Visual arts. "Visual" arts. Art is about expression. Visual art is visual expression. The idea that we have to read paragraphs of texts; have someone explain to us what's happening, what does it mean; doesn't that defeat the purpose or definition of "visual" art? My twelfth grade art teacher raised that question once, and I totally agreed. The class was watching the work of artist TV Moore, his video installation Magick Without Tears produced in 2007, his latest work at the time. Here's a good link if you're interested.
Don't get me wrong, his concept from what I gather in his artist statement that accompanies the work is interesting; it adds value, insight and meaning to the artwork. Without the statement though... The clip was excruciating to watch, painful even torturous to have to endure! We were only over a minute in. Without the title of the work I would have no clue what the meaning was; with it, is just contradictory. 'Magic' as in the clown, magician...yes. 'Without tears,' I don't think so. That was the longest seven minutes of my life and it was hell; sitting in a dark room, large flat screen, continuous slow, broken, treacherous drumming... just watch it and you'll get what I mean.
If it wasn't for some reference texts and some discussion after the viewing I would not have walked out of that room with a sense of appreciation for the artwork. Yes! I did appreciate it; like it even - but only conceptually, if I had to watch it again I think I would throw a violent fit. The thing about contemporary art today is, that 'visual' is dead and 'concept' is it's crowning successor.
