Post by Taylorholic78 on Jul 27, 2005 17:55:06 GMT -5
* from www.trusttheprocess.com
Throughout the course of 1998 John (the artist formerly known as Nigel) expressed many thoughts, opinions, ideas and insights (or just the ramblings of a madman to some!) through a feature on this website called The Nigel Page. We thought we would bring them all back for those who might have missed them.
All of these photographs were taken on the island of Mauritius over six (edit, eleven now!) years ago. I can be sure of that because it was on this trip that my daughter was conceived. All of the "art" here is entirely organic. I found myself getting very excited by what I saw and wanting to photograph every wall, every bit of graffiti that I could find. I remember thinking, "If only I could get this stuff out of here, off this island and into an uptown gallery, it would be an incredible show." In art, Context is crucial. Most of the images here would mean nothing to the inhabitants of the island, but to an uptowner like myself they represent life's energy and sexuality. The colour schemes, of course, could never be planned, as they are entirely haphazard. So much art is about imitating nature, nature can make the greatest of art. Monet's water lilies, for example, seem sorry-assed in comparison! (Placed in the Museum of Modern Art they can be rightly recognized as artistic genius.) The work that makes up the subject of these photographs is almost entirely natural. No thought has been given to aesthetic criteria, they are born out of a basic need, like most graffiti: To be noticed, recognized, to communicate an idea. I don't think I am alone in recognizing this kind of representation in art, Julian Schabel has done much work along these lines, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, of course. J-M B was perhaps the artist most responsible for opening my eyes to the broader possibilities of aesthetic appreciation within scenes of urban decay. This can be a curse: When I see my local ice cream truck, I want to run after it with my camera, and when I see a vandalized post box, I want to take it home with me. Art is after all, about messages. Whether I love you or I miss you, War is unhealthy or Don't buy drugs from me. The messages in these pictures ring loud and clear in my eyes and ears.
Throughout the course of 1998 John (the artist formerly known as Nigel) expressed many thoughts, opinions, ideas and insights (or just the ramblings of a madman to some!) through a feature on this website called The Nigel Page. We thought we would bring them all back for those who might have missed them.
NIGEL'S PHOTO ESSAY
All of these photographs were taken on the island of Mauritius over six (edit, eleven now!) years ago. I can be sure of that because it was on this trip that my daughter was conceived. All of the "art" here is entirely organic. I found myself getting very excited by what I saw and wanting to photograph every wall, every bit of graffiti that I could find. I remember thinking, "If only I could get this stuff out of here, off this island and into an uptown gallery, it would be an incredible show." In art, Context is crucial. Most of the images here would mean nothing to the inhabitants of the island, but to an uptowner like myself they represent life's energy and sexuality. The colour schemes, of course, could never be planned, as they are entirely haphazard. So much art is about imitating nature, nature can make the greatest of art. Monet's water lilies, for example, seem sorry-assed in comparison! (Placed in the Museum of Modern Art they can be rightly recognized as artistic genius.) The work that makes up the subject of these photographs is almost entirely natural. No thought has been given to aesthetic criteria, they are born out of a basic need, like most graffiti: To be noticed, recognized, to communicate an idea. I don't think I am alone in recognizing this kind of representation in art, Julian Schabel has done much work along these lines, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, of course. J-M B was perhaps the artist most responsible for opening my eyes to the broader possibilities of aesthetic appreciation within scenes of urban decay. This can be a curse: When I see my local ice cream truck, I want to run after it with my camera, and when I see a vandalized post box, I want to take it home with me. Art is after all, about messages. Whether I love you or I miss you, War is unhealthy or Don't buy drugs from me. The messages in these pictures ring loud and clear in my eyes and ears.
