07 February 2017

Notes from the Expanse or why I don't understand contemporary art



There was once a campaign by House, Polish clothing label, which has every sound makes music as its motto. This made me feel very optimistic cause it seems that we all can become musicians while taking 'Saint' from 'St. Valentine's Day' or doing the Shabbat mitzvah every Friday evening. Still, my musical skills have never advanced since I stopped playing the xylophone at the age of 15. The conclusion is that I'm not a musician and I guess I'll never be.

I don't even sing in the shower...honestly, who even does it?

With all my respect to other people's senses, I usually try to stay away from art unless it means contemplating it in beautiful places (which sometimes turn out to possess much more beauty than the objects they present). That's why not so long ago I waved bye to the permanent state of long time no see with Zachęta. It's a place well known for its exhibitions presenting best of the best of contemporary art (made in Poland or somewhere else on the globe). I've been there a few times and to be honest, enjoyed many exhibitions as well as the red And Europe Will Be Stunned neon  . that's also what I was expecting during my last visit. My excitement was rising, I was hoping for inspiring pictures but also I was oh so looking forward to seeing all these people who feel more, are more and experience some sort of epiphany while being around metal sticks or a bin. Yup, such people can be seen there and they're absolutely my favourite. I always wonder if it's me who can't see through strange objects or them who see too much (much more than there is to see in fact). Anyway, spending some time in the company of art of any kind is time never wasted so visiting such places is still gonna be one of my favourite pastimes.

End of term exams signal two things: studying the butt off and having more time to catch up with the cultural life of the city. That's why not so long ago I took the Boy and my little self to Zachęta . As you can read from the page, it's the National Gallery of Art. But don't let the full name deceive you! It's not classical art, you know, the kind they show at KHM in Vienna. It's contemporary art, sometimes weird (as it usually is with contemporary art) but sometimes thought-provoking. This time we weren't so lucky, as the only big exhibition was Jerzy Jarnuszkiewicz. Notes from the Expanse. Its aim, as I read from the website later, was to present the above mentioned artist's sculptures together with some coins and medals designed by him. The exhibition also showcases Jarnuszkiewicz's notes and graphics and quite frankly, this was my favourite part of the whole story. More about Notes from the Expanse can be read here so please excuse me if I don't analyse every exhibit inch by inch and please let me be unapologetically myself and bemoan a little bit.

As the title of this post reads I don't understand contemporary art. I wish I did but, as I like to say, I don't quite understand what's so revolutionary, amazing and inspiring in a red dot on white canvas. If you can get something from it, you might as well skip the next few sentences. As I managed to find out, Jarnuszkiewicz was a sculptor but all I could see was nothing but scrap iron (apart from all the medals which I did enjoy, especially the one with Hebrew inscriptions). I was really trying to see beneath the metal itself but effortlessly.

But in the meantime I had my own epiphany and decided that if contemporary art can literally be anything, I might as well take 300 snaps of Bobek and have my own exhibition at Zachęta. 

I don't want to sound like a total ignorant but if we put a single turbine from a sheaf-binder next to these sculptures and give it some sophisticated title, it's unlikely that people may ever see the difference. I do respect art but I had the feeling that a real scrapyard would impress me much more. Be it rude or not but well, let's be honest - I'm sure most people nowadays think contemporary art no longer has to have any meaning, it's not even made to impress. Its main purpose is to shock, in a good or bad way. Art is supposed to make us feel something. My main feeling this time was excitement that once I'm done with Jarnuszkiewicz, I'm gonna go downstairs to the bookshop and flip through pages of inspiring books. And there, I was disappointed again. Even the books didn't make my heart skip a beat. Let's blame it on the weather and winter gloominess. Until next time Contemporary Art! 




  
Muzzle I, 1973/1977 (Polish Sculpture Centre in Orońsko)


one of the sculptures I did enjoy...until My Boy pointed out those unrealistic big feet


 


sketches. I like to see how other people work, what phases they go through and how they determine the final vision of what they have in mind. 





MerkenMerkenMerkenMerken

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