In the 1940s, Barnett Newman, one of the prominent color field artists, wrote this brief credo regarding the aims of his art, and possibly that of abstraction in art as it was held at the time. It is of particular significance in the efforts exerted in the finding of my own images at this time.
"The present painter is concerned not with his own feelings or with the mystery of his own personality but with the penetration into the world mystery. His imagination is therefore attempting to dig into metaphysical secrets. To that extent his art is concerned with the sublime. It is a religious art which through symbols will catch the basic truth of life . . . the artist tries to wrest truth from the void."
Learning to Fly
oil/linen 48"x40" 2005
Sleep (Jesse Mann)
mixed media on paper, 15"x10" 2003
Her Last Hope
oil/linen 30" x 34" 2005
Crossing Over
oil/linen 30"x24" 2006
Embrace
oil/linen 70"x40" 2007
2 comments:
If the artist is successful, to whom is the truth revealed?
I've been thinking about Barnett's words the last few weeks. Honestly at first I was puzzled, not really sure how you can purely search for truth through expression (art, writing, song, etc) without being influenced in your efforts by your feelings.
After you mulling over "Learning to Fly", I think I got a bit more understanding. It was very deeply touching for me - that wanting to fly, but scared to try and leave that last link to 'firm reality' behind. An universal truth more than the image presented.
I know I don't understand Barnett's words completely yet, for whether I am the creator or appreciator, I still see how it is influenced/interpreted/tinged with my perspectives.
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