Artist statements are essential. No matter how well you can write, writing about your own work poses unique problems that very few artists are equipped to deal with. Consequently, most artists' statements become overly personal explanations about what art means to you and what you are trying to accomplish in your work things that are better saved for personal journal musings than for a public artist statement.
Remember that you don't have to be a writer to write one and that people looking at your art already take away whatever experiences they will. Your artist statement is about facts, a basic introduction to your art; it's not instructions on what to experience, what to think, how to feel, how to act, or where to stand, and if it is, you'd better do a rewrite. WRITE YOUR STATEMENT IN A LANGUAGE THAT ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND. Whenever possible, make it conversational, like you're talking to readers.
There are many times when an artist is asked to compose an artist statement. Sometimes, it is in response to a specific inquiry by a gallery or collector, sometimes in response to a particular grant proposal or in conjunction with a curatorial statement or exhibition. Other times, artists just feel the need to explain their work. Most of the time, however, artists are not the best suited for this particular task.
Every artist wants his or her work to be understood and appreciated in the context in which it was made. However, very few artists are able to articulate intelligent insight into how to achieve that level of understanding, nor should they. Part of the joy, from an observer's point of view comes from the primary experience with the art bringing to his or her own personal and intimate connection. If those things are spelled out for them, before they have an opportunity to develop that connection for themselves, a huge part of the experience of appreciating the art is missing.
On the other hand, writing an artist statement for your own use, can be a very valuable experience. Artists need to know how to intelligently talk about their work, their influences, the sources for their imagery, and answer any questions about their technique. It is every artist's responsibility to see themselves in an art historical context and understand how they fit into the contemporary art world, regardless of the reasons that drive them to create.
A good statement allows people who love your work to find out more about you, offers your audience more ways to connect with you, and increases their appreciation and perceived value of your work. Equally important, an artist statement gives you the opportunity to see what you do through the eyes of language, to validate your creations from a new perspective.
Gathering your thoughts
First, take some time to jot down any fleeting thoughts that come to you about your work. Give yourself permission to gather. While you are jotting down ideas, try to answer the following questions. Selecting and sorting can come later when you have enough in your basket:
“What is your favorite tool? Why?”; “What is your favorite material? Why?”; “What do you like best about what you do?”; “What do you mean when you say that a piece has turned out really well?”; “What patterns emerge in your work? Is there a pattern in the way you select materials?”; “In the way you use color, texture or light?”; “What do you do differently from the way you were taught? Why?”; “What is your favorite color?”
General tips on writing an artist statement
Don't get too personal. Keep the reasons why you make art to yourself. Educate, but don't preach. Imagine what you would like said if someone was explaining your work.
Complete these sentences: "This series is based on......."; “When I work with (your particular medium) I am reminded that…..”; “I begin a piece by…...”; “I know a piece is done when….”; “When my work is going well, I am filled with a sense of …..”; “When people see my work, I'd like them to….”
Mention important influences, artists as well as writers, that may set a context for your work. Discuss the process or technique if it is particularly unusual or an important element in understanding your media.
Be sure to keep your statement down to one page, maximum. Preferably, 2-3 well written, concise paragraphs should get the job done. It's best to only give out your artist statement when it is requested, not as part of an unsolicited package. This alleviates the problem of telling someone more than they want to know, allowing for questions and interaction, and offers the opportunity for follow up.
Where to start
Think about a painting, photograph, or exhibit that you’ve seen that you loved, hated, or didn’t understand. What did you want to know about it? Did you wonder what materials the artist used? Why did she paint a particular subject? Why were they portrayed in a certain way? And so on…
Then think about a time when someone was viewing your work and asking you questions. What did they want to know? What were they most curious about?
Imagine that you are talking to a non-artist friend about my work. It's also really helpful to collect artist's statements when you go to shows. Or surf the internet and read the statements on artists' websites. You'll see examples of both good and bad statements. Be inspired by the good ones and know that you can do much better than the bad ones.
Start with the “Why?”
Why did you choose your particular subject matter or imagery? You can mention influences (artistic or otherwise), inspirations, and past experiences that led you to your subject. Some artists often refer to the work of other artists that inspired them. Others might be influenced by media or popular culture. Still others might have been traumatized by water buffaloes… It doesn’t really matter how you came to your subject matter, but the viewer will be interested in knowing why you chose it.
Then talk about the “How?”
Most viewers will want to know something about your materials or your process, especially if the materials or processes are unusual. It’s not necessary to write a step-by-step guide to the watercolor process, or list every chemical that you used to process your photographs. You might just mention that you use watercolors and that you were drawn to them for their unpredictable nature and their transparency. And if there’s an unusual technique or material, mention that.
Act like you know what you’re doing
Avoid phrases like, “I want to…” or, “I’m trying to…” or, “My intention is…” Just say what you’re doing: “I expose the gritty underbelly of urban life…” or, “These paintings explore the wonders of nature and the beauty of our world…” Don't be wishy-washy about it. Not so much “me,” “my,” and “I” It’s hard to do, but try to avoid using the words “me, my, and I,” repeatedly. It’s annoying to read a whole page of sentences that start with “I.”
Update it
If you’re creating new work often then you’ll need to look at your statement every now and then to make sure that it still reflects your current work. A good rule of thumb is to update it every time you ship work off to a show. This keeps the statement fresh and helps you to prepare to talk about your work.
Multiple statements
Most artists only have one statement that they update every few months or as their work changes. You might have multiple bodies of work that require different statements, especially if you work in different mediums.
Get help
Before you go public with your statement, get feedback. Show your art and statement to friends, friends' friends, and maybe even a stranger or two. Make sure they understand what you want them to understand. When they don't, or you have to explain yourself, do a rewrite and eliminate the confusion. If you have the need for a good written artist statement but you cannot write it yourself, BARTER with someone who can. In fact, all artists need to be just as good barterers as they are painters or sculptors. Most artists don't realize that many art reviewers make their living as writers, often making their services available to galleries or museums for catalog essays or miscellaneous writing jobs. Alternately, you can approach a curator who has taken a favorable view of your work, or even a local art history professor.
Remember, I can provide you with the assistance you need for writing your artist statement in English or French. Please feel free to contact me anytime, I would be happy to help you.
Tuan Anh *Marc*
marc@vietartforum.com
We can see people huddled together to comfort each other in their last hours of life.
Posted by: Discount Louis Vuitton | January 22, 2011 at 07:52 AM