Visionary Art: Vulnerability In, Interpretation Of & Unanswered Questions
I have completely fallen in love with the vulnerability in live painting. Allowing others to view, critique, interpret and ask questions freely. I can get so lost in a piece, as if we’re speaking with one another. A frequency only we hear, that others begin to tune into. Creating a physical interpretation of our inner conversations. The work always transforming on its own- a living, breathing extension of self. Going to a festival for a few days, connecting with passing strangers. Having the vast space to complete larger pieces, spontaneously collaborating with others artists seamlessly - seemed like a dream that suddenly became my reality.
It was interesting navigating not only as a female artist, but also being new to the live painting festival community- now publicly sharing my art only two weeks prior to creating my first series, a 3 piece canvas series entitled “The 234 Transit” (pictured below).
I was suddenly submerged and fully diving into the interactive aspect of it all. The endless array of feedback, interpretations, critiques and questions gathered from viewers.
HIDE & SEEK
Hamilton Morris, one of my favorite journalists, visited Moma to view Pavel Tchelitchew’s Hide & Seek.
He later brings up the psychedelic question: “Did Tchelitchew take mescaline in the 30s or 40s?” “Does it even matter?” I love his follow up with the question being “obnoxious, feeling a bit resentful for even asking because “Who cares?”
But these are questions we all ask:
“Where did this come from?”
“How was this created?”
“They must have taken something to create this, right?”
Hamilton stating “if this painting had been made in 1968, it would've been dismissed immediately as psychedelic art” ... “but this actually was painted decades before anyone, aside from a very small number of people using psychedelic drugs”.
It’s quite interesting to see how art is critiqued, based on the time of creation, the artist behind the piece and the personal viewer. One can only continue to wonder, accepting a role as the observer. Allowing space for the various emotions, feelings and thoughts to arise. Ultimately asking questions that may never be answered.