Stuck–Up
Stuck-up: adjective \ˈstək-ˈəp\
acting
unfriendly towards other people because you think you are better than they are.
Stuckism is a name embraced by the British
Remodernist movement after Tracy Emin told Billy Childish his painting was
“stuck, stuck, stuck!” A manifesto was devised by Childish and Charles Thompson
in response to the type of art that the Tate’s Turner prize was being awarded.
Stuckists denounce artists that don’t adhere to their narrow definition of what
art is and question the motives of artists who are accepted by the contemporary
art establishment. The
Stuckists like to say that artists who have success in the established art
world are only in it for the money, that they are not motivated by anything
inside of themselves. This is rather presumptuous and as was pointed out by
another artist, smacks of jealousy. They detest postmodernism and an “elitist”
straw man they set up to bash. One thing they feel is that the contemporary art
establishment is too obsessed with celebrity. In spite of this they like to
flaunt Billy Childish as one of their founders because of his luminary status
as a second string British Punkrocker. This in spite of the fact that Childish
quit the group early on reportedly because he didn’t like some of the work in
one of their early shows. It would seem from this that Childish is a bit of an elitist
himself. Hypocrisy abounds with the Stuckists. They say that artists go to art
openings just to schmooze, strike a pose and make connections to advance their
own careers. Yet they have openings and hope these same ones will come to their
shows.
One of the Stuckists premises is that
painting is the only true form of art. In The Scottsman news paper Tiffany
Jenkins stated, “…itmust be pointed out, that despite the problem with
devaluing of painting, those commentators that see painting as the only way to
make art, such as The Stuckists – a campaign groop that argues for figurative
painting-can fetishise it. For all their excitement about paint, the painting
by The Stuckists is poor.”
In his blog New York Gallerist, Edward
Winkleman pointed out that, “One of
the side effects of artists openly and very publically criticizing others'
artwork is that one sets him/herself up for a much harsher counter-critique
than might otherwise fall when exhibiting one's own work. There's a bit of a
"don't-throw-stones-if-you-live-in-a-glass-house" unspoken rule. Not
that artists don't criticize others all the time, but it just makes sense to
ensure you've got the goods to back up your controversial rhetoric.”
That brings me to the recent exhibit
at Trunk Space in Phoenix; INTERNATIONAL
STUCKISTS: Explorers and Inventors.
Curated by local artst, Richard Bledsoe. A show that met stuckist DIY standards
with an amateur hanging by tacking some of the unframed works to the wall. This
is tantamount to Mom putting it on the refrigerator with a magnet. Centerpiece
to this exhibit was a work by Stuckist founder Charles Thompson. It went beyond
his usual lack of skill with paint, as he has left his previous solid colors
and hard edged approach by attempting to be painterly, filling in arias with
sloppy brushed color. While Suckism began and mostly remains a British
phenomenon they like to view themselves as an international movement, Hence the
title of the exhibit. The Stuckists are also known as Remodernists because they
think they are taking off where Modernism left off. Much of the work is closer
to Grandma Moses than Pablo Picasso, hence they should call it Renaiveism. Not
all works in the show are terrible; some even show a degree of talent and
ability to handle their medium. That is the sad part. I believe that
by associating with a complaining group of bitter artists some may be holding
themselves back. But then maybe that’s the point, avoiding the “elite” art
world. In an article about the show in Downtown Devil Richard Bledsoesaid he planned
to offer much of the works in the show to one of the local museums. I imagine
this is so when it is rejected it will prove to him the “elite art world” has
no taste. Perhaps a Stuckist’s worst nightmare could occur and it is accepted
and there will be nothing more to spout off about.
There are some things in the show that are better than much
of what they hang here with. Michele Bledsoe and Michael Denson are a couple of locals that are
superior to the Stuckists they are associated with here.
In the end I don’t really want to be a critic. I have
my own glass house to protect. I
appreciate the courage it takes when creative people put their work out there
for all to consider and make their own judgments about. I like most forms of
creative visual expression and taking in many forms of art.
I actually agree with some of the criticism of the
Stuckists about the devaluation of painting and art that shows no skill (I may
deal with this in a future post.) I just agree with Winkleman that if an artist
is going to knock others in their creative endeavors they should have the
artistic chops to back it up, not just more pedantic rhetoric.
Related links:
No comments:
Post a Comment