About-Words
I have started keeping a list of words that represent ideas or images that I would like to explore in my art (or even just words that interest me for some reason). Some of them are things that I already include in my work on a regular basis, and some are new. I think I’ve always struggled with the idea of “About” as in “what is this painting about?” It’s always really hard for me to say what any given piece of my work is About, becuase I hardly ever go “today I am going to make an image that is About (fill in subject).” If I do that I end up feeling bored and uninspired. I very much prefer to go with the flow and let the images I’m working with come together as they will without worrying too much about Aboutness.
But sometimes I feel that a lack of defined Aboutness could also be seen as Emptiness, and not Emptiness in a good, meaningful Zen way, but Emptiness in a bad, hollow way. I think striking a balance between Meaning and Beauty is really important. I don’t like things that are Meaningful but which are completely uninteresting to look at, but I also don’t like things that are Beautiful but are nothing more. I feel like I’ve gotten pretty complacent lately and have been slipping into the category of Empty Beautiful. I know I’ve been repeating myself, making similar images over and over because I’m stuck in doing what is comfortable.
I’m not exactly sure how this list of mine is going to help solve that particular conundrum, but it’s something I feel that I need to be doing right now. I used to be an obsessive journal keeper, but stopped several years ago when I realized that writing my daily thoughts and feelings not at all cathartic but was keeping me stuck in various bad habits of thought and behavior. But I recently bought a new book for writing in, not journal-type stuff, but lists and project ideas and things I need to get done. And I remembered how satisfying it is to write by hand in a book, instead of always typing on a computer.
Perhaps the “aboutness” of a work is its form or a color or the way two collaged images create some third meaning. It doesn’t have to be a thematic concept.
On the other hand, it would be a fun exercise to take three of those words and them make something. Kind of like that old 3D Foundations class at Tyler when Tim made the flaming flying thumb (with catapult).
Hmm, good point Derik. I think that’s been the kind of “aboutness” I’ve been doing for a long time. It works pretty well, but I’m feeling stuck in a rut or something lately.
I like the idea about combining some of the words. Tim’s flying flaming thumb rocked. I think my words were “ill warm belly” or something. I made a bunch of instant mashed potatoes, put them in a plastic bag and spraypainted it flesh colored, and put that in a white-spraypainted cardboard box that was supposed to represent a hospital or something. Ah, art school.
I’ve thankfully blocked out whatever lame project I did.
Haha, I just came across a notebook in which I wrote about that assignment! Mine was “Delirious Mushy Belly.”
Mashed potatoes were involved, if I recall correctly?
Yep, instant mashed potatoes in a plastic bag, spraypainted flesh-colored. Brilliant.
When I came across that notebook, I was hoping it would also tell me what other people’s projects were, but it didn’t.