What do you take from Art?

A delight for the eyes and a story for the mind, it’s more than a decoration for the home, it’s something for the soul – staying with you long after its original context. Famous works of art traverse their gallery and museum placement, appearing on all sorts of paraphernalia, pens, bags, adverts, because it conveys something to us the consumer. We enjoy its image but also how it makes us feel; revealing a part of who we are, what we like and messages we support. It can empower.

Looking at these giants in art, you can feel overwhelmed or inspired. I choose both, wanting to create a work that’s aesthetically appealing (inspired) but also looks at society (overwhelmed). Wanting to create works that marvel at the bravery of those facing adversity, seeking hope, feeling frustrated and wanting opportunities – reflecting what I perceive.

A recent piece I created, ‘An Undecided Legacy’ presents a seaside scene of an imposing rock. On one side are adults who start off arm-in-arm, but quickly descending into their own greed and desire, ignoring the chance to help, and instead fighting to be seen as the person who pulls the sword from the stone. Opposite this are children from different parts of the world who seek to free birds trapped in adults’ nets, their faces sad. It’s a hard choice to make, but their figures are larger and together they’re united. The image left as a ‘non finito’ – a deliberately incomplete artwork as the path in front remains unpainted; there is a choice to be made.

A continuation of these reflections is my art name – don’t look just yet. When you look at a piece of work, you might like it, question what it means, how it make you feel. Leaving you wanting to know more, and so you look at the artist’s name. Does your view change on seeing the name? Is it an older name? A female’s name? Someone famous? Has it lessened the art’s appeal or increased it? Unconscious bias exists, and despite our efforts for it not to affect our decisions it does. My name is designed to give nothing away, and still people make assumptions, calling me Sir or Madam – designating a gender. But art should be looked at for what it is; what you see, feel and want to have it say to you. Pass on what makes art great, the story it tells, not the bias of a name.