Love at first sight

[shadow_f]

Hi everyone, artists and others.


The question is:

Can the sight of an artwork create the need to own it or at least to travel just to see it and be near it one more time?

What about an emotional bond toward something you cannot own or even touch, how would you name such a need?


Shadow_f

[sandge]

Welcome, shadow_f

Good question. Since this doesn't seem to be sculpture specific, you might get more varied feedback if you ask in the Café Guerbois (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=26) (general chit chat forum) or Debates, Art & Society, etc. (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25) (er, debating forum).

:)

[shadow_f]

Hi sandrafletcher


I posted in this site for the simple reason that i need answers and ideas from members who are specificaly interested in sculture. I should have been more specific in the first message but when i tried to change it, it was too late. How about leaving it for a while to see if anyone post a reply.

Thanks
shadow_f

[sandge]

OK, I'll take a stab at answering this ...

Maybe because I'm a painter, the one work I have specifically travelled to see is a painting. Its The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor (http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG1432) by Gerard David in the National Gallery, London (click the little picture for a larger view). Unfortunately, no reproduction can show the luminosity of the paint but what I really like about this is it's serious but surreal quality. A favourite detail is the way Mary Magdalene looks as though she is trying to turn the page of St Barbara's book - reminds me of trying to surreptitiously read someone else's newspaper on the train without them knowing.

However, that's painting. Since we are in the sculpture forum ... er, does installation count? I have travelled back to experience Juan Muñoz's (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unimunoz.htm) breathtaking work in the turbine hall at Tate Modern, London. As with all installations, you have to be there to get the benefit but there are more pictures at that link. I also feel that to fully appreciate this work you have to have seen the turbine hall without the work in order to understand how well he has used the space. I will have to make another trip befor they remove it on 10 March.

My other choice would be Richard Long's 20:50 (http://www.camden.gov.uk/camden/enjoy/visit/data/19-26.html#Anchor-Saatchi) which has been at the Saatchi Gallery in London since 1987, I think. You walk into this work along a narrowing metal walkway and it's amazing the sense of space and light that's created by something you think of as being black and dirty: sump oil!

Those would be my choices. The Gerard David because it speaks to me about my own work, the installations because of the physical affect they had on me when I was experiencing them. I must say, though, that given the chaos in which I live, I find it rather comforting that I do not own them since they would not be in very good hands! :)

[sandge]

I should add, with regard to the Gerard David that, for me, the physicality of the work is as important as what's depicted. I mentioned the luminosity of the paint - it really does glow. The work has a physical presence for me which is hard to describe. Again you have to experience it.

Hehehe - can you tell which work I'm obsessing about, here? - clue: I didn't come back to talk about the installations. :D

[shadow_f]

Hi SandraFletcher

That exactly the kind of response that i am looking for, Mainly the subject should be sculture, but art is art, creation is creation, and it's all bring us to a treshold where we feel, see and reflect. What i need right now is some peoples feeling in front of an art form, i choose sculture because it whith what i am involve most of the time. Wood carving and painting are my other form of expression. Right now, i am on a search for "facts, ideas and feelings" that i will try to transpose into solid form. Hope you understand what i mean. Your words have been noted and already have an influence. Hope somes more will come around and give their impressions.

shadow_f