H o r u s Newspaper for Guests and Friends
How often I am asked: "What exactly is good wall painting, and what is art?"
The first thing that comes to mind: "I don’t need to know this!"
I first heard this phrase I from Reich-Ranicki in connection with the literature: "What exactly does a bird have to know about ornithology"
But of course every artist thinks about it: What am I doing here? What
should be my direction be?
Is there a lighthouse for me to sail to?
Does all this mean anything?
As little as I know about it, at least I know something about it. I know there is a consensus in some areas of the arts among the people when the plants go in the direction of "abysmal".
Who is color, perspective does not understand, do not recognize the form and at the end not even think of a subject that falls into this category and there is high agreement.
So, so completely free of the concept of art is not.
In the lower part at least, there is indeed consensus.
Now how is it in the upper area, the area of "high culture"? Since this is a bit more complicated. Do we perhaps first have to look at the "middle class art"?
We buy us a picture or let us paint a mural.
The color is consistent, perspective OK, light and shadow to understand, then we could probably be satisfied.
Especially when the subject suits us.
Why this is not so sure, not so obvious?
Only now do we consider the point I want to make now. The picture has - besides the obvious attributes- something else, something that I myself can only describe as energy.
You might call it something else. Many call it charisma. Those who like to spice up the language call it magic. Factually we are speaking of quality. So we have words, but we can accurately fill them with meaning.
The strange this is everyone has a different opinion of what quality, magic, etc is. We are not only do not agree, but we are often very far apart in our opinion. But, strangely, almost everyone has an opinion on the merits of art!
So we know a bit more than nothing about the art world: almost everyone is touched by art, at least every now and then. Everyone by something else though. And everyone knows art, which he recognizes as being absolutely poor, and this is a great match between people.
So we see clearly that art exists. There is a radiance, an interaction between image and me, music and me, words and me. And if I know this then I can have confidence in it: My soul obviously knows automatically where it was headed and what it wants to surround itself with. Only openness, attention, and freedom of opinion are necessary to surround me with the "real" art.
A digression myths merz ards: I will not mention the constant theme of the emperor and his new clothes. The people who are sensitive to such things would not read texts such as. And I do not need to discuss this with YOU: You and I know that we have no fear of this trap!
What about the "high culture"? Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, all of which we are uncertain, but are obviously magical for so many? It's nice that you are dealing with the question. This shows you are attempting to understand "art". But above all, please remember one thing: Even in the kitchen flavor must be developed. Glutamate and artificial flavors have caused me to not participate in the large kitchens anymore. The tongue dies. In art this is the same. I need practice and time and pleasure and something that my father called "living" called.
Shape the environment you live in without glutamate. See and feel a close look. In reality some cooks only run a fast food joint. And you can relish some snacks. One only needs to take a taste!
Günter Woost
Decorativ Artist