Thanks! A great discussion about an issue I often wrestle with while teaching and writing about art. Brings to mind Jacques Rancière's early book on education, The Ignorant Schoolmaster (1987)) and his ArtForum article that is more directly related to viewing art, "The Emancipated Spectator" (March 2007).
loved reading this! I aim for making my work open enough for myriad interpretation yet specific enough to have meaning for me.
We are fortunate that solving a single riddle/mystery doesn't reduce the infinity of unknowable things. One interpretation expands the meaning something could have. I wonder if interpretation actually makes things less known as opposed to leaving things unsaid and only felt and thereby completely known to the experiencer.
Thanks, this ties in with my observation that whenever I'm asked what some work of mine means, its better to answer ''what do YOU think it means?'' And I'm always amazed that everyone, and I mean every single person, already has found a meaning - (which often has nothing to do with what it meant for me) and this is the way it probably should be. I always answer that's right, and smile.
Thanks! A great discussion about an issue I often wrestle with while teaching and writing about art. Brings to mind Jacques Rancière's early book on education, The Ignorant Schoolmaster (1987)) and his ArtForum article that is more directly related to viewing art, "The Emancipated Spectator" (March 2007).
Well written and engaging
R Chalfin
loved reading this! I aim for making my work open enough for myriad interpretation yet specific enough to have meaning for me.
We are fortunate that solving a single riddle/mystery doesn't reduce the infinity of unknowable things. One interpretation expands the meaning something could have. I wonder if interpretation actually makes things less known as opposed to leaving things unsaid and only felt and thereby completely known to the experiencer.
Thanks, this ties in with my observation that whenever I'm asked what some work of mine means, its better to answer ''what do YOU think it means?'' And I'm always amazed that everyone, and I mean every single person, already has found a meaning - (which often has nothing to do with what it meant for me) and this is the way it probably should be. I always answer that's right, and smile.