Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici - By the Power of Truth, I, While Living, Have Conquered the Universe

Ai Weiwei uses art as a form of social activism.  It is his means of expression and political voice.  Being from China, political voice and expression is something that is a rather limited commodity.  His works range from the politically neutral to the extremely controversial.  One of his most controversial works was titled “So Sorry” and exhibited at Haus der Kunst, in Munich, Germany in 2009.  In the work, he created a massive billboard, in essence, out of children’s school bags.  The 9000 bags were arranged in such way that they spelled out “She lived happily on this earth for seven years.”  The work was a response to the numerous schools that collapsed following an earthquake in China that resulted in the death of countless children.  The controversy is not due to the effects of the quake itself, but rather because the buildings surrounding the schools largely remained standing.  It was clear that the schools had been constructed with inferior materials; moreover, upon their collapse, it was almost impossible to find any remains; the government quickly covered up the incidents and parents to this day do not have closure, forced to bury empty caskets.  Parents are never supposed to bury their children, and for a government to so shamelessly discard the grief of hundreds of parents and discard their outcries is wrong on a fundamental level.
 Ai Weiwei’s work is a giant and vivid reminder to the government of what they have done as well as a symbolic ‘fuck you’.  He, through his work of art, is calling out the government of China on what they have done, and he’s doing it extremely publicly.  In a land where people disappear every day for asking too many questions, Ai Weiwei is taking some extreme risks through his art.  He said the following about the work: 

"The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008.  During the earthquake many schools collapsed.  Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere.  Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the students are serving very different purposes.  The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda, and very soon everybody will forget everything.”

His remarks make him a target.  His being outspoken puts his own life in peril.  His being an activist through his art makes him essential.

Ex Glande Quercus - From Acorn to Oak

Art is extremely unique in its ability to tell a story.  It needs not any visual aids, or embellishments; the works speak for themselves.  The story, in most cases, is whatever the viewer interprets the work as; it may be exactly what the artist was attempting to express, or it may be something completely different.  In either case, if the work manages to incite in the viewer’s imagination some form of tale, it has done its duty. 

The Milkmaid by Vermeer

Take the image adjacent, for instance.  To me, it tells the story, at least in part, of this woman’s life.  Her role in society; her class in the hierarchical system.  I would say she is not a poor woman, given the wealth of clothing she is wearing and their different colours, suggesting an ability to afford various colours of fabric.  Moreover, she is not overly skinny, suggesting enough wealth to afford food; also, her complexion is rather pale, indicating she does not do menial work in the fields.  That said, I wouldn’t classify her as part of the aristocracy, given the apparent conditions of the walls and floor, as well as the fact that she is performing such a task.  No, rather I would assume she is the servant of someone of affluence and of means.  The room she is in could be either her quarters in a much more grand establishment, or her own home.  She appears to be preparing an evening meal based on the fading light protruding from window.  I would also guess that she is French; for what reasons, I do not know – it’s what the image conveys to me. 

Her expression seems fixated on the task at hand, but also on the future.  There is a slight sense of apprehension visible in her face.  She is worried, but tempts to mask this by burying herself in her duties.  Or perhaps she is masking sorrow or loss.  The use of shadow to the right of the image surrounding her face creates ambiguous mystery.  Uncertainty as to what they day may hold.

Any piece of art can bring forth a wealth of possible tales.  It all depends on one’s mindset and imagination.  Personally, I see things objectively, so the story I see unfold is merely a reflection of the events taking place in the picture at the moment.  An analysis of the image is the story to me.  But that’s me; how about you?

Tempura Mutantur - Times Change

Robert Hughes is an art critic, and an extremely passionate one at that.  He’s been in the business longer than most and as such holds a unique knowledge about the downward spiral of art.  That is to say art, which once was seen in museums for the purpose of appreciation is now sold among the uber rich, not for any appreciative reasons at all, but rather for the ability to increase one’s assets. 

He argues that art itself has lost much of its value through a variety of factors, including mass reproduction/exposure; e.g., the Mona Lisa.  What used to be a formal statement about human appearance and character has been transformed into a cheap piece of iconography.  One goes to the Louvre, sees the Mona Lisa for briefest of periods, appreciates not, and then moves on.  The over-exposure coupled with a lack of appreciation creates a practical iconoclasm – that is to say, works of art are figuratively being destroyed, their value as a work lost; their value monetarily ever on the rise.  When Hughes began as an art critic, the acquisition of art purely for profit/investment didn’t exist.  It would have been seen as extremely unorthodox; insane. 

Fast forward a few decades and the price of art has skyrocketed; collectors are in it only for the money; the rich influence the art world – the contents of museums; any given museum’s ability for acquisition is virtually non-existent in  contrast to private collectors.  Art is literally admired for its price tag – not the work itself.  The people who have the wealth to buy the art hold a vast influence over what gets displayed to the public sector in museums and galleries.  Essentially, art is rendered meaningless and what one views is merely a representation of plutocratic whims.  

crescat scientia vita excolatur - let knowledge grow, let life be enriched

A visitor's experience at any museum or gallery  is dependent on a multitude of factors.  For example, the size of the gallery, the style or genre of its contents, the visitor's own prior knowledge and ability to appreciate, etc. The experience will differ greatly from person to person because of these factors.  When one enters a museum dedicated to art, one immediately (in most cases; museum rules can differ) notices the atmosphere is one of restriction.  People speak softly; a similar tone to what one would expect from a library.  This silence is merely relegated to the visitor, however.  The works themselves can and often do speak volumes.

Museums nearly always function in the gallery format; that is to say, works are grouped by collections - dedicated to a specific artist - or to specific genres or time periods.  A museum will also house a collection of great works; pieces that have been attributed 'masterpiece' status; pieces made by famous, brand name artists such as Picasso or Monet.  A facility as diverse as the  Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a huge ability to impact.  In its variety lies its power to change minds; to intrigue; to impact.

Ars longa; vita brevis - The Portrait

Immortalizing oneself through portraiture is something that I have never really taken the time to think of.  In all honesty, if I had the choice, I wouldn't get a portrait done of myself.   Not today, anyways.  I haven't done anything I deem noteworthy of such iconography.  Portraits are fine for people in positions of power.  For people who have an image to portray (talk about a redundant statement) and maintain.  Even a family portrait would be fine because of what it is made to represent; the family; spirit, etc.
 I really don't see myself in a portrait, but if I had to have one made, I would make it be representative of who and what I want to be in the future; a successful attorney with a stern but approachable demeanor.  Clothed in a proper suit and accompanying accessories.

Mother & Child by Stream (1912) by David Jagger (water-colour)