A DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO FRIENDS

Reported by: Pieter Kos

A. After completing a painting I usually feel
depressed because each time I question the value of
producing that particular piece of art. What 1s the
purpose of putting paint on paper? Am I spending
my time valuably?

B. The painting you produce is valuable
and is art if it expressed something about
your own humanity.

A. Yes, I’m thinking about the visual statement in
terms of both the physical skill and action, and the
feelings/perceptions that are behind the final visual
statement. But is this process meaningful? Is the
‘meaning of life’ to be found in the act?

B. I believe one does find meaning in the
process of artistic creation.

A. I don’t. Art is just an activity and people who
get themselves totally wrapped up in it are deceiving
themselves much like those addicted to religion.

B. But the artist is seeking to express
something of himself, and this act in itself is
meaningful. He is creating something that
stands on its own after it is completed.

A. Yes, but what drives the artist to get involved in
creating something. How can he be sure it is im-
portant. I’m thinking of the Eastern philosophers
who do not seek to express things but to actually ex-
perience their own inner cosmic consciousness. It is
true that one can never adequately or fully express or
communicate with others, as the individual idea 1s
so personal and related to one’s own experience and
understanding. I respect these people who are sear-
ching in their way and I feel constantly the dilemma
of whether or not the process of artistic expression 1s
the best or most valuable process for me in seeking
my own self fulfillment/realization. I feel I could
do anything from living the life of an artist to seek-
ing the ‘Way’ through Eastern methods.

B. Personally, I don’t have the desire to
devote myself to any one particular path. I
feel it would be limiting me and I am in-
terested in experiencing the variety of what
life has to offer.

A. You seem to be so certain of what your correct
path is, as tf you’ve got a direct line communicating
with your inner self. I hear no such inner voice. I
have an inclination to put paint to paper but I feel I
must still justify this if I actually go ahead and do
it. I want to know whether this process ts the very
best for me to do at this time. And I don’t want to
be taken in by my own fetish or swayed by spon-
taneous emotional drives, at least not wholly as my
life’s action which I do want to be meaningful.

B. I feel the intellectualizing of your feelings
may not be helpful. In fact you find yourself
playing a intellectual game. If one has a
feeling to create and express ideas and
forms, then he should and does do so.

A. I can’t grasp the meaning or value in the act in
itself. In a way it brings the act of artistic creation
down to be compared with climbing a tree or mov-
ing your bowels — you feel to do it and you do!

B. But in artistic creation, don’t forget you
are also creating something which stands on
its own.

A. If there is nobody there to appreciate and respond
to that creation or visual statement, I see little point
in creating it.

B. Philosophically, I disagree with you there
because I do believe there is meaning in the
existence of life and creation, regardless of
whether there is a human around being
aware of it. There is a meaning and value in
the fact that the mountains, forests, and
hills have been where they are for thousands
of years. You seem to be taking the view
that nothing exists unless it is perceived.

A. I believe the value of the existence of things is on-
ly actualized when there 1s someone aware of it and
responding to it. In this sense, then art work has no
meaning unless there 1s someone being stimulated by
it in some way. The artist does try to express
something to someone else.

B. But the act of expression is itself
primary. The artist is giving form to his
own humanity and depth of perception.
The audience is secondary, not the

STANDING IN A CORNER :
PONDERING ABOUT THE EFFECTS
AND METAPHYSICS OF ART SCHOOL.

motivating power and therefore not the
meaning and purpose.

A. It is true that the artist is seeking to express
‘himself’ in the particular form of paint, etc. But I
don’t think you can distinguish so clearly between
the act of expression and the audience. If no one is
being stimulated to see the world in a new or old
way by looking at a painting then-why should the
artist go through all the bother of putting the paint
on the paper?

B. The point is in the act of creation and
demonstration of his own humaness, and
ideas.

A. But the artist has the perception and ideas in
himself before he goes about the business of giving
visual/physical expression of it. The ‘statement’ 1s
already in the artist’s mind and he 1s moved to give
it expression because of his need and desire to com-
municate and move/relate to other people. Thus, if
there ts a valve in the process of painting, it 1s in the
fact that the artist ts beng human by com-
municating with others.

B. But again, the act of creation is impor-
tant for the artist in himself. Though the ar-
tist may have an ‘idea’ or perception in his
mind before he begins painting or construc-
ting a piece of sculpture, the idea will
develop in the actual process, of giving it
physical substance. The artist himself
becomes more aware of it and uses the
visual stimulus as a catalyst and grounding
for further ideas and levels of awareness.
From my own experience, I am continually
developing the idea I am seeking to express
in the process of creating the visual state-

ment.
° e e

CONEY

THE INEVITABLE ANSWER IS
DISCOVERED ...

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