Beauty and Repulsion Pt. 2

Please cite one example of good art and one example of bad art. Explain why? You may provide a link to images of this art for examples.

Good Art - http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/kandinsky/kandinsky.contrasting-sounds.jpg

I believe, to me that this constitutes good art, the artist created something expressive that captures the attention and holds that interest. It especially appeals to my sense of aesthetic, but may not appeal to everyone, even though the use of color, space and other elements make it difficult to not find interesting on some level.

Bad Art - I could not in good conscience link some of this art, as for visual two dimensional works, there are pieces that are poorly done, for example http://www.museumofbadart.org/collection/unseen-3.html

Some of what I would consider bad art, often falls into the performance variety, and usually involves someone maiming themselves or causing themselves physical injury. This is not something that I really think should be necessary, and serves as a bad example to youth. We look at girls in high school cutting themselves as a psychological outlet for some trauma they have endured and this seems to me as much the same thing, and with the children we try and get them appropriate therapy, not gallery shows. In the case of the poor artwork, its just sloppy, poorly composed and a little trite, as well as being unnattractive. But again, these are just my opinions.

Define honorific art. Please answer in your own words.

In general this refers to the honorable qualities that we try to impart to "good art" and in some cases defines art as being valued for its own qualities and not what it contributes. It often falls into four categories that are often at odds with each other, Realism, Expressionism, Formalism and Poststructuralism.

Define classificatory definition of art. Please answer in your words.

Classificatory art is when one or two pieces are seen as art by members of the artworld and others are seen as objects instead. Additionally, the artwork is created within a certain framework of rules that help to define the piece as art.

Where in discussion of art and aesthetics do you feel most uncomfortable? How would you become less uncomfortable in this subject?

I feel the most uncomfortable in how a work is classified, and whether it even merits recognition as art or merely the undertakings of someone who is trying to titillate or shock for the recognition rather than genuinely create something with passion and creativity. I feel this is an area where I may never feel quite comfortable with, it irritates me when someone is allowed to mount dried or preserved feces on a pedestal...or create a painting by teaching an elephant to spatter paint on a canvas and they are able to label it as a social commentary, receiving accolades. With the Dada movement, I may not have liked everything that was produced, but at least some serious...or less than serious thought (ie: humor) went into most everything that was produced. Today it just seems like some individuals are taking away from people who have a message, or wish to create something to stand the test of time, simply for fame.

Find an artist on The Drawing Center’s Viewing Program Web site that relates to your drawing for this project. How does there art relate to your views of Beauty and Repulsion?

I chose Susan Harris Demmet, http://www.drawingcenter.org/viewingprogram/portfolio.cfm as I felt her work was close to my ideas of using life itself to represent both the beautiful and the repulsive, she attempts to ascribe a visceral element to her pieces while remaining in an abstract environment, and in my own way I am trying to do the same. Even though I have more realism in many of my elements, the underlying feelings that I get from her work is what ties it to my own own so strongly.

Beauty and Repulsion

Beauty: This piece represents beauty to me because of the brightness within it, and the multiple reflections, the mix of vivid colors, while some remaining muted helps to bring that feeling to the fore. The girls eyes show remarkable depth despite her being an artificial creature and the mix of technological elements with natural ones ties back to my desire and belief that both can exist in harmony.





Repulsion: This image is more akin to repulsion in my eyes more for what it represents, both in color and subject matter. Death and decay, fear and hatred, though these are subjects that I find ugly, the image still manages to have some appeal to it.