Cross pollinations in art forms why I don’t believe in art for art sake
A long time ago I used to be a poi spinner. That is a form of object manipulation juggling. That would be the kind that does not revolve around throwing and catching although I did some of that and gave up. Depth perception is handy an
Poi spinning is sometimes just called firespinng as that is often how it is sold but, it developed from its ethnic Maori roots and picked up different styles and moves and almost everything that is seen as poi spinning right now comes from other forms of dance and skills
Here is a link to the original form of poi spinninghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hu2g5h0hNM
The Maori “moves” are the foundational moves but, large choreographed groups that need to sing are not part of the practice we have in the north west of the planet. Also without access to the teachings of the original culture the dance form has become a hybrid of the different cultures and disciplines it moves through. It is in my opinion that basing solely on the manipulation of the object the mongrel performances are better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGxPBUaIHS0&list=UUD21eFs5VuYMhjCyFwkJyCg&index=2
This is from a spinner known as DurbsBT (burnt toast)
The passion for jazz and body popping derived dance styles in culmination with a previous foundation in other manipulation arts (contact juggling) result in a unique and rich practice of the art form of poi spinning.
Other influences are not technical but, are based on spiritual beliefs on the like and personally I think it is hippy bullshit. My spirituality comes from colder place than other poi spinners i.e. Glasgow. Yet I think it is undeniable It has an observable influence in the practice and presentation.
The following link is promotional material for an instructional DVD and has examples of these influences starting with poi spinner “alien Jon” who uses the Logic math and computer simulation to enrich his practice, that and a hippy or two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4uVjgMCWeE&list=PL5BF733E9E4151AB8
Now this discourse could go on for some time exploring the different spinners and the factors that influenced them but, they are not the point of this discourse. The point is that this performance art has improved as a whole by practitioners that come from different disciplines. It is the integration of other knowledge’s and worlds of information. And I am using poi as analogue for the infinitely more complex world of art.
Art practice is improved when external influences and disciplines enrich the individual art maker.
Also here is some justification to why I used poi spinning as the example. I know poi. Poi is a simpler sphere of art to understand. It has not been in its current form for as long as mainstream art. It has no academia or criticism to cloud the issues, and yes I am saying those centuries of non-artists and unintelligible artists adding masses of media to the world of art, makes it harder to understand. At least it makes it harder to grasp what really happened and how things really work. It is why it is respected by the old institutions; it is hard.
Art (as in what normal human thinks about when their eyes glaze over and we start rambling) has always been political in some way. Well it wasn’t always but, for long enough…shut up. It was for the witch doctor to wow the tribe and the church to bamboozle the people and lionize the royalty. It then helped promote elitist views of violently nationalistic and insecure nations. Not saying art is evil it has empowered revolutions, counter revolutions in fact it has been part of every movement I can think of in some capacity that I can think of. Consider the great empire of Nintendo and its army of nostalgic grown up GenX’ers and how they won the terrifying consoles wars of 2006.
Any way this is getting very far off topic. One of the most creative artists I know is not an artist. They are someone who just draws and I teach them what I can. See you would think it would be a course mate or artist friend. It is not they are like me are stuck in the incestuous word of art. Art for art sake and games for…we like games and people can make money from us? Doesn’t roll of the tongue well at all.
Well this creative and joyful practitioner of art is a scientist. Well a student studying Bio Medical Sciences and their personal interests and knowledge manifest in not only decent grades but, as a fountain of ideas in drawings and stories.
For a long time the image of the near mad bohemian artist that gives everything to art and becomes great has informed the practice of students and professionals. Reflecting on people I know and other art forms I have thus come to the conclusion this is wrong. I think we should become whole people and develop hobbies and fields of study outside of art. Similarly I believe everyone’s life can be enriched by practicing art.
This is part of the thinking that will relate to the manifesto. The principle will be called “the power of multidisciplinary cross pollination” or “get a life.”
So what suggestion actions would relate to this?
1. Take the time you would studying anatomy one day and spend that time performing strength building exercises. Read up on it to so you do it right and learn that how your body works and you have better understanding of the anatomy your learning.
2. Get another art form. Pick up something that looks fun. Guitar, poi or a camera. Just anything fun and practice. It will pay dividends.
3. Learn about fields you don’t think have any relation to art. Someday you will appropriate Ideas and innovate but, to choose a field just because you want to be better at art would narrow your understanding so I would avoid it. Although the alienation between academia and art has proven to be a good choice although you will become a bore. So go onto TED and enjoy the science. Talk to a friend who know completely different things and listen.
4. Listen to a new kind of music. My use of colour has been improved by listening to jazz. And my attention to detail seems better when listening to classical and metal makes for more expressive character art, while pop leads to violent outbursts and bitter satirical content.
5. Learn programing if you don’t know already. Enrol on an online course.
6. Engage with your friends and family. Talk to them and help them build sheds in high winds(or whatever families do )
7. Live and interesting life if you want interesting art. Fill the well and steal methodologies ideas and concepts.
It has been said that anything studied in great enough detail becomes a metaphor for everything else in life.
Here is a link to a psychology blog and an article on how innovations are often appropriated from what already exists rather than from brand new things.
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