Did any artwork change your life?

I don't think I can answer this question with a single answer but here's top 5 list and why.

Painting: Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gericault. Absolutely monumental in size and emotion.

Photography: Clearing Winter Storm by Ansel Adams. Clearly a masterwork, it takes by breath away everytime I see it. It makes me want to try and attain the same level of thoughtfulness and craftmanship.

Film: 2001: A Space Oddessy by Stanley Kubrick, of course. The daring leaps of filmmaking and the underlying notion that while we're inherently violent and destructive, there's hope for trancendence in the stars

Book Fiction: The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass. History has more than one side to it, not just that of the victors.

Book Nonfiction: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthieson. Profoundly changed my view of the United States government and all that pseudo-history I was force-fed in high school.

I'd be happy to go into more detail if anyone would like to debate any of this.

Boys- back to your corners. Don't make me call your mothers.

 

 

I may be to young and unversed in the superb pieces of art that exist in this world to fully appreciate and answer your question, yet I will take a stab at it and maybe in 20 or so years my answer will have changed. I can't really say that any ONE piece of work has changed my life (see above). I've never been to the Met or the Louvre or any great European churches and monuments, etc. Hell, I've never even been to the local art museum (though not for lack of wanting). So, my experience with art comes mostly from the internet and books. What I have been most affected by would have to be Da Vinci, though. I am fascinated by his work. It's like I can never look at a Da Vinci the same way twice, theres always something new to it. The meanings the ideas he put into it. Emotion. I like to get emotional about things, I like to feel something. I like to be puzzled. I think I look at photography the sameway as I do Da Vinci. I expect something. A story, a feeling, an idea. Something.

 

Now, I'm sorry you did ask for one particular painting, maybe for me it's Mona Lisa or the last supper. I know those are over exposed and maybe even cliched, but I am painfully ignorant of all that is out there. I enjoy looking at them and feeling something; especially the last supper. I want to be able to apply the same feeling to my photography that Da Vinci did to his art. I want, one day, for people to see something that I did and have it speak to them like Da Vinci speaks to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*ah.. what would live be without unfullfillable impossibly unrealistic dreams?*

LOL debate what, Marc? The one sided rose colored history of the United States government? I doubt you'll find any argument here; though it does make for a fun debate. We Americans know better than to actually defend our country in a multinational forum such as this in 2004, the year of the Bush; Redux. (though, again it can be fun)

It's really hard to pin down one work of art. I think it's very important for photographers to develop a aesthetic view of the world. I frequent many art galleries and museums. I attend plays and concerts. When one immerses oneself in the arts it will have a spill over effect into other areas. This of course can only benefit the photographer. For years I've been into Surrealism so naturally some of my photographs have a touch of absurdity to them. If it's not strange, I have to really want to take the picture!

Cheers,

Marc

"Boys- back to your corners. Don't make me call your mothers."

 

It is not so bad.

 

"Did any artwork change your life"

 

Art as an intergral part of the evolution of humanity influenced our life continously until today. Nobody will want to deny this. It is the obvious.

But apart from that, some art can also influence the life of an individual person in a significant way.

 

Some pieces of art were done with a consciousness and inspiration that is far above the ordinary. Though some of these artworks may be very old already AND had their influence on society, their height or depth is NOT yet fully integrated in our lifes, they still hold a lot to be fully understood and appreacheated.

 

The question "Did any artwork change your life" certainly was not to invoke "did Bambi make you cry" sentiments, which is a gross misunderstanding that lacks an amount of sensitivity.

Bernd-

 

I, for one, thought it was a great question that illicited a number of very thoughtful responses (and one or two trolls, but that's usually the case, isnt it?).

thanks

W. Eugene Smith's photographs of Minamata - 'Tomoko and mother'.

Two Pieces: a Renoir and a Miro.

When I was in Art School we took a trip to Washington DC. There was a small private

gallery that had many high quality pieces of modern art. One was a Renoir that was

absolutely breath-taking. The other was a small Miro painting. The realization for me was

that no photograph, or magazine, or art book, could reproduce these images; they have to

be seen in the first person to be appreciated.

 

I can remember for years trying to puzzle out Miro and what was going on. This small

original painting, hidden away in a dark corner of the gallery opened my eyes and I sat

transfixed for about half an hour on the floor in front of this three dimensional image.

Yes, this artwork. Hope photos are allowed among the Philosophy stuff.<div></div>

Hey, I�m just a sad illiterate soul, lost among you intellectual giants. Just have to question.

Don't want to break the rules.Get told off and sent away. Hey, about another photo. This bloke broke the rules...let that be a warning....<div></div>

Sort of trying to get somewhere. But he tried to break the rules. Let that be a lesson to you all.<div></div>

How about.....<div></div>

Sorry, i will try to conform.<div></div>

As i was climbing up the stairs, i saw a man who was not there, he was not there again to day. I wish he would go away.

I don't think any one piece of art has changed my life

 

Your own vision can change your life. Lots of fans around here, of anybody, or anything. Maybe you should be your own fan. Sort of change your life. Maybe.

I like Spider man. Cool dude or what. Cool custume. Not into the climbing buildings, height thing. Suppose i better do my own thing.

There have been excellent art galleries I've been to that featured wildlife photography. I was completely drawn to the mountain and ocean photos as well as numerous wildlife shots. Since then, I've become an environmentalist and can't get enough time outdoors and I now want to capture the harmony of nature on film/digital too.

My high school art teacher was always harping on me to work larger. I hated that bigger is better mantra. Then in college I discovered Degas-still my favorite impressionist. In our textbook, Jansen's History of Art, a magnificent $150 chunk of pulp worthy of any fireplace, there was a color plate of degas' Race Horses at Lonchamp(sp?)

I loved it right away. It looked like a monumental canvas, full of tone and detail. That print measured about 8 1/2 X 11" in the book.

 

Years later the painting was in a show at the MFA in Boston, I went to see it. It was about 7 X 10" in a modest frame.

I've worked in whatever format was comfortable to me ever since.

"Eggs~actly"

 

....;)....J<div></div>

Allen,

 

As for the first pic which has changed your life I congratulate you. You are an easy customer and I believe life will still hold a lot of adventures for you.

Allen, to add:

 

definatly the first pic looks much nicer to me than the fellow with cigarette, but the rest of your posting, including the cigarette fellow, makes me wondering if your life wasnt better before it was changed by the intriguing look of the first pic.