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Author Topic: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?  (Read 12570 times)

Robcat

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #20 on: June 15, 2013, 06:07:48 pm »

Well I've been forced to write artists statements, and if I'd had artybollocks http://www.artybollocks.com/ I would have used that instead. And I swear by Zeus I will the next time someone asks me to submit some bollocks about what I do. Although I think it's absolutely essential to reflect upon what you are about as an artist, it's bollocks to put that into a formal "statement"---at least one that you show anyone. If you think differently, I'd ask you to point me to some art that you found dull, tedious and uninspired until you read the Artists Statement. I've read a ton of the things at openings and on websites (I read the backs of cereal boxes too  ;)) and I have yet to see one---including ones by artists I respect---that changed my opinion about the art being described. And most are just complete bollocks (such a great word, thank you Brits).
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Peter McLennan

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #21 on: June 15, 2013, 06:52:34 pm »

It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement. 

An "artist's statement" is by definition, redundant.
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SunnyUK

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #22 on: June 18, 2013, 04:52:21 am »

I admire a lot of Alain's photography and many of his essays on this site. However, the ones about the artist's statement makes me very happy to be an amateur rather than an artist.
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EduPerez

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #23 on: June 18, 2013, 05:23:07 am »

It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement. 

Could not agree more!
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32BT

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #24 on: June 18, 2013, 07:03:23 am »

It seems to me that it's the art that should be making the statement. 

If you're smart enough to do so, then you're generally also smart enough to write a statement.

It may be that people experience difficulty explicating their art, style, genre, drive, and intention (at a certain moment in their progression as an artist), but that hardly qualifies as a good reason to dismiss the entire artist statement as bollocks. In fact, it may well be an indication that the artist hasn't formed a full idea about art in general and his/her own art in particular and where it fits the larger context.

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john beardsworth

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #25 on: June 18, 2013, 07:10:02 am »

If you're smart enough to do so, then you're generally also smart enough to write a statement.
And smart enough not to do so
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32BT

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #26 on: June 18, 2013, 07:13:16 am »

And smart enough not to do so

Fine: smart enough to be able to do so.

Whether you like to do so or find it relevant to do so, is obviously up to personal judgement.
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john beardsworth

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #27 on: June 18, 2013, 07:37:19 am »

Whether you like to do so or find it relevant to do so, is obviously up to personal judgement.
Obviously.

If you are going to write one, make sure it's good and doesn't make you look illiterate or expose you to some other kind of ridicule.
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RFPhotography

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #28 on: June 20, 2013, 07:12:04 pm »

Obviously.

If you are going to write one, make sure it's good and doesn't make you look illiterate or expose you to some other kind of ridicule.

Looking illiterate or exposing to ridicule would encompass about 99.99% of artist statements.
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hermankrieger

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #29 on: August 11, 2016, 10:05:58 pm »

                     Artist Statement

I take photographs to amuse myself as well as the occasional spectator. Exhibiting photographs for mutual pleasure is similar to a comedian telling jokes to an appreciative audience, where the comedy is more serious than the photography.

Viewers who see more in my photographs than I do probably have better vision, and I welcome their compliments. Those who see less than I do may be right, and I remain partially open to their criticism.
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one iota

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #30 on: August 11, 2016, 10:17:45 pm »

I have but then I thought:

Anyone who likes what I do should be compelled to explain why they do.

Lets call it "a viewer's statement"

That way I'd get more out of it and they would have to do some of the work as well.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2016, 10:24:01 pm by one iota »
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Mahn England

stamper

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #31 on: August 12, 2016, 03:50:07 am »

                     Artist Statement

I take photographs to amuse myself as well as the occasional spectator. Exhibiting photographs for mutual pleasure is similar to a comedian telling jokes to an appreciative audience, where the comedy is more serious than the photography.

Viewers who see more in my photographs than I do probably have better vision, and I welcome their compliments. Those who see less than I do may be right, and I remain partially open to their criticism.

A post that I can agree with. :)

Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #32 on: August 12, 2016, 03:52:15 am »

Could not find the article referenced in this June 2013 post. Is it different from the one just posted, in August 2016? subject seems to be the same.

mcbroomf

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #33 on: August 12, 2016, 04:58:39 pm »

Could not find the article referenced in this June 2013 post. Is it different from the one just posted, in August 2016? subject seems to be the same.

Probably this one....
https://luminous-landscape.com/vision-part-3-vision-and-artist-statement/
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GrahamBy

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #34 on: August 12, 2016, 07:35:02 pm »

if I'd had artybollocks http://www.artybollocks.com/ I would have used that instead

Thank you!
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Rob C

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #35 on: August 30, 2016, 02:51:04 pm »

PeterAit

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Re: Briot part 3: how many here have written an artist's statement?
« Reply #36 on: August 30, 2016, 05:21:53 pm »

With photography, I'd rather "do" than "talk about" (like with sex  ;D). But, I have been required to write a statement for many exhibition and contest applications, and it has turned out to be useful in forcing me to think about the common threads that run through my more successful images.
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