Weird.
How do you define weird, personally?/ What is weird to you?
P: Weird is a compliment, they stand out from the rest and make life interesting. Weird is experimental, a daring combination of materiality and subject, not another average landscape painting. When you look at art 24/7, you get tired of those…seems like weird is interchangeable with novelty. I would argue so because novelty sparks curiosity and interest, but it can also be intimidating. Perhaps weird stands between the fear of and the enjoyment of novelty?
M: Well-worded, Pete. I’d say non-conformist. Weird defies expectation, society itself. It is an outcast that will remain obscure, inspire a cult following, or fade into oblivion. In terms of art, it can be weird because of its materials, fabrication, concept, profitability, and/or the artist itself. Can trash, bones, or blood become art? Can marble statues be tattooed? Can a pale child-eating monster become iconic? Can a duct-taped banana make money? Can BIPOC poor and/or “ugly” artists make an impact? Ultimately, like art, weird is defined by its creator and/or their audience. No idea is original, but each person has their own voice. Does mine even matter? Who gives a shit.
J: Another label that humans enjoy using. I understand the usage of labels to categorize and organize artifacts, thoughts, and centuries of history, but they shouldn’t be used too liberally. Calling a person weird is honestly so strange: the main differences between you and the person you’re calling weird are the outside bits, which are only about 16% of your entire body. The rest is pretty much all the same. Even if people were to become the same on the outside, I have an inkling you’d all judge each other on sillier things like blood type, fingernail length, or mental fortitude. Likewise, it’s impossible to judge something as weird when considering the context it’s in, and even less so when in a vacuum. Art’s nice.
M: Says the demon *coughs*
Is it okay to categorize someone’s work as weird?
J: Maybe not categorize, but free speech does exist. You can say what you want, whenever you want, and you have to face the consequences. So yes, you could call someone’s work weird, but maybe not when they’re standing behind you holding a stapler on opening night where they’ve invited their new girlfriend to the exhibition, and you’ve already had a few drinks too many.
P: Or just when they’re standing behind you. But I agree, I am not against describing something as weird, as I said before, it is a compliment. There is always a weird one in a friend group, I won’t name names here, but they are always fun to hang around with, right?
Since you are asking, I would say it is more problematic to categorize, even though that is what we are doing in this blog… let’s say we are against conventional categorization and labelling!
M: No idea who you’re talking about, Pete but sure you’re not an absolute bore. Hans on the other hand…
Anyways, weird can be derogatory or complimentary. As critics, we tread a fine line between being critical and yet compassionate. Even if and when we separate an artist from their work, our words can impact them and our readers. Is it okay to critique? To label?
As carefully, as responsibly, or as carelessly as one might dissect work, art is a dangerous world for those who paint their hearts freely on their sleeves.
My higher education, my sordid history as an artist, and my colleagues Hans and Pete don’t make me any better a critic than the proletariat or the average person. My charm might, though.
But regardless, weird is slippery. Abstract. Alone, it makes no real statement. That in itself may be worse than any scathing injury.
J: I’m starting to see a trend in who the punching bag of the team is, but when you’ve been alive for as long as I have, you develop thick skin.
M: Bullsh**. I bet you’ll order UberEats after this to avoid facing your emotional problems. I hope you remember that time you said “you too” to that waiter in Rome centuries ago, you desiccated fuck.
P: That is enough children.
J: I DID in fact order UberEats today. Nothing wrong with that, supporting businesses during a pandemic. Also, wasn’t I ordering for you? Your Latin sucked ass then.
M: Well, order directly then! Businesses barely make any money from Uber Eats with all their commissions. And you know what? You can learn a language, but you can’t learn class, Johnny.
P: I said Enough. But good point there Mike, take notes.
J: … are we really going to let a mortal interrupt us? Fine, I’m leaving.
M: Finally! Good riddance. Pete, you want to get bubble tea?
Pete leaves the chat.