So.... art. Yeah.
I don't care for art much. Or more specifically, I don't like the artsy-fartsy, pseudo-intellectual, self-indulgent pretentious cretins who are obsessed with finding the meaning of life in a black dot on a white canvas. You know the kind?
Recently I read that the most expensive painting in the world, "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" by Picasso, was to be shown in the UK. How much did the painting cost then, you might ask? 106 million dollars. A hundred and six million dollars. To put this into perspective, Angelina Jolie was widely publicised and praised for donating 3 million dollars to charity. If every person in the UK gave 3 pounds, they would be able to buy the painting. I must not have been there when they announced that the world's problems were solved....
If you want to see the original article, here is the link. You can also see the painting in question there: World's most expensive painting - BBC
Please, don't misunderstand me: there is nothing inherently bad or morally wrong about art. In fact, entertainment and creativity are essential for the progress of the human race. (Of course, one can sarcastically make the remark that while art may be cricial to the survival of humans, the very survival of humans is not crucial at all!) We are social creatures aware of our own existence and we need intellectual food. All I am saying is, our priorities are completely displaced if we don't mind that someone paid a 100 million dollars for a painting my 10 year old sister could have drawn but we then don't want to switch all electricity off for the World Earth Hour because it is too inconvenient.
And here is a link, if you don't know what the World Earth hour is or want more info on it. It's coming soon: Earth Hour - 26th of March
Yet, every story has at least two sides. Here's the flipside.
I was finishing up an essay the other night at 3 am, like you do, and I stumbled upon an artist's work. His name is Leonid Afremov, he is from Belarus, and his work moved me. His work is very expressive and I feel that it captures the spirit, the atmosphere, the emotion even, of the moment. While looking at some of his paintings, I had the very distinct feeling that I'd seen this image, it spoke to me and spiked a memory. To my surprise, and as it is becoming clear to you at this moment, I later found out that it was indeed Copenhagen and Paris that he had painted, and it was exactly the two paintings I was wondering about. His work surprised me because not only did it provoke a memory but it built up on it, creating a certain magic, the colours are magnificent.
Should you be curious, here is some of his work, I hope you enjoy it: Leonid Afremov - Gallery on DeviantArt.
So there you go. Within a day, I had two very conflicting experiences with art and I wonder, is it just me who sees it this way?
Réah
I don't care for art much. Or more specifically, I don't like the artsy-fartsy, pseudo-intellectual, self-indulgent pretentious cretins who are obsessed with finding the meaning of life in a black dot on a white canvas. You know the kind?
Recently I read that the most expensive painting in the world, "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" by Picasso, was to be shown in the UK. How much did the painting cost then, you might ask? 106 million dollars. A hundred and six million dollars. To put this into perspective, Angelina Jolie was widely publicised and praised for donating 3 million dollars to charity. If every person in the UK gave 3 pounds, they would be able to buy the painting. I must not have been there when they announced that the world's problems were solved....
If you want to see the original article, here is the link. You can also see the painting in question there: World's most expensive painting - BBC
Please, don't misunderstand me: there is nothing inherently bad or morally wrong about art. In fact, entertainment and creativity are essential for the progress of the human race. (Of course, one can sarcastically make the remark that while art may be cricial to the survival of humans, the very survival of humans is not crucial at all!) We are social creatures aware of our own existence and we need intellectual food. All I am saying is, our priorities are completely displaced if we don't mind that someone paid a 100 million dollars for a painting my 10 year old sister could have drawn but we then don't want to switch all electricity off for the World Earth Hour because it is too inconvenient.
And here is a link, if you don't know what the World Earth hour is or want more info on it. It's coming soon: Earth Hour - 26th of March
Yet, every story has at least two sides. Here's the flipside.
I was finishing up an essay the other night at 3 am, like you do, and I stumbled upon an artist's work. His name is Leonid Afremov, he is from Belarus, and his work moved me. His work is very expressive and I feel that it captures the spirit, the atmosphere, the emotion even, of the moment. While looking at some of his paintings, I had the very distinct feeling that I'd seen this image, it spoke to me and spiked a memory. To my surprise, and as it is becoming clear to you at this moment, I later found out that it was indeed Copenhagen and Paris that he had painted, and it was exactly the two paintings I was wondering about. His work surprised me because not only did it provoke a memory but it built up on it, creating a certain magic, the colours are magnificent.
Should you be curious, here is some of his work, I hope you enjoy it: Leonid Afremov - Gallery on DeviantArt.
So there you go. Within a day, I had two very conflicting experiences with art and I wonder, is it just me who sees it this way?
Réah
2 comments:
In regards to world hour, I have commented that while the idea is nice, it doesn't really do anything and only makes some lazy people feel good about themselves, who can proceed dong nothing, after one "romantic" hour spent on candels. I am totally abot self-aware people, who think about what they do to themselves and the word but the Eart's hour rings quite artsy-fartsy to me. Sorry, but in order to be moved, I expect more to be done.
In regards to art, helloo, that was awesome topic.
I have been raging about this for quite some time.
The unbelivable amount of money given for crappy movies and the spare change given to unknown artists though muvh talented.
Well... it's all about marketing and we all know it. But this story is quite good example that definition of art is imposible, because though our ideas about good/bad, right/wrong, pretty/ugly are socially contructued and culturally defined, art has very unique touch with different people because we are quite complicated beings.
And have hear truly awesome people to be in coplete awe by white canvas with two dots and green dash on the side, I have also seen people bored to tears by the most famous masters in the history of art.
Basically... we are completely lost on what IS art but we know what is not... that does feel false to one's ear, eye and feeling so... less artsy-fartsy, more genuine please, with some humor on the side, thankyoukindlyverymuch. :)
I agree with you that one "romantic" hour is not enough but so many people refuse to do even this. I will agree one-hundred percent that "donate to Japan with one click" and "change your profile picture to a cartoon character to raise awareness about child abuse" is beyond moronic and I have never agreed with this. However, i think that one has to start somewhere and actually switching your light off is practically applied and makes a little bit of change. I never said it wsa enough, but if you refuse to do that, then you're even worse off.
As far as art... i can talk about my fristrations about it for as long as you can talk about feminism, which will clearly make for a nice long afternoon :)
Btw, let me know about the "guest writing"- how and when to do it. I'll start thinking of topics, what to write for you. and you're free to talk about anything in mine. Btw, i spent an hour or so going through your stiff, it was such a good read!
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