Richard Buckley

Our own reality is the only one that matters

NB: Written Explanation on the last page.

How much more accepting can we be?

The time, thought and meticulous construction of an imaginative
creation deserves respect. What benefit comes from dismissing a
work of art? If you take the time to understand why an image is
constructed, perhaps you might find that there is nothing to lose.
Beatrix Polt

Canberras Centenary celebrations this year saw the commission of
world famous Australian artist Patricia Piccinini commissioned to
create a celebratory hot air balloon. Upon the revealment of her
creation newspaper erupted with vulgar abuse and described her art
as disgusting. Sure, her balloon was shaped as a deformed whale
with six unavoidably large mammal teats, but it represented her
beautiful individuality. These news outlets unfairly attacked
Piccinini for sharing views on genetic modification. The brutal force
of the Medias intimidating roar to get out or conform sickens me.
We must preserve he individuality of others in order to prevent
ourselves from becoming blind zealots to conformity. It is the
colourful attributes of these artists that inspire our own
characteristics. We need them or else we leave ourselves vulnerable
to becoming deprived of spirituality and sentiment that makes us full
of rich diversity and character. The presence of artists enables us to
fight against conformity and to continue allowing the next
generation of thinkers to be able to have someone to be inspired by.

We cant let our own predispositions towards art override the
uniqueness of others. It is important to preserve an artistic
imagination in order to keep public debate open and not one-sided.
Cartoonist Michael Leunig encapsulates this belief through his very
existence. As he has stated in an interview with Jane Sullivan, it is
the cartoonists job to provide the other side of the argument.
Leunig views his work as important to ward off the great dictator-
that is the overbearing compulsion to blindly conform - to prevent it
from gaining power and attaining complete and utter dominance.
Richard Buckley
Moreover he acknowledges that indictment is part of the process,
which suggests that he is determined to share his view even if it
breeching the law. His cartoon, about how Israelites have carried
forward Nazi procedures of persecution and war, has provided a
valuable perspective on the Gaza conflict. He defiantly carried
forward his beliefs even though the Jewish community vehemently
attacked him in public. Leunig is a rare figure who has the
determination to defend himself. Many other artists do not have the
same public voice as Leunig and instead rely on common
acceptance and trust from society. In light of Patricia Piccinini
artwork, it is up to the community to defend her integrity. She
deserves the right to remain an individual, who should produce her
artwork without fear of distasteful criticisms form ignorant media
editors. Contrastingly if people chose to neglect these artists like
what happened to Vincent Van Gough, their artwork will go into a
stage of dormancy. Humanity will be deprived of valuable lessons
that may or may not be eventually discovered. The slim few who
appreciated Van Goughs work whilst he was alive, saw his cry for
someone to help his sadness. Once people started to realise the
messages within his work, it was too late as he became famous after
his death. Giving the time to understand the work of an artist is the
least we can do to prevent their valuable messages form fading into
a world of overpowering conformity and being swallowed by an
abyss.

Furthermore the quirkiness of these artists inspires our own
individuality. In some ways nurturing anothers view of the world
fosters our own. World famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artist Hokusai has
inspired many future generations of painters and carvers. Most
famously renowned for his piece, The Great Wave of Kanagawa,
in his series, The Twelve views of Mount Fuji, his works have
continued to baffle and amaze generations of viewers. His famous
quote blind man stroking an elephant means that individuals can
gain, perceive, understand or interpret anothers artwork in a variety
of unique ways. His art form and persona went on to be an
underlying inspiration for future individuals such as wood block
carvers Toshi Yoshida, Katsuyuki Nishijima and modern twenty
Richard Buckley
first century artists like Jed Henry. This ideology is encapsulated in
the well known saying a picture speaks a thousand words, which
continues this notion that we need brilliant artists to offer their
pearls of wisdom to help us find our own sense of individuality. In
relation to Australian artists, we need individuals like Patricia
Piccinini to continue providing deep and meaningful works of art
that can foster individuality of the generations in todays world and
in those to come.

From this enlightenment form others we can develop a true sense of
self, which allows us to become active thinkers, capable of quashing
the bullying torrent of conformity. We only need to look at abstract
expressionists such a Jackson Pollock to exemplify this point.
Artists like him broke away from the common held view that art is
merely a picture and decided that it could also be an event. Pollock,
and others such as Harold Rosenberg emerged with their own sub
categories of art and parted away from the traditional world of
painting and sculpting. If these artists had not broken away from
common art practices the world would lack the diversity it has
grown to today. In the words of Irish writer Oscar Wilde a work of
art is the unique result of a unique temperament. His words are
absolutely true and they point out how we must preserve the desire
of others to strive for uniqueness. If artists such as Patricia Piccinini
are denied the right to be individuals, the general population will
become blindly subservient and brainwashed by rules that should
otherwise be questioned. Piccinini artwork entails messages about
the harms, and consequences of genetic modification. Her work
serves as a silent testament against some of mankinds will to play
God. Her input into the debate is crucial as she gives a voice to
those who are silenced or ignored. Her work stands to protect us
against certain beliefs, by providing opposition to the other side of
the debate. Inputs liker hers are crucial to ensuring full public debate
ensues and decision are not made uninformed.

Lao Tzu was right when he said, real art does not look like art.
Artwork is what we make of it. We must not ignore those who have
said Piccinini work is not real art. We cannot let her integrity as an
Richard Buckley
artist be diminished. For the sake of our own individuality and the
individuality of future artist, all unique intelligent opinions must be
acknowledged. If we fail to uphold this creed we will succumb to
blind conformity, depriving our spirituality and capacity for
sentiment. The realities we face are made so much richer when we
have strange and purely original inputs from others.

Written Explanation

This piece is an expository/ persuasive feature article the Magazine
Art and Australia. The text asserts that all versions, perceptions of
the world matter. We rely on others realities to ensure we can retain
a level of individuality. Designed to appeal to a readership of
Australian readers who have a working knowledge of global artists.
The piece has been written with an assured tone and is supported
with inclusive language and appeals to add validity to the arguments
put forward.

The discussion commences with the mistreatment of Patricia
Piccinini within the public forum and this leads into the discussion
of how artists must be protected. This allows for a reference to
Michael Leunig to highlight how when artists are allowed a place to
debate their opinions public debate remains open. This is contrasted
with artists who are suppressed like Vincent Van Gough and have
their messages released at later stages. Inherently this discussion
leads into how open forums fuel our own individuality. This allows
us to improve our relevance and sense of worth. More examples of
artists are used namely Japanese ones like Hokusai. This
reinvigorated self can go onto to maintain the barricade against
conformity. This allows us to be true to ourselves whilst managing
the expectations of others. Artists such as abstract expressionist are
included to exemplify how our individuality can ward of
conformity. It also continues on the ideology that if we strive for
uniqueness we rid ourselves of the burdens others try to place on us.