notes from a cave artist
jha...@om.com.au
'art'. I wonder what Rembrant would have said? The 'Oxford' says art is a
skill that demands the exercise of the mind and the imagination. A carpenter
or a stone mason can be apprenticed and learn a skill. To contend that Adam
or Hepplewhite knew nothing about dovetail joints would be like saying Wright
knew nothing about cantilevers. True art, the Oxford contends, combines the
exercise of the mind and imagination and is predicated on the grasp and
extension of some particular discipline.
So is cave painting skilful, and is it 'art?'
Mnn ... if we do not agree on the previous terms of definition then any
further discussion is useless. (Goodnight to all usual my readers) If not let
us differentiate between the exercise of the mind and the imagination. The
mind provides the discipline - the imagination provides the new ways of
looking at things. The modernists, post modernists, contemporaries etc.,
endeavour to produce articles, paintings and installations that propose a new
view - usually without any exercise of the mind. And if there is - then any
hint of intellectual activity it would be strenuously denied. The idea of
explaining to someone why Vermeers 'girl with the pearl earring’ is such a
tour de force and should include an understanding of drawing, color, design
and texture is an anathema.
And there you have it! To discern or appreciate beauty do we need to be a
technician or not. Did I ever fall on love because I knew all about the object
of
my desires, or was it the opposite - the mystery?
Nevertheless, as a mixed up little panda bear, when I look at a cave painting
I ask myself - how good was the artist? remembering all the time that the
Mona Lisa may well become the cave painting equivalent of the 30th century.
So really, what is that on the walls of caves, what is art, what is painting
and will it last? John Hagan Cowdisley Institute.
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CROCUSDES
>I ask myself - how good was the artist? remembering all the time that the
>Mona Lisa may well become the cave painting equivalent of the 30th century.
Well John, you are expressing a rather parochial view of what art is supposed
to be about. It is not a Eurocentric kind of thing at all so I wouldn't
consider such works to be used as a benchmark. To compare the skills of an
artist from one time, one culture with another then we have to look beyond the
simple matter of technique.
>Mnn ... if we do not agree on the previous terms of definition then any
>further discussion is useless.
No, it is not useless at all. Each of us have perhaps a different definition
of what art is and what it's about and the validity of your idea is not offset
by mine which may be different. However such discussions as the one you are
trying to encourage suggests that there is only one universal standard to
adhere to. Well, if there is a standard then it's not a technical one but
rather a very difficult and elusive sort of thing that sometimes defies
complete explaination.
We can understand quite easily that there is a basic warp to the idea of "art"
and then many threads within the weave. What we try to construct then is a
fabric of understanding that encompasses all the factors that apply.
Unfortunately the problem with the answers we give is that too often we don't
know the right questions to ask. Then there are mitigating circumstances which
changes the right answer at one time into a different or expanded one later on.
This is the result of incorporating into our various cultures acceptance,
understanding and even transformation of original intent.
Well, there's no way I'm capable of covering this subject in a single post so
I'll simply end this for the time being with and answer to the final question
in your post.
>So really, what is that on the walls of caves, >what is art, what is painting
>and will it last? John Hagan
Answer: It depends on which paintings are in question, not all are equal in
quality. Is a cave painting art or is it possible to be art? Answer: It could
be, and yes. What is art? Answer: Let's continue the thread and see if we can
find out. What is painting? Answer: pictures, images, ideas expressed. Will
it last? Answer: As long as the caves are intact which is long enough.
>Mona Lisa may well become the cave painting <equivalent of the 30th century.
No, I don't think so. I don't think that's the greatest painting either but
it's in the same league as all the others we think of as great. It will remain
so, time isn't going to change that.
Chris Ray - sculptor
http://members.aol.com/crocusdes