I came across this passage written by Kazimir Malevich. For a brief history about him see this post: Malevich. He is of course one of the major artists of the last century to lead the way from purposeful utilitarian art into complete abstraction. The quotes below (in green) came from an essay he published in 1916. It's really quite fascinating and I recommend reading the whole thing by getting the book cited below, or finding another copy of the full essay.
I have never been one to subscribe to the idea that philosophy can make a work of art stand. A work of art should always stand on it's own first. Background information is the bonus. But I do like the fact that Malevich has a massive amount of things to say on the subject of the birth of what we call modern art. From the cavemen's mind to the modern man's mind he philosophizes on the creative process on a variety of interesting levels. This is but one passage I like from his essay:
This idea goes along with another painter's quote that I like, this one from Amedeo Modigliani. For that post click here: Modigliani quote. Both men are speaking towards painting as a process for understanding the deeper, unconscious and subconscious aspects of one's own mind. For the first time being able to use painting not as a means of representation, but also as a tool of sorts for personal growth and understanding through the creative process. Something that I seek to accomplish with my own work.
More specifically I seek to use the dreaming mind and painting together, in an attempt to understand myself and the world better. Making paintings based on dreams and continuing the story in another painting, and perhaps then dreaming about the new painting. It's like a catch 22 of symbols and metaphors emanating from the subconscious and unconscious. This is what my new work is about. Exploring dream symbols and dreaming as a tool for understanding the mind, through painting and the creative process. To see some of my new work visit Ed's Art Workshop.
I have never been one to subscribe to the idea that philosophy can make a work of art stand. A work of art should always stand on it's own first. Background information is the bonus. But I do like the fact that Malevich has a massive amount of things to say on the subject of the birth of what we call modern art. From the cavemen's mind to the modern man's mind he philosophizes on the creative process on a variety of interesting levels. This is but one passage I like from his essay:
"Creation by utilitarian reason has a specific purpose. But intuitive creation has no utilitarian purpose. Until now we have had no such manifestation of Intuitions in art. In art all pictures emerge from creative forms of a utilitarian order. All the naturalist's' pictures have the same form as in nature. The intuitive form should emerge from nothing."(a short bit later Malevich goes on to say.....)
"Consequently the intuitive feeling did not speak clearly. And in that case, it's condition was not only subconscious, but totally unconscious."
-Kazimer Malevich From Cubism and Futurism to Suprematism: The New Realism in Painting. 1916. Found in: Art in Theory 1900 - 1990 Harrison and Wood, 1992.
This idea goes along with another painter's quote that I like, this one from Amedeo Modigliani. For that post click here: Modigliani quote. Both men are speaking towards painting as a process for understanding the deeper, unconscious and subconscious aspects of one's own mind. For the first time being able to use painting not as a means of representation, but also as a tool of sorts for personal growth and understanding through the creative process. Something that I seek to accomplish with my own work.
More specifically I seek to use the dreaming mind and painting together, in an attempt to understand myself and the world better. Making paintings based on dreams and continuing the story in another painting, and perhaps then dreaming about the new painting. It's like a catch 22 of symbols and metaphors emanating from the subconscious and unconscious. This is what my new work is about. Exploring dream symbols and dreaming as a tool for understanding the mind, through painting and the creative process. To see some of my new work visit Ed's Art Workshop.
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