You Will Only Get Honesty From Me

I recently discovered the winner of the Hunting Prize for 2010 while reading the Chronicle online. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Sometimes I get so tired of the 'art establishment' and their attempt to control what is and what isn't acceptable art. Who are they to determine this? What are their qualifications? Who knows better than you what you like? Is visual art any different from music? Could any amount of B.S. discussion convince you to like a particular kind of music that sounds like two cats fighting to your ears? It wouldn't work on me. I am generally a very pleasant, and optimistic individual, but lately the quality of art that is being pushed onto the public as 'the best' is really quite pathetic. I have to keep the art world at a certain distance from myself to maintain my own sanity. It's much like art school. You have to be guarded enough so that your own vision and aesthetics remain intact or you take the risk of allowing your individuality to melt away into the pool of bland boring sameness that the establishment keeps promoting. To be unique in our culture is difficult. It takes courage and it takes bravery. To be a unique artist with a unique voice is even more difficult. You are fighting a battle on two fronts: You are trying to get seen and appreciated by the public, while having to battle the very intricate and political world of the art establishment. I have seen far too much work lately that is just flat bad. I'm not sure if these folks just didn't have proper education, or if they are just so lazy that they'd rather try to pawn off a poorly thought out and executed 'concept' to a gullible crowd. This is what I refer to as 'mental masturbation'. Everyone has the option to either dazzle someone with brilliance or baffle them with bullshit. Baffling people is easier. I can only speak my truth through my life experiences. I consider art to be VISUAL COMMUNICATION. When you fail to communicate, you fail as an artist. My concept may be simple, but it's compelling. Not only is it compelling, but it's authentic. It's not trying to wedge it's way onto the boring art bandwagon. My art, like myself, is real, bright, and straightforward. Expect nothing less from me.