Reading #5 - three artists

Ocean Beach _ Douglas Ljungkvist

Based on what I see, Ljungkvist took photographs in beach towns during winter time, when the town is basically "dead" and abandoned. Even though, the subject matter may be something depressing, he interprets it into fantasy. His clever use of composition and color transforms the emptiness into a mystery, and makes me wonder around the unique space. I really enjoy his exploration and ways of seeing this Ocean Beach.  

Washed Up_Caitlin Teal Price

 Price's observation is voyeuristic and creepy in one way, but her use of color and pattern makes her images visually fascinating. Color and placement of their garments, blankets, and objects work together, and, as a viewer, observing "who is owning what" is interesting.

 Art Fare _ Andy Freeberg

I really enjoyed Freeberg's humorous way of seeing the behind the scene at museums and galleries. Such places are considered to be rather sophisticated, classy, and perfect, but in order to put together a successful exhibition, the process is so humanistic. People are on their phones, they touch the paintings, and they sit around the sculptures. The irony that happens at the specific space is very funny.

His other series, Guardians, are also humorous in a way that the guardians become part of the works that surround them. I really enjoy Freeberg's sense of humor and ability to capture irony in certain situations.

Response #4 to Ways of Seeing

This video definitely had me think about how images affect the world, and beyond that, how photography changed the world entirely.

Like, John Berger explains in the videos, oil painting used to be in the place of color photography, but it functioned differently. Paintings depicted reality, but photographs create a virtual reality. Even if paintings did create a virtual reality, it'd most likely be abstract. Paintings are only owned by the rich and seen in museums. Photographs are owned by everyone and seen everywhere. We consume images everyday. This kind of accessibility to images changed our ways of living, not just seeing. Without visiting the Pyramids, you exactly know what they look like. Without being rich, you can imagine carrying a Louis Vuitton hand bag. The whole perspective of how we live is completely change with photography.

Today, it has taken even further with use of internet and social media. Images are produced and consumed more than ever, the new reality is becoming bigger and bigger. We are, in a way, more knowledgeable, because we are educated by endless amount of images, but at the same time, we are not at all knowledgeable, because we are ONLY learning through this virtual reality, not actual. I am not sure how we interact with the world will change in ten, twenty years, but it is true that photographs have changed the world pretty suddenly, and they are still changing it.

Reading #3 Response

The critique handbook was humorous in a way that it truthfully tells us how "critique" is like in art school, but, at the same time, that truthfulness made me feel a bit uncomfortable and awkward. Her description on "critiques" are very detailed. The atmosphere of the room, attitude of the students, ways of talking. . . It is nice to learn how to understand and appreciate art at a more educated level, but I feel like, that kind of specific directions really limits art to what it's "supposed to be." I have mentioned in our class multiple times that art shouldn't get analyzed, but rather, it should be enjoyed. I feel like art schools or books like this drive students into how to become smart and clever, but I am not sure if their "love" toward art is any sincere.

On the other hand, I wonder, if my thought on "No Smart Art" is too naive. Is it possible to appreciate art just by pure emotional reaction? Maybe, being "smart" is somewhat necessary. For example, I really love Nan Goldin's works, but, honestly, my first reaction to her works 3 years ago was like, "What the hell! These can't be good photographs!" If I didn't read more about her or didn't take an art history class, I may still not like her works. In this case, my theory of "let's just enjoy art" doesn't exactly work out.

Honestly, I am always kind of scared to make a big statement, because I'd hate to be paradoxical. I still do think that art is something to be enjoyed, not smartly analyzed, but education is certainly needed too. So, how do I become an educated artist, not a smart asshole?