Total Art
Welcome to the world of modern art,
- or more realistically, `My Modern Art'.
I have to say this because modern art as we know it today really only burst out onto the world stage at the beginning of the 20th century. Not that old in terms of mankind who created art in all its forms. And of course since the very beginning there has always been a front line which has been made up of artists who not only feel the need to paint, but are even more compelled to try and push art forward in an effort to create new styles, their sole desire being to change the face of art.
Over the years the meaning of art is forever going through many changes and so the story needs to be discussed so that up-and-coming artists and art lovers alike can see just how far it really has moved forward. The one story that seems to fit in well with this front line is more about changing ideas, moving forward and capturing the very spirit of the times in which these artists are living in - producing art which meets the requirement of their own times.
The most obvious example of this is to go back to the very beginnings of art.
CAVE PAINTINGS
Their purpose was not solely to decorate the cave walls, rather their art was seen by the cave dwellers as something powerful, something to be used which would help them in their day to day routines. Help them survive and live better in their times. The images of animals which they painted on the walls inside were the same animals which were living outside. By painting these images they were invoking powerful forces to help overcome the strength and power within these wild animals. The power which nature had given them. In a word the paintings were used to work magic.
This is a far cry as to how people today see and appreciate art. In fact many people buy art purely as an investment or status symbol. If a particular artist is the flavour of the month, then that is sufficient recommendation. Just as long as his art fits in with the colour of the lounge room curtains and doesn't compete with the computer too much. Then we will take it. Thank you very much. This is not to say that there's anything wrong with this kind of art or for that matter the people who buy art in this fashion. The extremes are just pointed out to show how far art is removed from one age to next.
Another example of such extremes is the patience and skill which was needed in the faithful rendering of the visible world in past centuries. Great artists have devoted countless hours to create works in which every tiny detail is exactly recorded. Today's art is totally different. It's more art of the moment. Spontaneous Art. Today's artists preferring to capture the moment of a fleeting sunray as it strikes a haystack in a lonely paddock. Maybe a subject totally removed from the visible world and then brought back to reality by one's own imagination. Paint throwing has been really popular since the 1950's.
Paintings started and finished before the sun has time to set in the west. However art is produced from one age to the next. The one thing that remains constant is change. That was the case for those great artists who came before those of us still applying our art. And it will be the same for those who are yet to follow. My style of art is a spin-off from cubism which was discovered by the painters. Pablo Picasso and his friend and fellow artist, George Braque. This happened sometime between the years 1907Â-1909. It came about as they struggled to find their own style and in doing so changed the face of art.
CUBISM
The cubist style of painting proposes to present a movement in a painting which would seem to present several aspects of the subject seen from different views at the one given time. It's also very much an art of creation. Not one of production. It addresses a language all of its own and condemns conventional styles of art. This painting style has greatly influenced me since it seems to be forever changing and there are no rules for the cubist painter. I have been extremely lucky to have had a leaning towards the modern styles in art instead of the conventional and in particular cubism.
The time was right for Picasso and Braque when they moved art forward in the early 1900's by changing the concept of the subject on the picture plain. It was a huge move which saw them rise to join other great artists of their time as well as those from the past. But for me as a struggling cubist I needed to find something else to push my art forward. I had been looking towards the frame because cubism as such was an abstract art form. I felt that when a cubist painting was placed inside a square or rectangular frame it somehow seemed to be a complete mismatch. It seemed to me anyway that what was needed was an abstract frame to match the painting.
After much experimenting I achieved this by seeing a conventional shaped picture frame from a new perspective.
HOW I DISCOVERED THE IDEA
If while holding a conventional frame out in front of me with out-stretched arms, and keeping my left arm still, I was to pull my right arm towards myself. This would make the right side seem larger to my eye because it was nearer. The left side which had not moved would look smaller as it appeared to be further away. The conventional frame now held in its new position takes on an odd shape and so the true properties of cubism can be clearly seen.
That is seeing something from more than one side at the one given time. This leads to a Total Art Concept:
A CUBIST PAINTING IN A CUBIST FRAME
Since this discovery I have made many such frames. Many more being multi-sided. This being done without losing the true concept of cubism. Total Art is Art that combines the painting and frame together in such a way that they become one flowing abstract form. Each painting has not only a different subject matter, but also its very own differently shaped frame. I obtain the shapes for my paintings by using a solid board for my canvas as it allows me freedom of shape.
ONE THING HAS NOT CHANGED
This then is idea about the concept of Total Art. It will not suit everyone and neither should it. But as a modern painter it's my desire to seek out and find other avenues in which to push my art forward. Be assured that there are others out there who like me crave change and enjoy seeing it whenever and wherever they may find it. The one thing that has not changed - a painting is still a painting. It still takes the time and imagination for an artist to produce his work. In the end he is happy to generate some semblance of pleasure for others to enjoy.
Enjoy the Total Art paintings shown inside this website for as different as they may be, they present the changes I have found and worked upon. Without change there is just more of the same. I'm sure you will agree with me when I say:
ART IS FOREVER A CHALLENGING AND CHANGING FORCE