Writing The Artist Statement

[MattKing]

If you like to set yourself photographic projects, it can be very helpful to write a draft "Artist Statement" before you take the first photograph.

Most likely everything will evolve throughout the project, but the draft can serve as a sort of outline and as such help provide useful structure.

 

[mgb74]

That which us non-academic types see as bullshit may actually be seen as "private language" to those who haunt the halls of academia.

And as for practical validity, I'll be so vain as to include a copy of the Artist Statement I wrote for my five photographs in the Group Show I participated in earlier this year:

Compared to others I've read, this is a really lousy artist statement. Let me tell you what's wrong with it.

It makes sense.
It doesn't use words that can't be found in an abridged dictionary.
It provides context, rather than obfuscation.
It seeks to explain, rather than impress.

 

[Vaughn]

Thanks, Andrew.

 

[MattKing]

Compared to others I've read, this is a really lousy artist statement. Let me tell you what's wrong with it.

It makes sense.
It doesn't use words that can't be found in an abridged dictionary.
It provides context, rather than obfuscation.
It seeks to explain, rather than impress.

As a true Canadian, I'll say I'm sorry then .

 

[cliveh]

You have no business being a teacher if you gave such idiotic advice to a student who needed to answer that question to get into a university. If she followed it, she would almost certainly be rejected. When I was a high school literature teacher, I had a moral and legal obligation to help those of my students who wanted to go on to college. What you did was unethical and a dishonor to our profession.

Well I can't speak for your students, but some of mine have a sense of humour.

 

[DWThomas]

@MattKing, your statement was very nicely done.

I've tended to walk the fuzzy line between an "artist's statement" and an "artist's bio" for the rare occasion I've had to explain myself. But it is a difficult assignment -- partly because it may force us to decide why it is we drag this gear around.

Last night trying to re-sort some bookmarks I came across some online assistance for artists ...

 

[paul ewins]

The need for an artist's statement depends on whether or not the work is straight forward. Sometimes the work needs no explanation, other times you need a little hook to understand what the artist is on about. Once you have that little nugget of information it all opens up to you. And sometimes you read the statement and have no idea and look at the work and still have no idea and are left wondering whether the statement was crap, the work was crap or both. I've had to do a few and they can be so frustrating, trying to explain something you understand intimately to a complete stranger.

 

[Bob Carnie]

If you like to set yourself photographic projects, it can be very helpful to write a draft "Artist Statement" before you take the first photograph.

Most likely everything will evolve throughout the project, but the draft can serve as a sort of outline and as such help provide useful structure.

I like this small description a lot. Bob

 

[DREW WILEY]

"Artist's Statements" are a substitute for articulate art in the same way that "Mission Statements" were once synonymous with confused businesses.
Blue ribbons at the County Fair art contest make more sense, if people can't appreciate your pictures for their own sake. Silliness.

 

[sepiareverb]

It's just a part of the game. If the maker can't articulate the thinking behind the work they will not be taken seriously by serious galleries. The library or natural food store may have different requirements.

 

[Huss]

Well I can't speak for your students, but some of mine have a sense of humour.

So after your joke, what advice did you give her?

 

[Huss]

Artist statements are an artistic and intilectual exercise that can clarify one's work. But some folks do not like exercise, or see little point in it...and that's cool. To each their own.

A friend and I had a show together, titled after a photo he had taken (an image of some graffitti of the words, "Area of Temporary Refuge"). I wrote the following 'statement' that I combined in a frame with the image shown below (carbon print -- two ajoining frames from a Diana camera).


Area of Temporary Refuge

A place to return and a place to set forth
A place to renew and to gather strength
A place to center

It is this place that allows me to measure the extremes

From this ground I look up and know the heights.
From this place of simplicity I come to grips with the complexities.
From this center I explore the world

Photography is but a refuge from which to embark on a simple quest
A quest to understand the qualities of light and the forms it takes
A journey to explore the limits of my understanding and my ability to see

*** Thankfully I make no claim to be a writer or poet, but it was fun and challenging to write the above. If it helped or hindered the viewers I do not know...no one commented about it to me. But I am glad I made the effort.

