Who knew when I took this pic a few years ago of the tooth fairy doll I made that I would become a chicken saviour :)The Dark Side
I had a discussion with someone who said they don't focus on the negatives in life. I wonder what that means exactly. I often hear this in this country and wonder if it's a cultural thing, a Geordie thing, or an artist thing? The brits tend to be more cynical than Americans in general, and Geordie's are known as hard workers who are used to hardships,have the knack to survive difficult times, and are down-to-earth. I was the only one I knew in New Jersey that read "angela's ashes" and didn't find it depressing. What does saying one doesn't focus on the negatives imply? Does paying attention to the negatives equate to embracing failure (haven't we seen this drummed into us about the war), negativity,or depression, or being a pessimist rather than a realist. Does it equate to meaning one will project or invite a negative energy or isn't able to be a positive person? I have always viewed negatives as just being a part of the yin & yang of life. I neither fear them or reject them, nor do I spend an inordinate amount of time focussed on it.Maybe it's because I'm an artist and that is what many artists do, explore darker issues. I don't know. What do you think?
Just to clarify, the discussion about not focusing on negatives wasn't inspired by my art or exhibit, but a totally unrelated conversation about current issues and politics around the world.
Interesting observation at my reception: When I introduced myself to a couple they were surprised I was a woman. I asked them why and they said they felt the work was strong and thought the show had been done by a man.
21 comments:
Yeah, the dark side is good, as long as it isnt the ONLY place you hang out. I like night and day.. it shouldnt be night or day.
Do you think it is because people fear looking at the dark side that they reject it?
That is a powerful and fascinating comment.
The dark...the light...the spaces in between.
In the Tao it is all the same.
xoxo
M
I think that people do fear the dark side of life and that is understandable seeing as how SOME (NOT ALL) dwell on only the dark side of life.Which (IN SOME CASES) can cause the person to go insane.I know from personal experiences even when someone has REALLY hard times, they can think of the positive things in life. I think that the ability to take dark or hard times in life and to put them into work..to NOT be afraid of them. That speaks to me and is powerful.I'm sure that it speaks to many others as well. People SHOULD keep in mind, even if some art is dark that DOES NOT mean that anyone should Judge or FEAR the artist who created the art. Art is a form of expression. That is my oppinion....and I think that your work is absolutely BRILLANT! :) *HUGS*
Just to clarify, the dark side discussion wasn't about my show. It came up in an unrelated discussion about what was going on politically in the world.
I agree dion and margot :)
I think some people fear it angela because they think it might swallow them up or depress them. Thanks for the kudos :)
Interesting that someone thought your work was done by a man... I wonder if you didn't have your photo posted and I didn't know you are a woman, what I would assume about the author of the work you post. Things that make you go hmmmm.
Balance in all things, I suppose. Yin - Yang, male - female, good - bad, negative - positive. It's really all gray, don't you think?
I had a psychology professor years ago, argue during a lecture that we are all born bisexual - and that we are socialized to orient one way or another. Now, I know that's a little off topic - but along the same lines if you follow my tangent. I'm not saying that I agreed with him, but the possibility has stuck with me all those years.
What do I think? I think we should all get together to discuss it, bemoan the state of the world and drown our sorrows in jugs of beer. Could anything be more positive and life affirming? I think not.
that sounds like a great plan Andrea :), throw a bit dancing too.
hum cynthia, I don't know, I knew my direction very early in life when I wanted to come to America and rescue poor bare chested Clint Walker from the Indians. I thought he was hot and I wasn't even 6 years old LOL!
you're not a bloke!!!! cripes
Your work is very powerful...:)
I wonder...people have been to shows of mine and I have overheard them ask about my gender, because I only use my intials and not my name. I have always wondered what would happen if they did think I was a man...would I have sold more art or not? Just a thought. If we did not know the beauty of a sun set would we truly understand the darkness? I think good and bad are a matter of perspective...it only as important as we allow it to be. So, would we really understand joy without knowing the other side of that coin? Would it still be as meaningful? I don't know...I just don't know. I suspect that it would not. What a great post Jafa!
I've had a lot of people I only talk to online think I'm a guy. Don't quite know why.
I do think there is a difference between dwelling on the negative and seeing and understanding negative. I think the former can be every bit as shallow as only seeing the bright happy shiny stuff. Another blogger I read posted a list of his contradictions -- it's a long list! -- and it made me realise the people I've always found most interesting have been the ones who are bundles of contradictions. They are the ones with both very dark and very light sides.
I think that the "dark side" can easily pull a person in if they lose sight of the reason for their curiousity. Does focusing on it put a "light on it" -- and therefore it is no longer "dark"? Probably. I can certainly see it in my experience in dealing with my "dark side".
There is nothing more unhelpful than being in a bad, negative situation and being told all will be well if you just focus on the positive! Maybe its a Brit type of thing, but I too look at negatives.
Interesting what you say about those people thinking you were a man. Like HMBT I use initials and I've had this...perhaps people are inclined to think artists are men ..as so many well-known artists are..., unless they are told otherwise!
naj, or being told there are other people worse off, ugh! Not helpful.
jan, that's a good point about remembering why one explores or pays attention to the negative. I agree with you on how doing so can lead to a positive (or an inner strength).
I've been a victim of concentrating too much on the dark side of things, but there were unusual circumstances. Embracing the negative is still part of my outlook on life. I didn't expect England to win the Rugby World Cup and look what happened: we lost. But not by much. If we'd won, what an unexpected surprise that would have been!
naj and jafabrit -- I agree about those comments! I hate it when people do that. When I'm in a funk I will get out of it eventually. I don't need any Pollyanna-type person trying to jolly me out.
I only deal with the dark side if I can do something about it.
But let's discuss the man/woman artist thing some more.
When I look at your work, if I didn't know it was by a woman, I would suspect it was because I connect to it on some level men don't really hang out on.
One of my basic beliefs is my work should reflect my inner self so I assume my work will naturally look as if a woman did it.
There is so much more to say...
gosh, you know come to think of it emm I can't say I have thought about gender when I look at work. I'm not sure I could determine if something was done by a male or female unless it was blatant.
I think a person's work will always tell you who they are. The thing is, with more contemporary work and people who are younger than I am, gender isn't a question anyone usually asks but in the world I grew up in, traditional western art, gender is an issue. If you look at Southwest Art Magazine this month you will see several women only shows, because they are not allowed to compete with the men at the Phoenix Art Museum's Cowboy Artist Show this month. And if you look at the same work, same quality, women's work is valued way below the men's.
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