A disease is haunting the human condition - the disease of striving.
As relationships form, money is gained, and materials are accumulated, the disease feeds itself. It latches on, and attaches itself to the objects and entities it comes in contact with. On the surface, this continual push to strive may disguise itself with a droll cloak, but at its core, within its purest essence, it is desolation. It is a loneliness that goes undetected, yet embeds itself in public, as well as the most intimate spheres we come in contact with or reside in.
I am not immune to the disease.
My practice is somewhat ironic. Through exploring the "strive" objects that surround me, I myself am in a state of "strive". I am fueling the epidemic.
I dont know exactly why I am attracted to these objects. I think there is something I find (in between) the tragedy and the comedy, that is somewhat indescribable. An in between existence. Neither here, nor there. Neither home, nor away. In this in between state, I believe humanity is summed up.
I want to know what a strive object is or if there is a clearer way to state that grammatically (such as a "striving object" or an object that strives). The word ironic leaves you open to a lot of attack from sticklers for the word's meaning, because irony is "a literal meaning that is opposite of what is intended." If your images seemed to earnestly celebrate the objects portrayed but ultimately denigrated them (or vice versa), then perhaps they could be ironic. However, with their hard flash and positioning of the camera, they reveal an intended meaning that is parallel to, not opposite from, the way the objects are shot.
ReplyDeleteI'd like you to elaborate on what people, or you, are "striving" for. As we talked about in class, I love the term "strive object" but would like more context as to what it means. Also, when you speak about your draw to these objects and their "in between state", being uncertain is okay, but try to think more about what it is that does draw you to them. It could help your work grow once you know where that mysterious attraction comes from.
ReplyDeleteJust saying that opening your artist statement like that makes it seem pretty hilarious to me, maybe that's because I know you, and know how sarcastic you can be sometimes, but that seems so melodramatic.
ReplyDeleteI'm most interested in "strive" objects, and want you to define those more. I like what you said about domesticity being a strive object in the last crit, that is an extremely interesting idea.
The last paragraph is on point, though.
i agree with kayl, saying money is bad is not profound, but placing domesticity in the same realm of conspicuous consumption is really interesting. think less about the objects and more about how we answer the question of how to exist, how to be, how to dream in a way that's profound?
ReplyDeleteA disease is haunting the human condition - the disease of striving.
As relationships form, money is gained, and materials are accumulated, the disease feeds itself. It latches on, and attaches itself to the objects and entities it comes in contact with. On the surface, this continual push to strive may disguise itself with a droll cloak, but at its core, within its purest essence, it is desolation. It is a loneliness that goes undetected, yet embeds itself in public, as well as the most intimate spheres we come in contact with or reside in.
I am not immune to the disease.
My practice is somewhat ironic. Through exploring the "strive" objects that surround me, I myself am in a state of "strive". I am fueling the epidemic.
I dont know exactly why I am attracted to these objects. I think there is something I find (in between) the tragedy and the comedy, that is somewhat indescribable. An in between existence. Neither here, nor there. Neither home, nor away. In this in between state, I believe humanity is summed up.
also your last statement is too neat, try ending with a strong question instead of positing yourself as a prophet of unique knowledge...
ReplyDeleteCould you expand more on your idea of the strive object? You do so well to posit your practice as a reaction to or interaction with an epidemic or disease. And this seems so profound and unique but then you deface this voice by claiming irony and paraphrasing Marx. I'd like to feel from this statement a blanket of fear and paranoia washing over me. Epidemics are terrifying. Treat the one that you have pointed out as a threatening disease or at least one that we should pay attention to by looking at your artwork. Also, the last section seems to vague and kind of apathetic. I think it would do you well to not admit knowledge you don't have. Rather, write about the strive object so thoroughly that the audience feels as if this is something that's been in the dictionary for ages and we are just not discovering it through you and your art.
ReplyDelete^just now**
DeleteI see a disconnection between the opening and the last paragraph. The first three paragraphs give a pretty concrete statement of what your concerns and motivations are. The last paragraph turns the statement around and goes into a vague discussion. Maybe here you can discuss how you portray these "strive objects?" How you reveal them and transform them in your photos? Whether you want to fight against the state of "strive" or you are ok with it.
ReplyDelete