Art-criticism

A collection of posts tagged with "art-criticism".

Exposed

A while ago, in October this year, I’ve been honored with an unexpected gift: a review of my art as well as myself as an artist by a deeply spiritual person and a great artist – Claudio Miklos. This review will definitely be featured in my upcoming book, but I would like to include it here as well.


Claudio MiklosI’m not used to be talkative about someone else’s artworks, or even about my own art creations and experiments – mainly (I suppose) because my silent nature, and also due some sense of self-restraint about any kind of analysis on the ways of art (I’m not a critic; I’m just an observer, at most a mere witness) – but today, when I was just passing by Sabina Nore’s artworks Facebook page I realize that, sometimes, it is worth to express our inner feelings about that bizarre human condition: to be an artist.
 
It’s quite amazing to see how Sabine Nore creative mind has been growing up and bursting out in different aspects. I’m an old man – I mean, I ALWAYS was an old guy, even during my young years – so I often engaged in long contemplations, calm measurements and lonely reflections. That’s why I value highly the maturing processes of other people’s mind and creativity.
 
Therefore, to me it’s important recognize some kind of maturing knowledge, perhaps even wisdom, in the work of an artist. And I’m not talking about maturing skills; I really trying to pointing out something very subtle (even completely imperceptible sometimes) which lurks inside all strong, passionate artist: the true aesthetic bonding between life and art.
 
And I see that in Sabina Nore’s art. At first glance it seems too much self-centered, always calling out her own image, persona, anima. But I don’t think that it should be the case. To think about Nore’s imagery as selfish is to disregard its deep, wonderful implications. I sense a huge quest for self-discoveries in Nore’s artworks, a passionate exploration of the non-being which dwells the boundaries of any personal identity, like a eerie ghost of our true nature.
 
Obviously, I see Nore’s art with Zen Buddhist eyes. And also I see her as an uncanny person, far beyond my reach. I’ve never really meet her; never hear the sound of her voice, the glow of her eyes, the colors of her soul. And such condition gives me an unsuspecting advantage to unravel the mystery of her face. Because, for me, there is no Sabina! I’m only able to catch her image, her name, perhaps to read about her thoughts, but it is just a glimpse of her true reality.
 
And then, there is her imagery, her fantastic world, full of passionate representation. Sabina Nore present us her very identity to be considered and interpreted as we wish, in a surprisingly generous way. And such courage – to lay bare yourself, exposed to view – represents to me how Sabina is humble and detached of herself. There is in fact an empty, selfless quality beyond the painted layers of Sabina’s art.
 
Who is Sabina Nore? As a distant witness of her intense, creative nature, I’m eagerly looking for the answer, as if it was a Zen Buddhist koan investigation. And at the very end of such artistic quest, after going through all her iconic dreams and bizarre landscapes, I’m suspicious that perhaps I’ll only find the echoes of Shakespeare’s alluring conclusion: “the rest is silence”.

~ Claudio Miklos

The cliché of a poor artist

The cliche of a poor artist. It’s charming, isn’t it. Such noble souls are artists, they break their backs, pour their souls into their art, leave something for all of humankind and eternity and are utterly satisfied with peanuts in return.
“This painting took you one month to paint? Let’s see… about XYZ Euros is a decent salary. Your painting shouldn’t be worth more than that, otherwise you are just being greedy.”
We all know that greedy isn’t noble.

Read the rest of this entry »

Inspiration

Today an art site has featured my work with the following words:

“A fantastic and imaginative digital artist her gallery is full of surreal pieces that make us reconsider ideas and ways of portraying them.”

It’s very cool to hear that from another artist, or any person for that matter! I don’t see myself as a digital artist, by the way. After all, my favorite medium used to be oils. I think I’m simply an artist and I like to experiment with all kinds of media and so I didn’t flinch from this particular medium either.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Art of Criticizing Art

I wonder how many art critics are frustrated former artists who climbed the stairs of social success through chit-chat and favors to reach a semi-respectable position in their mini-universe allowing them to successfully suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect?

You can always tell if an art critic is merely a failed artist by the way they dispense their criticism. Do they treat the artist and their art respectfully or is the purpose of their critique to slam and “shut down” the artist?

Norman Rockwell's "Art Critic" (1955)A quick glance across art history shows us that art is changeable and highly subjective. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yet art and what art is is constantly being defined and redefined, like anyone could ever reach the ultimate conclusion.

According to the dictionary art is the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

Therein lies the problem.

Many artists, in order to be commercially successful, conform to “the latest fashion”. If you, as an artist, happen to not fit the taste of the masses, or simply not be willing to conform to it, then you have made a pretty big decision, the consequences of which ripple on and outward, and may make their way back to you to bite you in your derrière.

But there are worse things than being bit.

 

I will close this with the words of Oscar Wilde:

“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is. It has nothing to do with the fact that other people want what they want. Indeed, the moment that an artist takes notice of what other people want, and tries to supply the demand, he ceases to be an artist, and becomes a dull or an amusing craftsman, an honest or dishonest tradesman. He has no further claim to be considered as an artist. “

…and Henri Matisse: “Creativity takes courage.”