Writing the Artist's Statement | Brian R.: Writing an artists statement... Verbal diarrhea or essential explanation?
Oh my God! How to deal with this subject?
It's horrible for those of us who think visually - by seeing something.
Words don't usually convey enough or we are even word-blind and unable to
say what we want to using words. Such is a nightmare.
With the deadline for the next FSC book looming ever closer, I wrote this
short essay to help my fellow members think a little bit more
constructively about this subject. All artists seem to have something like
a statement associated with their work. Just visit a gallery and look at
the introduction on the wall as you enter an exhibit or the first few pages
of a photo book (perhaps once you get past the initial essay), or the
initial page of a web site and you will see them. They appear to be
essential, but are they?
They certainly are an established way to convey what it is you are trying
to do with the work and appeal to those that are looking at the motives
involved in a work of art, or who use words as their way of thinking. They
are also useful tools used by agents and gallery owners to help sell the
works they show and therefore stay in business. For them, this is the main
concern, so a good artist statement is a really important item.
We all know our images should speak for and are supposed to stand all by
themselves, but many people who read our books, or visit the galleries want
to read about the work, the process, the thoughts, and so on that goes on
in our heads as part of the creative process. So if nothing else, they are
a way to explain the work to those who are (usually) unable or unwilling to
produce it themselves. A statement about the work is therefore also a tool
to help us communicate and whatever we may think about them, they are part
of the art scene, so it’s probably better to master writing them, than
leaving them as a side thought for someone else to write.
WHAT? Someone else can write them? Oh yes. I know of several major
galleries in my area where a staff member and even in one case, where the
wife of the owner will write a statement for the artist if they don't feel
up to it. Lucky for them! I don’t get that kind of luxury and I also think
that I am probably the best person to write about my own work or at least
do the first attempt at it.
So in the end, as much as we might dislike to admit this, statements are an
important (even essential) part of, or at the very least, are an
established element of defining or even at its most base, just selling art.
So then, having a statement for a body of work, or project, or even for
just one picture is often all about editing. I know I use way too many
words to explain something so when it comes to writing, when I can correct
and change things before anyone else sees it, the watch word is EDIT.
Editing is all about cutting things down to a minimum without losing the
essential message or concept you are trying to communicate. Books and
academic thesis have been written about this, but there are some simple
“rules” we can all remember when it comes to sitting at a keyboard and
typing:
- Stay on subject: This should be obvious but if the subject is about
fish, don't select images or words that are about cats. Fish have
scales, not fur.
- Consider the limits: Does the setting for the statement have space
constraints? Is there a maximum number of words? Stick within it.
- Remember what you are doing: Don’t write about the angst you have
every morning getting up, write about the subject at hand.
- Grammar and style: Use words that convey the idea and don’t overthink
or complicate things.
- As our marketing friends say, KEEP IT SHORT and SIMPLE or get to know
the KISS principle. It has a lot to “bring to the table” as they
say.
- Artist statements are also well known for the long and flowery
phrases some people love to use. Here is an example of “artspeak” as
its termed;
'His early oeuvre exemplifies the concept of dysfunction so atypical in
traditional sculpture.'
What does this mean? I can come up with at least three variations of the
meaning and am still a bit confused by the convoluted way these words are
used in the second half of it. Don’t use such complicated artspeak. The
best approach is to find a set of words that describes what it is you mean
to say but does not leave your reader in the intellectual dust. Ask
yourself what it is you are doing. Are you showing off a deep knowledge of
a dictionary or trying to communicate something about your artistic work?
I know some people use an
artist statement generator web site (it's great
fun), but honestly, avoid the verbal diarrhea. Staying closer to a simpler,
or at least understandable explanation of the work, and the result will be
more likely to be read and appreciated by your reader.
