During this time I think the discussion of the topic of what is art, when is art and even how is art has come up, for example of when is art is there times in history when art shouldn’t be made and in the time of Covid-19 should art be continued to be made if an artist can’t create in their discipline normally does it all take a back step instead of putting something different out. I do think an artist does have to stay working because art is a sport.
Every way you look at art it shows it competitive face of being a sport. I’m not saying this outrightly all bad it’s have a slight competitive nature that helps us improve our practices and seek out more knowledge to become better artists but there was always something about the system of the art world that felt like sporting events private views is always what Imagine big horse racing events are with the artists talking the place of the horses.
As well as big galleries being the equivalent of top tier football clubs representing artists like athletes being transferred which I’m all ok about it’s the way of networking and getting your work represented and how you can sell yourself and your practice as one so they can sell you too.
But It’s the peer competition that is the thing that gets difficult for me, yes as I was saying in part it does help you improve as any sport does having competition to fight for place and voice but that was the refreshing part of the Chelsea Mafa it had a collective mentality whereas artists we were contributing together.
This brings me to how is art I’ve found myself quite discounted in the last few months and its to almost like I’m coming back from some time out as I’m racking my brain of how my practice should continue I’m not overly struggling to make work but its changed of how I’m making work at the moment being under resourced and the when the art is being made because I’m not always happy with what I’m making and there are ways to relax your brain about it as you can make good art without making bad art and creativity is the enemy and you should innovate not create.
Its as if I’m having a mental tennis game between my brain and my practice to try and make the work that is right for this time which I believe I am winning.