OG's BLOG

Occasionally I get into discussions with other artists, who despite seeming almost normal in many other respects nevertheless exhibit symptoms of artitis pretensia, claiming that the only Art worth pursuing disregards the audience. This attitude that Art for Art’s Sake is the only true Art seemingly applies to all artistic forms. Dance as if no one’s looking. Sing as if no one’s listening. Draw as if no one will see it. Write as if the page will never be read. And then keep it that way.

Poppycock, I say. Isn’t the point of Art to communicate? What does it mean without an audience? I say without an audience, the act of art is meaningless. Literally, meaning occurs in the mind of the beholder, and therefore without an audience, you’re just making noise by yourself — sound and fury signifying nothing. An argument could be made that the artist in this case could be considered an audience of one, but isn’t this artist really just talking to himself? Is that the same thing as communication? I don’t think so.

Da Vinci and Michelangelo didn’t make their work solely for their own enjoyment. They never intended for it to be hidden away in the basement. They created their work for the public, and put it on display in piazzas and temples and town squares for the public – the Great Unwashed – to enjoy. What’s more, they were – *gasp!* – PAID to do it! Does anyone really believe the Disciples of Art for Art’s Sake have a better grip on True Art than the Old Masters?

I wonder if the idea of producing Art for Art’s sake is really just an excuse for an artist to hide his work away. If you never show it to anyone, no one can give you their impression of your art (not that you’d claim to give such opinion any validity). Hide it away, and the work will never be subject to critique, or market pressures, or any opinions aside from those of its maker. That doesn’t seem to be the brave, ruggedly individualistic move that the romantic notion of Art for Art’s Sake seeks to conjure up, does it? To me, it seems timid and insecure, and I don’t like it. I’ve seen the notion used to maintain the illusion of one’s own superiority while decrying those who actually brave the public, for good and bad.

Or, to put it another way, don’t hide that light under a basket. Brothers and sisters… let it shine.