There is no "sick" art

I just came across a sentence in a book that I got completely stuck on - so I have to sort it out a bit before I continue reading it:

"We are sometimes tired, too, of the arts within our [Western] civilization when they express the sick mind and the diseased imagination."*

Can art really be sick? NO: it can be provoking, irritating, annoying, and so on: but no, not sick.

Can an artist have a sick mind or a diseased imagination?

An artist may have a mental illness, sure. I think I heard somewhere that mental illness is overrepresented in artists, compared to the general population. But most people suffering mental illnesses are not able to create at all, so I still think it must be a sign of something healthy when you can transform inner agony into an exterior expression.

One example: I once saw a documentary of Terence Koh, also known as "Kohbunny" or "asianpunkboy". He didn't look like a happy, well-adjusted individual (whatever THAT is!), but there is no doubt that he is very creative! Many are provoked by his goldplated turds. And while I personally would NOT cough up the money required to purchase one of these items, I am intrigued by the antithesis of putting what we value most (pure gold) with what we value least (shit!).

Another contemporary artist that has caused a lot of upset is Damien Hirst. He got a lot of publicity - and angry public reactions - for displaying dead animals in formaldehyde, and for decorating a skull with billions worth of diamonds and platinum ("For the love of God", see photo above). He also created a stir when Sotheby's sold a collection of his art directly from the artist to the public -becoming the highest paid artist today. (And curiously, this took place in September 2008, when the financial markets seemed to be in freefall!)

Perhaps what people find most upsetting is that he is able to charge such incredible amounts of money for his art! There seem to be a strong remnance of the 18th century romantic movement, where the view of the solitary genius artist was elevated to new heights. I guess we still have a notion of this lonely genius, only interested in his oevre, not bothered about material matters like money... Preferrably a misunderstood loner, who dies before his talent is acknowledged. (OK, I'm exaggerating, but you get the picture! ;-)

I guess each age has it's own preoccupations: today - especially in the current global recession - it seems to be MONEY. So it is rather amusing how upset people get when Damien Hirst rakes it in...

But no, I don't get upset at the artists for holding up these mirrors to our society. Our reactions to their art shows us who we are, what we believe. Suddenly we define ourselves, we see the outlines of our own beliefs in clear relief.

So when a piece of art upsets us - how about taking a deep breath and ponder for a while: what in me triggers this reaction? Where lie my borders?

And no, I don't like ALL art - but I am thrilled to find someone who challenges me to react, and thus to learn more about myself!

PS. I have to add, that in a way you could call it "sick art" when an artists mental illness manifests in the work itself. I've heard fascinating accounts of art created by the Swedish artists Ernst Josephson (schizophrenic) and Carl Fredrik Hill (hallucinations, paranoia - also schizophrenic?). As I mentioned, I think creating art must have been some form of outlet for them, and thus a sign of health in the middle of their madness, but for us viewers, it offers a remarkable insight into a diseased mind. And why should we condemn these artists for their illness?

PPS. Even though I like Damien Hirst, I also like graffiti artist Cartrain, who made his own comments on Hirst's work! It's kind of like having a set of pins around to prick inflated egos, however creative :-)

Now you may ask - but what about beauty? But that is too big a question for this blog entry...

Long live art!

/KrisC

Post-post-whatever: Is Damien Hirst doing it again? I recently heard the news that he is currently - painting. Regular, square canvas paintings. He considered that would REALLY be controversial in today's modern art world! Go Damien!

*I am not going to name the title of the book, as I don't think this sentence is true to the actual message of it. Just a phrase I wish could have been more carefully formulated.