Week 6 CIM417 Artist Statement and work.

Leyendecker’s image or study of an old man/artist, who pauses his painting to cook a sausage on an old-fashioned burner, is the epitome of beauty to me. The subject again is not what is on my agenda, but rather the artist's ability to capture light and shade in a realistic way, while still holding an iconic stylisation. Leyendecker’s gestural style doesn’t shy away from brush strokes. I really find it emotive and inspiring. I really find the images and the poses and the subject emotive and inspiring. The images sit on this bare canvas, as one might have in a sketchbook.  Just marvellously raw.

What is my Aesthetic Habitus?

Oh, this could be interesting!

There is an accumulation of evidence over the past six weeks that is starting to build to a critical mass. I think I am starting to really understand the birthing grounds of my artistic identity and what drives me creatively. I continue to delve into my humble origin story and I continue to tease out the strands as requested. This week, the Aesthetic Habitus! The first part of the question is to analyse the environment and cultural perspectives.

So here we go.

My familial cultural influences - middle-aged white male second-generation Dutch immigrant descendant. I am a member of Generation X, born in 1974. I was raised by a loving single mother; she was the rebel in her family. She didn’t conform to many of the restrictions that her mother, father, or siblings attempted to place upon her. She was to some extent the black sheep of the family. And yet, on reflection, now as a 50-year-old man, I can say that my mother was conservative in her own way. This conservatism was born of a generation that had survived a world war and escaped Holland to resettle in Australia. All the men in the family were bright, utilitarian, and courageous in their own right,building careers as engineers, electricians, builders, and family men. They arrived in Australia and quickly immersed themselves into the Australian lower to middle-class working culture, some working on the famous Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. The women were split between careers as secretaries and then eventually stay-at-home mothers. Some of the women had creative hobbies or pastimes that they had taken into an entrepreneurial sphere, with my mother’s sister being right into making and painting all manners of ceramics. She had one of the few kilns in her local area and many ladies came to her to fire their works or to do seminars with her. She had a burgeoning creative business until cancer came to claim her. My mother was an artist, a painter, a gardener, and the teller of fortunes, with a large mystical and superstitious streak. She suffered at the hands of an angry and alcohol-affected husband and I remember as a young child being on the run from him for many years.

The dispositions that came from this environment:

A respect for  art, music, learning, and literature. The prism through which art, music, or literature had to be founded, had to demonstrate qualities of perceived intelligence, expertise, beauty, or drama. The art had to be “good” in some way, whether functional or practical. It had to make sense. An Essentialist’s lens? Functionalism was then probably also high on the agenda.  

Pop art or modern art was often scorned as a type of scam. With Art for artistic meaning that was esoteric or obtuse scoffed at. Andy Warhol’s ilk tolerated, as the images at least had representational meaning and were somewhat pleasing to the eye..  Blue Poles however, was a scandal.

On the music front, Opera was highly thought of. With productions such as Madame Butterfly often celebrated as high art. Abba, though, was considered pretty hip! Catchy, sexy and gleefully european.  Still life and artists such as Monet, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh were celebrated. This was the prism of influences upon me from a familial cultural perspective.

From an early age I had access to comics and books, I particularly liked children's graphic novels such as Asterix, Tintin, Lucky Luke.  I was an avid reader and my mother and I would go to the library every week.  This then evolved into more mature reading material, primarily science fiction and fantasy with a smattering of history. I then went into overdrive with a love of video games and 80’s action films. Dark Horse Comics and European publications such as Moebius, Heavy Metal, and 2000 AD drew my attention, as did authors that I have discussed in previous reflections.  

As I have matured I have continued to vary and add layers to my own inspirations and influences. I would say that I am able to appreciate art of all kinds. I still personally value 

Essentialism and Functionalism highly, however I appreciate and respect art through more than just these lenses.  I am very willing to consider and appreciate Historical theory, the context of place and time, when and why styles and particular movements were born.

I asked Chat GPT to tell me what it thought my Artistic predilections might be and this is what it considers to be my Artistic Habitus:

1. Essentialism and Functionalism:

   - You value art that is simple, pure, and practical. You appreciate the essential qualities of objects and artworks, focusing on their fundamental characteristics and functionality.

2. Historical Context:

   - You have a strong interest in the historical and cultural contexts of art. You appreciate understanding the background, influences, and development of artistic movements and styles.

3. Eclectic and Diverse:

   - Your artistic taste is eclectic, influenced by a wide range of media and genres. You appreciate both high art (e.g., classical artists, opera) and popular culture (e.g., comics, video games).

4. Appreciation for Traditional and Modern Art:

   - While you have a preference for traditional art forms, you are open to modern and contemporary art, provided it meets certain aesthetic criteria.

5. Respect for Technical Skill:

   - You value technical skill and expertise in art, whether in the realistic depiction of light and shade or in the mastery of brush strokes.

Conclusion

Your artistic habitus is shaped by a blend of traditional values, historical awareness, and a broad appreciation for diverse artistic expressions. This multi-faceted approach allows you to appreciate art through various lenses, including Essentialism, Functionalism, and Historical theory, while remaining open to new influences and styles.

On the whole I think it's a pretty accurate depiction of my Habitus,  I have an eclectic taste,  I appreciate many things. But I really cannot ever say no to a great drawing.  

Thanks again for reading. 

Ron