"I Don't Get It" by Lorena Bowser

What’s Wrong with Beautiful Art?  
by Lorena Bowser

Art has always reflected the times in which it is created.  As goes society…so goes art.  We’ve come a long way since the first cave drawings at Lascaux. From the ritualistic bas-relief of the Egyptians, to the story-telling frescos of the catacombs, to the sophisticated gold-embellished tile icons of the first Christian churches, to the breath-taking paintings of Michelangelo and the heaven-reaching spires of the architecture of the Middle Ages, art had its beginning in religion.  It was largely symbolic, the message being of more importance than a realistic portrayal of any subject. There were “rules” to follow, and anyone deviating from the rules, was scorned.  But to contemplate the art from these ages was to leave this earth for a few moments and soar to “better places.” The glory for all this beauty was given largely to God.  Man was only the instrument of His message.

Then with the Renaissance, art came out of the box. Artists began to “break” the rules and with a new sense of self-pride, began to sign their work. Art ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the heavenly to the satanic during this transition zone of artistic expression.   

By the time I began to seriously create art, galleries were consistently exhibiting “Modern Art” – much of which was “bleak” and depressing; Art had become a personal expression of our inner troubles and those of society as a whole. OK, that’s fair. Who am I to dictate what inspires and motivates an artist? Yet, when I studied these “self-centered” artworks, I always came away feeling lousy.  Here I quote from Alice Walker: “If art does not make us better, what on earth is it for!”  Words straight from my heart!  And that is why I did not follow the advice of my art instructors, or try to fit in to current trends.  And so I have instinctively created art that expresses my goal.  This of course meant that I didn’t fit in the art world of my contemporaries.  The art connoisseurs, both galleries and art purchasers (and my instructors), confirmed this by lauding the artists that stepped away from tradition to create art that was simplistic to extreme, dark in nature, or easily replicated (yes!) by anyone who could swing a paintbrush full of paint haphazardly across a blank canvas.  I found it extremely hard to understand that these artists were famous and rich, and I could not sell even one painting inspired by beauty, by the lofty ideals that signify the universal quest for happiness that we all share.   A few cases of note:

Andy Warhol was ill and confined to bed for part of his childhood and shut out by his classmates when he returned to school.  As an adult he was considered devoutly religious, yet painted subjects that are anathema to the religion he practiced. There was enough in his life to consider the possibility that he was a troubled person. He first became famous by painting a Campbell’s soup can, which work let him to an abundant collection of artwork that you, or I – or just about anybody could replicate with a limited art instruction.  Warhol’s 1963 painting, “Eight Elvises,” sold for $100 million.

During his lifetime, Paul Jackson Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety, yet he was basically a recluse and struggled with alcoholism all of his life. Pollock stated: “I work standing up because I want my whole body to be part of my art. I'm not [really] aware of what I'm doing”. Pollock died at the wheel of his convertible at the age of 44 – intoxicated. I will make many people angry here, but in my honest opinion, anyone who can sling a paintbrush and throw broken glass at a canvas can create a Pollock painting. Pollock shares the distinction of having sold work for more than $100 million.

At the time of painting the “The Scream,” Munch’s manic depressive sister Laura Catherine was interned in a mental hospital. In 1978, the Munch scholar Robert Rosenblum suggested that the strange, sexless creature in the foreground of the painting was probably inspired by a Peruvian mummy, which Munch could have seen at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. The environment of The Scream is often compared to that which an individual suffering from Depersonalization Disorder experiences, such as a feeling of distortion of the environment and one's self.

I am not an unkind person. I do not begrudge the fact that these artists found fame, but both their life styles and artwork are a reflection of unhappy, unhealthy lives. Yet, few art connaisseurs that I know would ever say that their art is anything less than genius! In my dictionary, one of the definitions of “genius” is “…great and original creative ability in art, science. etc…” [italics are mine) I have no doubt at all that the majority of us, artists or not, can duplicate the main works that made these artists famous – and I’m willing to back up these words if necessary. What is “great” and “original” about that?  Creating original, beautiful, un-reproducible art is my goal.  It’s a hard one – as it should be!  And I wonder…if I attain my goal one day, will I become famous? 

The evaluation of art is often subjective, but with a study of art history and a keen insight into human behavior, anyone can be a credible art critic.  And so I dare….

But not to fear.  We are on the tail end of what is currently referred to as “Contemporary Art,” and it is becoming more and more promising of better times for art – and society!    I will deal with this in my next article.  Meanwhile, your comments are welcome. I love a friendly argument.

Lorena Bowser is a lifetime artist and linguist. She has lived all over the world and really knows how to make the pennies scream. Enjoy more of Lorena's resourcefulness at her website and blog: at http://lorenasartandprose.blogspot.com
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