A Discussion Of Modern Art

It's so strange how you can snap awake and sudden find yourself creating something again. A new painting in my case. One moment hopelessly lost in the wake of pop culture and television, then putting brush to canvas again. The problem is, I'm not sure if the outcome is worthy of viewing. Most likely not. The fact of the matter is, that although I adore contemporary art, I find myself hating the very nature of it. I feel that ambiguity and pretension so thickly surround the majority. These are two qualities I don't particularly want to be related to.

Dictionary.com defines art as "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance."

But isn't that uncompromised art? Without the influence of money or fame. Or is that just a product of the art? In this century I believe its the other way around. It was suppose to be about expression and beauty, then those two made a pretty penny for somebody. Unique is priceless and priceless goes to the highest bidder.

Has modern day ruined art? Maybe art has always been driven by personal gain. Does that not seem somewhat sad? Doesn't it make you feel empty about it? I personally have only sold one painting and it was a copy of an older work that I was not able to part with. I though, money will come and go but this painting could disappear forever. There will only be this one painting. Even the one I sold (the copy) was unique from the original as it was not a direct copy and had been slightly, stylistically different. More of an influenced copy than an actual copy.

Yet I'm not the right example because I'm the one confused and outraged by what is apparently the norm. Can anyone shed some light on this topic?

Henry Darger

I bought "In the Realms of the Unreal" recently. Ever since I have been very interested in purchasing some of Henry Darger's work. It conjures some many familiar emotions in me. It reminds me of how I saw scenarios and enviroment when I was a child.

I was browsing around a few websites that were advertising sales of his work. I feel sad though. Sad that his novel is dispersed all over the place and not together in a museum. I have been searching for a novel. I figured someone in the last 25 years must have published his graphic novel! Yet I have been unable to find any such book. I have managed to find out where most Darger's work lies. Apparently a Mr. Andrew Edlin is privileged to be the exclusive representative of Darger's estate. He's having the first public viewing in his gallery next week in New York. Too bad I'm planning a trip to New York.

I have requested some pricing on a few works, although I don't know how I feel about purchasing one for the simple reason that I feel all the pictures should be kept intact; as a whole. Too late for that I suppose. When I receive pricing I will be sure to let interested parties know how much these priceless depictions are selling for.