I hate to say this Vaughn, but you are a writer and a poet.

 

[mr.datsun]

How many here have ever struggled writing the artist statement? ?...I found a great book by Ariane Goodwin about this critical issue
A wonderful eye opener for anyone wanting to clarify their vision ..it certainly has worked for me with great exercises and letting g go of the art critic mentality. It's about what YOU as the artist bring/represent not the work
Infinity Publishing
Isbn 0-7414-0843-0
Info@buybooksontheweb.com
877 buy book
It would be great to hear some discussion on this...
Best peter

It matters not whether you are an artist or a photographer, working out your thoughts is part of an ongoing process that helps you understand what you are doing or trying to do. Sometimes/often people cannot work this until after the event. It needs distance. You can try and work out what you are attempting for each project - in a goal-based way, but my feeling is that you never really know what you were doing until you achieve the critical distance that comes with time, with looking back at a group of work at quite a later date.

Often it needs the impetus of trying to explain things to another party to get it down – even if that party is imaginary – but it helps to look at your work through another's eyes, or just over their shoulder.

But what you write for your own understanding and what your are trying to write about the work for other people, may be two different things. I suggest not to tell people what the work is about or what it means, unless it is in a round-about way. Tell them what led to the making of the work, what you were interested in generally what inspired you, but then let them make up there own minds what it means, if anything. So write what you think it is and then perhaps write another version for potential viewers that frames their way of looking and leads to questions.

Of course if you are a dab hand at taking photos and know how to lead the viewer in by some preternatural instinct, maybe you just don't need to do this at all, because you already know what you are doing and the viewer can already sense that.

Some people don't talk about the work at all, they simply talk about life and everything else – and somehow that is enough to draw people in.

 

[Vaughn]

I hate to say this Vaughn, but you are a writer and a poet.

Thanks, Huss. All I can say is that I consider it important and I try.

It seems few people actually read these things...and the longer they are, the less likely they'll be willing to start reading. I like to include a photograph (an actual print, not a copy), so they'll have something else to look at if they get lost partway thru the statement.

 

[Bill Burk]

I think an artists statement should be what you'd say to someone looking at your pictures...

You can write it down for when you're not there to say it.

So it should be something you wouldn't get tired of saying over, and over again.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I suspect I used to poo-poo artist's statements. Ahem... But these days I see the value in them. If you work in projects and your work has a deeper meaning that weaves through it an artist's statement can be useful.

That said, I think most people should avoid them. If you can't come up with an artist's statement about your work on the spot, you should probably just skip it altogether. And any artist's statement that includes material process or camera information is just plain wrong. Statements should be about ideas, period. And keep it short.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I think an artists statement should be what you'd say to someone looking at your pictures...

You can write it down for when you're not there to say it.

So it should be something you wouldn't get tired of saying over, and over again.

Yes I agree

 

[Bob Carnie]

I suspect I used to poo-poo artist's statements. Ahem... But these days I see the value in them. If you work in projects and your work has a deeper meaning that weaves through it an artist's statement can be useful.

That said, I think most people should avoid them. If you can't come up with an artist's statement about your work on the spot, you should probably just skip it altogether. And any artist's statement that includes material process or camera information is just plain wrong. Statements should be about ideas, period. And keep it short.

Patrick
I like the use of Artist Statements, Bill and Matt tell it the way I think . I have to disagree about your comment about process not needed, as with all my work the final product is a permanent record as well uses unusual steps that can be interpreted as photoshop adjustments are actually done with second light exposure. I do want the viewer to understand a bit about how I make the prints. Looking at my work its pretty simple objects that really are not telling a story so making up something would be silly and this is where a lot of Artist Statements go haywire. But for some (me) I am compelled to tell them how my odd prints are made.

