Clarification-Obfuscation

[leafofgrass]

Clarification: It just dawned on me that I wasn't being clear in my use of "aesthetics". When I use the term, I am not referring to any sort of art-historical notion of art, beauty, or artistic creation. Rather, I like to apply it in its original greek sense of aesthesis; this is my fancy way of talking about sensation in art. I hope this helps

Comments

[petitesoeur]

yes this does help. perhaps you might consider using the various gramatical forms of "esthesis" rather than "aesthesis" when you are writing about art since the use of the latter spelling is more commonly associated with the branch of philosophy that examines the "nature" of art, beauty and taste

[leafofgrass]

You'll never hear me say anything bad about Courbet! I do, however, like Andy Goldsworthy, even though I have never seen any of his works in person. I am also a fan of Robert Smithson. I like the idea of the earthiness of their work, a utilization of nature that is not a "using", but rather a bringing out. I agree though, they are very site specific, and I can't see them working very well either indoors or in NYC in general. According to your photos, I would prefer the sunset then the stone house as well! (One of the questions about Smithson/Goldworthy, Goldsworthy more poignantly, that crops up is where the work is? Is it in the photography or is in in the actual physical object itself? If it is the object, then the art ceases to exist once it fades, if in the photography then it's properties are more important than the object, if both are art, the view to which I am inclined, then I really have never experienced Andy Goldsworthy's art! Weird, huh

left out thought

[petitesoeur]

i personally know quite a few people who are carrying on the tradition of the "unseen struggling artist." Their work may not fall within the currents of the contemporary art scene. They have neither the temperament and/or the luck to be discovered by TPTB.

[29usc151]

that's a big deal! thanks, though.