What can it be for the viewer?
I don't want to be a figurative artist who refuses to educate herself on the philosophy and values of the contemporary art world. But this education continues to be discouraging--because at the end of the day it tells me that representation no longer has value. This was the resounding voice of my peers throughout college and echoes through the prominent artistic spaces of New York and LA.
It is possible that representation acts against a general pull to heaviness and cynicism?
I'd love your thoughts.