Comments on: Paintings and messages http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paintings-and-messages a multi-disciplinary dialog Mon, 07 May 2012 03:49:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: saba http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-225756 saba Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:27:18 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-225756 the first painting tells me that there is a lot of people that cant afford to buy a lot of things and that we should be happy with what we have because they pretty much dont have anything. the first painting tells me that there is a lot of people that cant afford to buy a lot of things and that we should be happy with what we have because they pretty much dont have anything.

]]> By: mullerjeanfrancois http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-210768 mullerjeanfrancois Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:36:58 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-210768 niice work. niice work.

]]> By: Steve Durbin http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-200639 Steve Durbin Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:07:01 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-200639 Juli, You're absolutely right on point 1, but on point 2, it happens that Sunil was using that color scheme in much of his work at that time, including a <a href="http://artandperception.com/2007/04/some-painting-for-a-change.html" rel="nofollow">painting of his grandmother</a>, which has a much happier feeling: <img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SSrRQXGMD8I/Rhzdomd5xMI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Z2iZe3uMPVk/s400/Grandma.jpg"> Juli,

You’re absolutely right on point 1, but on point 2, it happens that Sunil was using that color scheme in much of his work at that time, including a painting of his grandmother, which has a much happier feeling:

]]> By: Juli http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-200619 Juli Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:15:10 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-200619 This was posted ages ago... however when I came across it today and I interpreted what I thought to be the message then read what others had written I felt compelled to add a comment. The painting reads to me as: 1. Based on the subject's expression and position - a woman filled with hurt, anxiety, and desperation... she's pleading for help or relief from her circumstances. 2. Based on the color choice - a woman being afflicted by violence or anger This was posted ages ago… however when I came across it today and I interpreted what I thought to be the message then read what others had written I felt compelled to add a comment.

The painting reads to me as:

1. Based on the subject’s expression and position – a woman filled with hurt, anxiety, and desperation… she’s pleading for help or relief from her circumstances.

2. Based on the color choice – a woman being afflicted by violence or anger

]]> By: Sunil Gangadharan http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-8584 Sunil Gangadharan Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:13:12 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-8584 Geoff, Thanks for the comment. I think you have put it well when you said "it fulfilled the desire of the artist to capture the feelings of despair and persecution of the subject but its ambiguity shields that intent from the viewer". The ambiguity does prevent us from fully realizing the suffering undergone by individual in the painting but at the same time the painting does manage to 'present' a tough subject in an aesthetic way that helps draws attention to the cause (shades of pride here - I must say). Steve, I have really not decided how I will present this - if presented with a group of other relevant paintings, the title is not as important... I am currently working on two paintings depicting indigenous people - maybe find a way to present the set coherently... I have not thought that through completely. Yes, my aim is to draw attention to unfortunate situations faced by a lot of people around the world. My ultimate aim would be to sell some of these works and donate 100% of the proceeds to charitable organizations of the buyer’s choice. Geoff,
Thanks for the comment. I think you have put it well when you said “it fulfilled the desire of the artist to capture the feelings of despair and persecution of the subject but its ambiguity shields that intent from the viewer”. The ambiguity does prevent us from fully realizing the suffering undergone by individual in the painting but at the same time the painting does manage to ‘present’ a tough subject in an aesthetic way that helps draws attention to the cause (shades of pride here – I must say).

Steve,
I have really not decided how I will present this – if presented with a group of other relevant paintings, the title is not as important… I am currently working on two paintings depicting indigenous people – maybe find a way to present the set coherently… I have not thought that through completely. Yes, my aim is to draw attention to unfortunate situations faced by a lot of people around the world. My ultimate aim would be to sell some of these works and donate 100% of the proceeds to charitable organizations of the buyer’s choice.

]]> By: Steve Durbin http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-8261 Steve Durbin Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:24:45 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-8261 Geoff, That's a great point about what other information we have along with the artwork itself. Sunil has a title (tentative?) which is fairly suggestive, but far from telling as much as he did in other ways. I don't believe an artwork must be totally self-contained; if the artist sees some text or other material (e.g. a second painting) as an integral part of the experience they want for the viewer, that should be considered as a unit. Sunil, Would you expect to present you work with only the title? Do you think you might include other information in some way? It seems that in this case it might be important but also tricky to add the right amount. Is it your goal to move people to a specific action? Geoff,
That’s a great point about what other information we have along with the artwork itself. Sunil has a title (tentative?) which is fairly suggestive, but far from telling as much as he did in other ways. I don’t believe an artwork must be totally self-contained; if the artist sees some text or other material (e.g. a second painting) as an integral part of the experience they want for the viewer, that should be considered as a unit.

Sunil,
Would you expect to present you work with only the title? Do you think you might include other information in some way? It seems that in this case it might be important but also tricky to add the right amount. Is it your goal to move people to a specific action?

]]> By: Geoff Krawczyk http://artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html/comment-page-1#comment-8255 Geoff Krawczyk Sat, 10 Mar 2007 03:22:40 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/03/paintings-and-messages.html#comment-8255 I find it interesting that some people seem to have a problem with finding beauty in suffering. To me, it is a question of whether or not Art can trump reality by representing something that people would rather not see in an aesthetically pleasing way.To make art that calls attention to suffering in an intriguing and beautiful way is (or should be) the utmost concern. The other thing I find interesting is how the interpretations of the painting (which is very good, btw) have been influenced by the back story. If this painting were hanging on a wall without context, these issues would likely not be raised. The power of the painting is derived from the knowledge of the subject. I think the issue of ambiguity is called into play here. It is possible that by making this painting, it fulfilled the desire of the artist to capture the feelings of despair and persecution of the subject but its ambiguity shields that intent fromt he viewer. Not that ambiguity is a bad thing but sometimes I feel that not enough context is given for the power of a painter's intentions to show. I find it interesting that some people seem to have a problem with finding beauty in suffering. To me, it is a question of whether or not Art can trump reality by representing something that people would rather not see in an aesthetically pleasing way.To make art that calls attention to suffering in an intriguing and beautiful way is (or should be) the utmost concern.

The other thing I find interesting is how the interpretations of the painting (which is very good, btw) have been influenced by the back story. If this painting were hanging on a wall without context, these issues would likely not be raised. The power of the painting is derived from the knowledge of the subject. I think the issue of ambiguity is called into play here. It is possible that by making this painting, it fulfilled the desire of the artist to capture the feelings of despair and persecution of the subject but its ambiguity shields that intent fromt he viewer. Not that ambiguity is a bad thing but sometimes I feel that not enough context is given for the power of a painter’s intentions to show.

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