Bob

 

[Bob Carnie]

How many here have ever struggled writing the artist statement? ?...I found a great book by Ariane Goodwin about this critical issue
A wonderful eye opener for anyone wanting to clarify their vision ..it certainly has worked for me with great exercises and letting g go of the art critic mentality. It's about what YOU as the artist bring/represent not the work
Infinity Publishing
Isbn 0-7414-0843-0
Info@buybooksontheweb.com
877 buy book
It would be great to hear some discussion on this...
Best peter

Good Thread Peter

I do not struggle with writing a statement , as I try to follow Bills advice or Matts. KISS - be honest and keep it short and direct.

Those here poo pooing this critical stage , probably have no intention of every selling their work and their points are valid for their outlook on photography.
But if you follow any contemporary successful photographer you will indeed find some sort of Artist Statement, Bio , CV and support material for every one of their projects.

Bob

 

[Peter Schrager]

Bob thank you...for me it is just a clarification process..one that I sorely needed to be to push myself to the next level....glad this thread struck a nerve!!
Best peter

 

[SuzanneR]

I've done a lot of writing about my work, and find the process of that writing helped me to understand my own process. I tend to work very intuitively, and it's not until I'm really editing, printing and looking at the pictures do I start to think about what my motivations may have been... if that makes any sense? Hopefully, the resulting shorter statements I've put out there help viewers to more deeply appreciate the work.

I, for one, like to read statements, but I've read some that are just awful, too! It's important to translate some of the art-speak into your own voice as an artist or photographer, so the work can become accessible. And agree with the advice that the statement should be about your intention or inspiration, leave the interpretation or how the viewer is "supposed to feel" about the work out of any statement.

I'm going to check out that resource, thanks!

 

[DREW WILEY]

Well, I guess articulating "artists statements" would be a good form of mental exercise if you're applying for a job writing Hallmark Card platitudes.
I've never had a gallery or curator ask me for one. If they didn't have eyes for their own role to begin with, I wasn't interested in them either.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Well, I guess articulating "artists statements" would be a good form of mental exercise if you're applying for a job writing Hallmark Card platitudes.
I've never had a gallery or curator ask me for one. If they didn't have eyes for their own role to begin with, I wasn't interested in them either.

Drew - not to be a doubting Thomas, but I would love for you to direct me to any gallery's that you have your work shown? Artist Statements are critical to success in selling your work in a contemporary setting. I think
that this thread should not be derailed with comments that really are out of synch with what is really happening on a world wide platform.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Compared to others I've read, this is a really lousy artist statement. Let me tell you what's wrong with it.

It makes sense.
It doesn't use words that can't be found in an abridged dictionary.
It provides context, rather than obfuscation.
It seeks to explain, rather than impress.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Do YOU intend to represent me, Bob? If so, we'll talk. Yes, I'd like to meet face to face with you one of these days. But "artists statements"? Laughable. Maybe if someone is trying to get their foot in the door with an NEA grant, and needs to come up with some convoluted explanation why
they have preference due to some overtly politcally-correct spin on some airhead's definition of creativity; but that would be more of a resume fishing expedition thing than a "statement". I follow Hannibal Lecter's advice: people covet what they see. A single print speaks more than five hundred pages of words. I have nothing against intelligently written art criticism, and enjoy reading that kind of thing myself, and will admit that in a few instances I've thrown titles on works just to mess with people's heads, though ordinarily that is not my practice. But I wasn't kidding - I've turned
down airheaded galleries. No, I haven't been active for awhile. Too many pressing family responsibilities. My last gig was a major publicly-funded
exhibition timed immediately after another person's death, basically a two-man retrospective, not a private gallery. The overall display was considered far too valuable to travel to other cities. An insurance limitation. It came out of a huge vault and right back in. I've still got a couple of my own big framed Cibachromes left over from that. So yeah, give me the names of the top ten most famous 20th C photographers. I've either been displayed side by side with em or had prints outright purchased with em. Some big name painters too. And I come from a significant art family, in
fact, the one with more 20th C art on our US Natl Historical Register than anyone else. So I know about the NEA, at least back when they laughed
at resumes and artists statement too, and picked people according to their visual skills rather than wordsmith powers. Poetry contest are a different
category, and I still presume this is a photography forum.