From: Alistair Stray <storm@powernet.co.uk>
To: idm@hyperreal.com
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On Thu, 9 Jan 1997, Chris.Hilker wrote:
]If an artist makes a brilliant, innovative work of art, full of truth and
]insights into the human condition, and deliberately makes it so obscure
]that nobody understands it, what fucking good is it? <endquote>
If the artist says they made it deliberately obscure then maybe it's more
likely that they failed to transmit their message as well as they would have
liked. I hear this methodology espoused quite a lot, and it always seems to
be a cop out to me. Your completely right, it's no fucking good at all. It
is a waste of time. Somebody said art was for self entertainment, that has
to be wrong unless you keep it to yourself. If you try to sell it, or
display it, then you are seeking validation for your work. If an artist
doesn't seek validation then fair enough, but don't make the rest of us
suffer listening or viewing it. As soon as you try to sell it then the self
entertainment starts to be questioned. YES, you are exploring yourself
through your art, but your now also trying to see what peoples reactions
are. You are trying to see how you can alter the scene you see yourself as
being part of.
Another waste of time is battling against commercial success. I'm a video
artist, and I'm well established in the live circuit here in the UK. And I
would love commercial success, if I can quit my day job and concentrate on
my art I would be a hell of a lot happier. It would give me more time to
concentrate on my art, without the distractions of rent, food and my tune
addiction. So when Andy Weatherall (after we worked with him at a gig in
Leeds) asked if I could produce a two hour video to accompany 'The Fifth
Mission' LP I jumped at it, eyes wide and with broad grin. It wouldn't give
me enough to live on, and I would still have my day job. BUT, it would get
me noticed more, and would lead on to more work. However the current silence
from 'Emissions' is deafening.
Avant Garde means advanced guard. Anyone who describes themselves such, and
shies away from any sort of commercial crossover doesn't understand the
term. Either that, or they are scared of failure. Or worse, they are hiding
from the fact that they're not good enough to make an impression. I'm
completely open to the fact that what I do maybe invalid, pointless and
poor. If my work is good/bad or irrelevant is not my decision. That is the
decision of the spectator, the art gallery, the club, the audience and
posterity.
I have some confidence from the success of various shows, and also from the
distribution of some of my more traditional video art. I know I do have an
audience. But if I were to rest on my laurels I wouldn't be doing anyone any
favours, least of all myself. Some people say that Post modernism is a new
description of a phase we have been through a lot historically. Basically it
happens when there is no Avant Garde about to change things, so we end up
reanalysing and reprocessing previous work. Therefore anyone who is doing
something even slightly different must fight like hell to get it noticed, if
they don't then Art will never advance at all.
I mix four decks of audio and three video sources to improvise art films on
the fly. It's very rewarding, the reactions of the audience have a direct
effect on how my films progress. I can always find somewhere to do this, I
can always find an audience. But it's my edited work, the traditional form
of the video art medium, where I want the most success. Because that is the
accepted face of the medium, and that is the acceptable route to commercial
crossover. Although the live work is the most rewarding, it's also a pain in
the arse technically. If I can survive by making a couple of music videos
and then concentrate the proceeds into my art then my life would be
complete. I want money. And money will not compromise my art.
self promotion bit:
Will be at the Big Chill Benefit, Brixton, with Hexstatic and Netmare on the
14th FEB.
FutureSONIC again later in the year for the proper full on show.
Transmedia Berlin, all being well.
- Stray
http://users.powernet.co.uk/storm