What is of value?
When I see postcards like this (see below) of Chinese advertising art of the 1930’s via TheArtwerx (care of Amy Crehore’s blog) I find myself wondering what is of value, and to whom?
If it was just about skill there’s thousands of Artists we’d know and care about today – in fact several book cover illustrator has enough skill to rival Delacroix – why don’t we care about them today? ….why don’t we even remember who those Artists are?Â
Why don’t we give a damm?
Here’s my take. There are at least 4 things you need to be an artist worth remembering for future generations:
1. You need to be part of the right social network (no artist is an island onto themselves – great artists run in “groups”; art influence and social networking are related).
2. You probably need to make history in your time - be memorable in the time you live in
3. You need to infuse your work the “archetypal energy” people 50-100 years later need to be able to relate to it in the universal language of color, rhythm, music and rhythm – this can’t be taught – it comes directly from the soul.
4. You need champion collectors who reframe/restate Art History – people of insight to collect the work and influence society, driving up the value of the works to investors.
Yes, there are exceptions, like Vermeer; artists almost unknown that are discovered in later times – but you still need people of insight to see the value – you still need individuals that are part of a larger network. It also helps to be a great teacher, in some cases, like Joseph Albers and Hans Hoffmann – they converted the following of their students into a following for their own art.
And what champions did the Xie Xing Long postcard art have? Who remembers it? Who cares? Just a couple of people – those images are common – yet the skill is extraordinary.
Still, no one really cares about extraordinary skill – and the end of the day – you can get thousands of artists who could have done the same thing.Â
But how many people could have painted Woman of Algiers?
Like Seth Godin says – be EXCEPTIONAL – means being unique – unique in your time – skill, as admirable as it is, is hardly unique – hence, not worth remembering.
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Hello Marshall-
The images I blogged were basically Chinese Pin Up posters of the ’30s.
They are amazing.
Here is an interesting explanation found on:
http://www.terebess.hu/kereskedelem/gyujtemeny/plakat/plakat.html
“Shanghai Girlie Posters or Yuefenpai Calendar Posters were used to sell everything from beer to soap. The models were both idealised western girls as well as real Chinese stars illustrating Shanghai’s love affair with Hollywood. In 1994 these posters were fetching over $1000 in Singapore.”
and…
“It was this perceived “Western decadence” that led to most of these posters being destroyed during the fervour of the “cultural revolution” (1966-76). The ones we see today are the few that survived the hooligan vandals of that era. ”
This art is beautifully rendered by Chinese artists who were aware of art history and western culture.
The internet helps us find, document and remember this wonderful graphic art.
Amy
By Amy on February 5th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Dear Marshall,
it’s been a while since i was online, just didn’t feel like it,
too busy painting and other stuff. I was going through the rss feeds to find this article..
Great article, although i disagree with the comparison on Delacroix, one of the greatest painters that ever walked the Earth, his composition is strong as can be, while this Chinese picture lacks any tension. In Delacroix work the sculptural use of the paint enlivens the language of the paint, while the Chinese is too smooth and dead use of the material. I would say, the Delacroix is a painting, while the other just an illustration…
Another thing i disagree is that an artist should be running in groups, as said in My Take no 1, that is in conflict with no 2. one(!) has to make history.
I believe that those who make history are the unique artists who follow their own course as individuals and are respected for that by the right social network. Others , weaker types follow the strong fish going upstream. The idea that the great ones are seen as in ‘groups’ is the work of the art-historians who find it easier to determinate cultural movements by grouping individuals who might just have met once in their lives.
Well i find this a great post, so i decided to blog it on POWERPAINTER.ORG, see if there’s some reactions…
Marshall , So long and keep up the good posts!
Also greetings to Amy Creore!!!
Marcus van Soest
By Marcus van Soest on February 16th, 2007 at 12:02 pm