MURALSWritten by The Bogside Artists
Continued from page 1
In case of The Bogside Artists context was given. We were born into it. The site we chose to paint our murals, The Bogside, was a familiar part of our habitat. It was a daily fact of our existence, where we had lived and played, our history. It was drenched in blood. This by itself would, paradoxically and despite blunderbuss abuse of our critics, make our work very reflective of where modern art is headed at moment. For, it has long been an embarrassing fact to many curators that gallery itself provides a false context for viewing of art. The gallery in effect becomes a mediator between viewer for whom work was made and artist himself. This leads to a reification of work and a corresponding alienation of work, artist and his public. Art galleries therefore look wistfully at community art and work of muralists like ourselves. They establish 'Outreach Programs' in hope of redressing balance. Performance artists, let us not forget, came into being explicitly to fill this gap. With public art modus operandi of careerist artist whose will is to challenge viewer on presupposition that viewer is actually blind and stupid, would nakedly contradict context in which mural artist seeks to live. The muralist's first remit is to communicate; else he would not have chosen a public site in first place. He is willingly addressing public context, public mind, public belief, public perceptions in all their variety and contradictions. He is not appealing to dilettante or culture vulture. He is a rebel, painting with passion because he knows that true art is poetry and poetry is not proper arena for careerism, which rightfully belongs to market place and its chicanery. He is appealing, first and foremost, to man in street, on assumption that man in street is not completely blind and no crazier than artists who address him. This is context in which muralist places himself. It can be thin ice to walk upon, as experiences of The Bogside Artists will readily testify; because it involves whole social context. There are political currents to avoid and tribal rapids to negotiate. We seek to honor context we have been given; not to abuse it in name of an infantile delusion of license masquerading as 'freedom' which alone characterizes much of what passes for so-called 'contemporary art'.
William Kelly is one of The Bogside Artists. He is author of Murals. More info about the artists can be got at; www.bogsideartists.com
| | The Power Behind Words...Written by George Papazoglou
Continued from page 1
Here's a priceless "trick" you can put into action, to be more influential... more powerful: Start "recording" behavior and "interactions" among people... Each time you witness people to come into any kind of agreement, make notes on "what words" did "submitter" use, to sway "receiver" to play his game? Repeat this process until you've gathered enough "data" and then practice with it. Your goal is to become a highly influential "Submitter". What would happen if you prolifically used this priceless information to your advantage? How much could you improve and develop yourself as a potentially leading entity, with unparalleled Power of Words? You can be a fine Master of Words, a Powerful Submitter, an Explosive Personality through practice, persistence, innovation and a highly motivational idiosyncrasy.
George Papazoglou is the author behind: http://www.1motivation.com
|