Thursday, July 14, 2016

Thursday Thoughts...

Some of the art nonsense that has been written about my work reads cerebral/political/feminist motives into it that are completely off the planet or is totally incomprehensible. What I’m aiming for is simplicity, and from simplicity comes profundity. 

Rosalie Gascoigne

I think it is always interesting to see how other people view your work and if they see the same things you do; or even if they see what you put into it.  I also think its interesting when people see completely different things - and you realise you don't really own the interpretation of the work; the the work can mean many things to many people.

I had a small experience of this at the school I taught at yesterday - where we talked about my work Time to Change - about family violence and why I had used watch parts (to remind us it is time to do something about it). Afterwards one young woman said to me; I was thinking, could the watch parts also mean that we have to work together to solve this; like clock parts rely on each other - this cog to turn that cog; this spring to move that hand?  And I thought brilliant - it could!

The other part of Rosalie's quote her that I love is that from simplicity comes profundity.  I am always hoping that from the simplicity of my work; the paring back of it, that some profundity may appear or be felt.  I want my work to be simple and elegant; but not necessarily simplistic.

Two different things I think...


Part of the book called 'Silence' by Susan Bowers and myself. Simple, but not simplistic...

6 comments:

  1. I love the spare elegance of your work

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  2. Beautiful, this speaks to me so eloquently of silence and peace, the empty space between one thought and another. Simple, and very profound.

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    1. Thank you Sharmon - sometimes simplicity can be elegant and profound I think and I am pleased this seems that way to you. Go well.

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  3. i think it's amazing how far-reaching what we make can go, don't you? i mean it's always surprising me what others see... and love or hate in my work.

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    1. Oh I agree Velma - I often think "who knew?" that was in my work; or that it could be read that way! It's always fascinating that's for sure. Go well.

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