Hi Ruth Subversive in the sense that an activity is designed to short-circuit or destablise an established process or set of relationships. For artists this has to be a daily activity if they are to critically challenge and refresh their practice.
Of course this is fraught with contradictions. What happens if subversive methods become default? Are they still subversive - or are they the status quo? I also used the word transcendent in this context, not in any spiritual sense (let's be clear, I'm a materialist) but to suggest activities that go beyond what we are familiar with, practices intended to shift the frameworks we work within. But perhaps the best word that encapsulates all this, and which I should have used at the start, is transgression. This might imply social transgression but my focus here is on transgressing one's own conventions and beliefs in order to challenge yourself. So, whilst I agree with you that drawing is about more than just "looking" I would still argue that it is often by doing something extreme, that breaks with what you normally do, that change is made. In our lives we all carry so much baggage and are so adapted to that we are not aware of it most of the time. Recognising what we carry with us is the first step in critically evaluating what is worth the effort and what isn't. For me this is what art has always been for. It's an inquiry seeking to apprehend how things can be, rather than what we think things are. The most exciting moment in the making of a work is when you appreciate it has a life of its own - that you are making choices you would not otherwise of contemplated. The writers who were perhaps most eloquent in reflecting on this condition were Bataille and Marcuse. Best Simon On 02/05/2011 23:50, "Ruth Catlow" <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks Martha, Simon and Renee for your positive comments, > > Simon thanks for the reminder about the value of removing things- very > true!! > > how do you mean- subversive? > > : ) > Ruth > -----Original Message----- > From: Simon Biggs <[email protected]> > To: [email protected], NetBehaviour for networked distributed > creativity <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] some landscapes > Date: Mon, 02 May 2011 21:37:51 +0100 > > > Hi Ruth > > I agree - except when drawing operates as a transcendent or subversive > activity. Then you want it to operate on its own (as far as it can). Of > course, this ideal is not possible but taking things away is as valuable as > putting things in. > > Best > > Simon > > > On 02/05/2011 19:21, "Ruth Catlow" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi Simon, >> I remember being taught something similar when I was in art school. >> It was useful- because it instils a discipline of looking. >> >> But it shouldn't be definitive. >> >> I think that drawing is something that first puts your eyes, hands, >> imagination, memory, attitudes, emotions, aspirations, and internal >> streams of consciousness in conversation with each other - and then in >> conversation with others. >> >> : ) >> Ruth >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Simon Biggs <[email protected]> >> Reply-to: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity >> <[email protected]> >> To: NetBehaviour for networked distributed creativity >> <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [NetBehaviour] some landscapes >> Date: Mon, 02 May 2011 19:02:41 +0100 >> >> >> The mantra I ask my 11 year old son to remember is that drawing is something >> you do with your eyes - and the hand follows. When he takes the time, like a >> day to do a still life of flowers, he can produce exquisite images. >> >> Best >> >> Simon >> >> >> On 02/05/2011 18:15, "tom.corby" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Lovely drawings Ruth. >>> I started drawing again last year, it's a wonderful process and >>> inherently discursive as it *forces* you to see the world as a series of >>> relationships. >>> >>> Great stuff. >>> >>> On 02/05/2011 12:26, Ruth Catlow wrote: >>>> Hello neighbours, >>>> >>>> Just back from a couple of weeks in the countryside - without an >>>> Internet connection. >>>> >>>> Here I have blogged some drawings, photographs and videos that I made >>>> while I was there. >>>> http://www.furtherfield.org/blog/ruth-catlow/landscape-natureculture >>>> >>>> >>>> : ) >>>> Ruth >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> NetBehaviour mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> NetBehaviour mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> >> >> Simon Biggs >> [email protected] >> http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ >> >> [email protected] >> http://www.elmcip.net/ >> http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NetBehaviour mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour > > > Simon Biggs > [email protected] > http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ > > [email protected] > http://www.elmcip.net/ > http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > NetBehaviour mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour Simon Biggs [email protected] http://www.littlepig.org.uk/ [email protected] http://www.elmcip.net/ http://www.eca.ac.uk/circle/ _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] http://www.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
