Motivation for Art Making
by lizbeckChristo and Jeanne-Claude are known as environmental artists, who use rural and urban environments for mass scale projects. For example, in 1983 they wrapped 11 islands in Biscayne Bay, Florida, in flamingo pink fabric. More recently (2005) they created “The Gates”, where 7503 saffron colored fabric panels hung in Central Park, NYC, for 16 days.
In a National Geographic article written for the November 2006 issue, Christo answers the following question (p. 41):
Why…Why surround 11 islands with 722 200 square yards of pink polypropylene? Why hang 7503 saffron yellow panels in Central Park? Why?
Christo responds:
All our projects are absolutely irrational with no justification to exist. Nobody needs…surrounded islands. They are created because Jeanne-Claude and I have this unstoppable urge to create. They are made for us first. Not the public. Artists have a huge white canvas and an indestructible urge to fill it with color. There is no reason. Of course, if Mr. Smith likes the canvas, it’s good, but the true artist doesn’t make it for Mr. Smith…
While reading this quote I wondered to myself, isn’t this exactly what we mean when an art therapist tells his/her clients that art is not about making a “pretty picture”? It’s not about pleasing others with what comes out. It’s about self expression and sometimes it can take self-reflection and processing to become even remotely aware of the significance of the symbols used in one’s artwork.
Certainly in art therapy the goal is self expression. But, one’s motivations for making art may differ. Is it not art if its made to be enjoyed by someone specific? or sold?
Listen to this article
Published on: January 15th, 2008
Terms Used: Art, art making, christo, jeanne-claude, the gates
About: lizbeck
I am originally from Montreal, now living in San Francisco and working as an Art Therapist with people dually diagnosed with developmental disabilities and mental illness.
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thanks for the post, liz. i find christo’s stuff fascinating and irritating and mind blowing. i hate the thought of those islands suffocating under all the fabric, but it makes you feel something of the intensity of the human presence on the planet, and it’s visually astonishing… don’t know if art needs or is affected by having a purpose, i do like Wilde’s dictum the “all art is utterly useless” but in some places Christo talks about the wrapping work as having a philosophy of “revelation through concealment,” which may not be a use, but is still a good function, or should i say intention, or let’s just stick with philosophy for art..
Posted on January 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am [permalink]
I guess the interpretation of what art is maybe as unique as the individual doing the contemplating…
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are in the process of planning/obtaining permits for a new project called “Over the River”, where fabric will be suspended over the Arkansas River. In National Geographic, they discussed that the fabric will not be continuous, allowing for known wildlife spots not to be disturbed…in this case the artists seem to be working directly with gov’t officials and environmentalists to ensure the safety of animals, plants and those who may be doing some rafting down the river.
Posted on January 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am [permalink]
Very interesting post. I just finished reading Sartre’s first novel, ‘La Nausée’, crude existentialism, but eventually gets to the idea that art is above matter and exists in the purest form, it transcends. Sartre is one of a handful of people to ever refuse a Nobel prize, and when he refused it he said something along the lines of “A writer cannot let himself become an institution”. I get that, but the path to becomming an institution is long and blurry I think.
I like the idea of art existing on a higher plane and definitely believe that, but I think like all things spiritual, they should also be practical, so I do believe art can still be art if it’s ‘comissioned’ or sold. After all, I doubt Christo and Jeanne-Claude got 722 200 square yards of pink polypropylene on a shoestring budget!
Posted on January 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm [permalink]