Author: Jacek Maria

Looking at a piece of Art, everybody wonders what prompted the artist to execute the work. Unfortunately, too often, there is no other explanation than commercial.

For most of us, Art is a physical piece with a dollar value assigned. Too often, the dollar value is the most exciting aspect of the otherwise dull work.  

To be clear would like to explain the origin of the word.

Since “Art “for centuries was an expression of Meaning, meaning is the ultimate purpose of creative work. It expresses something. It tells the story and uplifts the spirit.

Contemporary Art often communicates the confusion and lack of purpose in an artist’s life. We all strive to have a meaningful life, but some of us replace the image of God with the dollar sign. No wonder Warhol did not bother with producing Art painting dollar signs; instead, when the Art is a substitute for a banknote.

As famous art critic Panofsky said, viewers receive only answers they are able to ask.

That’s why we are staring at old paintings in museums without a clue. The world of the spiritual life of our ancestors is gone.  We, the Huns, the primitives, are left behind without the key to unlocking the treasures. 

Our substitutes are weak and confusing, and the Art is mostly not up to the task of expressing the human problems of our times. Again you can compare the modern and the old sections of any museum to see the number of viewers.

Yet the need to express the spirit of our time exists. A few artists are trying to reach beyond the paint’s surface and convey a thought. Still, they are nonexistent in official art institutions, preferring sanitized and meaningless — prescribed noncontroversial work. 19-century academy made a 180-degree adjustment and exists now under the name of institutionalized “AVANTGARDE.” So AVANTGARDE is DEAD.

Let’s ignore the official and try to see the meaning of Art. Contemporary Art.

Any artist paying attention to the world beyond studio walls is trying to visualize reality. This simple task is often most challenging since the limit is the ‘imagination.” This particular skill is not in plentiful supply even among people calling themselves artists. That is why we have an endless supply of secondary works following or copying any artists with some financial success. Art by prescription dominates the landscape.

Below you can see a painting: “Social Distancing” 2021 piece graphically expresses the most crucial aspect of the time. The painting conveys the time of our lives unusually and attractively. It sticks out by itself, and no further comment is necessary. There is no question about originality of the work, or the skills of the artist. The sign of real art.

Many have no trouble picturing ourselves in this painting with degrees of separation.

Acrylic on canvas 24″h x30″ wide. Canvas is attached to a light corrugated plastic panel. There is no need to cut a tree.

A cord is attached to the back of the panel to help with hanging. No frame is necessary.

The artist? Jacek Maria