I love Joao Ruas. I keep working with Giyuu because I’m obsessed with this picture by Ruas of a man surrounded by masks/faces and I want to use Giyuu’s fox mask to similar effect.
Also more random thoughts on art. Representational art or any art that represents humans in some way is unavoidably political... an artist doesn’t have to be overtly making a statement (plastering vote Biden on an image), all art expresses value judgements...
“Art in every form is an overt expression of values. When a painter paints a field she is creating a value for the worth of natural ‘countryside’ locations. When an actor portrays a hero or a villain she is showing us what it means to be good or bad. When a singer sings about her broken heart and endless passion, or about cheap sex with drugged-out groupies, that singer is telling us what she thinks is right and good and correct for sexual relationships. Every form of art raises values that we are expected to accept or reject as we appreciate the art, and so yes, all art is political.”
But every reading of a work of art reinterprets it through the perspective of the viewer often in ways that the creator did not intend (sometimes to the polar opposite view):
In many ways focusing on computational architecture was simpler because all that communicated was, “I like shapes” and “I don’t think about humans.” The room for misinterpretation was not subject to emotional responses. When I share art by other artists, I don’t necessarily agree with all aspects of their intended messaging. Oftentimes, I disagree with a perspective but am impressed by how it is aesthetically conveyed, through interesting juxtapositions or other aesthetic devices.
I don’t have clarity on all my values. I’m still trying to figure them out and art is a part of that process. I like novelty and oddity and work that surprises me in some way. I don’t easily adopt other people’s values, and I don’t think anyone should be easily swayed by another’s influence. Be open to understanding another’s values, but don’t lose yourself or your own mission in the process. Know who you want to be and try to shape your reality to match. I’m an artist. The world says I’m crazy, you don’t get to be. Society says be someone else. I’ll be anyways.
