It’s one of the most dreaded requirements of entering your work into shows or exhibitions: “Include artist’s statement, 200 words or less. Describe the work and concept; no biographical information.”
Ouch ouch ouch to write.
And then to go to the show and watch people move around the room, stopping in front of the statement card, reading it thoroughly; then glancing at the work and moving on.
Ouch ouch ouch to watch.
Why does this happen?
Partly, I think, it’s because as we go through school, most of us experience a word-oriented education. We learn that the pictures, however colorful and interesting, are there only to illustrate the words, the really important part of the book or article. Blog posts, magazines, newspapers — all are word-oriented with images as an accompaniment. The images are the bread on the dinner table, not the main course on your plate.
(You read the paragraph before you looked at the picture, didn’t you? :-) )
I don’t think we can change this behavior entirely without making radical changes to the way we think of education. I do think, though, that we can make changes to the way we present our art — changes that command the viewer to look first, then to read.
Follow me and I’ll explain.
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