We understand this trickery through tests on the frame of the canvas alluding to the wood bearing resemblance to a much newer tree than that of the actual painting age. Fakes have also extended to the ageing of a painting, such as painted cracks to imitate authenticity and canvas surfaces covered with a yellowish hue to simulate ageing are all now understood through advances in technology. The Culture Show’s Andrew Graham-Dixon interviews Rachel Billinge from the Royal Science Museum who too presents a physical idea of imitation as I have no idea if they are male or female? His, well possibly her, let’s go with ‘their’ use of science to help art historians reveal the truth behind paintings is fascinating and a real testament to what is scientifically possible, but I feel slightly down heartened by it. Our ‘want it now’ generation, of which I admit I am part of (I get angry if my internet browser takes more than 3 seconds to load) as we are an age of desperation and constant access to things. It seems a shame that some of the oldest pieces of trickery are being unearthed, as the ‘fakes and copies’ will now be disregarded as rubbish which seems awfully sad. Like the magic circle or magicians, some tricks should go with us to the grave never to be unearthed and for the man in his coffin to continue smiling that he has fooled generations of his ancestors.
How contemporary art will develop is something that interests me. Having recently graduated from a Fine Art degree I have been a part of art ‘now’ but what form will art take in the future? Currently, in my opinion, we have moved away from minimal look to minimal in context. Art is more about a theory or idea that is more often than not invisible to the art viewer. Performance, sound, film and text are all art mediums that are leaving painting and sculpture by the wayside. This may be an ignorant understating of art, and I’m not saying painting is by any means a ‘wrong’ choice, I just feel it has become less popular. Art is continually changing and evolving with trends, and my generation seem to enjoy more up in the air context that pushes our thinking rather than our eyes. Like fashion trends come round again and again, so will art. I remember seeing my mum getting changed for dinner with her friends when I was very young, getting into a patterned jumpsuit with shoulder pads up to her chin and all I could do was grimace. I currently own a playsuit and own tops with shoulder pads, and now see my mum as very fashion forward – if only she had saved her clothes I could own vintage possessions! I do believe that we will see a time when gallery walls are covered in large paintings of still life’s and portraits – but the subjects probably donning space suits rather than cod pieces.
Ben Lewis meets with some very bizarre ‘question men’ who specialise in, wait for it, questions. Although a somewhat odd career choice, they analyse questions and how a correct survey of 1000 people can be a good estimate of 5 per cent of the UK’s views. Lewis wanted to create a survey to understand what people thought of the way art was developing and changing and so asked Professor Rob Briner (the odd question man) to help him. I, in an odd coincidence, remembered filling out this survey online a while ago after my lecturer sent it my way, and found the questionnaire drawn out, long and very unnecessary – not that I’m questioning ‘question man’s’ PHD at ALL. Never. The most poignant question was “artists earning over £1,000,000 while they are living are NOT worth the £1,000,000 and I agreed. I feel consumed with rage fairly often with the constant over estimation of a conceptual artist. Friends of mine who sell art work base a price of a piece on the cost of materials and an hourly rate combined. But many of the million pound artists barely touch their artwork as their assistants do the leg work. But this seems to be the future of modern art – money. How much can I sell work for? How amazing and famous can I possibly be?
This represented through current art trends, but I feel a change in the wind. Video and performance are becoming ever more popular, which in turn reduces the praise and gratitude that the artists expect. Low budget and low status are being created to remove themselves from the money side of art, as art should be a passion for people, not a job. And I feel this is eloquently displayed through my year group’s Fine Art Degree show – minimal, conceptual and honest.
www.ntufineart2010.com
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