Poyarkov
February 20, 2005 9:16 AM Subscribe
Balance of Contradictions and Flawless Imperfection (caution: slow-loading images in the latter), two galleries of Ukrainian surrealist Sergey Poyarkov, whose name I stumbled across via this amusingly Ukraine-centric map.
Spasiba, Wolfdog! Wonderful work by an artist with his unique muse under control. . . .
From Poyarkov's foreward at "Flawless Imperfections:"
"I recalled the story about a rabbi named Dzussi. He said: 'When I die, God won't ask my why I wasn't Aristotle, he'll ask me why I wasn't Dzussi.' I want to be myself and think that such a desire is the main one for every person including an artist."
Think Sergey has got there. . .
posted by rdone at 11:05 AM on February 20, 2005
From Poyarkov's foreward at "Flawless Imperfections:"
"I recalled the story about a rabbi named Dzussi. He said: 'When I die, God won't ask my why I wasn't Aristotle, he'll ask me why I wasn't Dzussi.' I want to be myself and think that such a desire is the main one for every person including an artist."
Think Sergey has got there. . .
posted by rdone at 11:05 AM on February 20, 2005
This is not art, it is illustration. Sergey Poyarkov has technical skills to be sure, but it lacks any sort of emotional energy. He explains it himself here:
"A painter learns to paint staging and all the rest to return on a higher esthetic and a higher level of technical expertise to the things he wanted to paint before he got engaged in academic studies. It's very important not to lose the childish feeling of awe in front of a white sheet of paper. However, while studying, many forget what they began studying for, like adults who forget that they once were children."
Poyarkov might still be in awe of a white sheet of paper, but he is no longer in awe of his own work. His illustrations, while fanciful in topic, lack any sort of originality or excitement in style. If he really wants to draw like a kid then he should break out the crayons and finger paint and really draw like a kid.
posted by CaptMcalister at 11:52 AM on February 20, 2005
"A painter learns to paint staging and all the rest to return on a higher esthetic and a higher level of technical expertise to the things he wanted to paint before he got engaged in academic studies. It's very important not to lose the childish feeling of awe in front of a white sheet of paper. However, while studying, many forget what they began studying for, like adults who forget that they once were children."
Poyarkov might still be in awe of a white sheet of paper, but he is no longer in awe of his own work. His illustrations, while fanciful in topic, lack any sort of originality or excitement in style. If he really wants to draw like a kid then he should break out the crayons and finger paint and really draw like a kid.
posted by CaptMcalister at 11:52 AM on February 20, 2005
This is not art, it is illustration
*sigh* I usually steer clear of the whole "what is art?" debate that crops up here now and then, but this statement is patently false. Of course illustration is an art; there may be some debate whether it is a fine art or a graphic art (or somewhere in between, or whether those distinctions are even meaningful in all cases).
Moreover, to decide that it's something other than an artistic discipline solely on the grounds that Poyarkov "lacks emotional energy" is absurd. First off: lacks emotional energy for whom? I find plenty of emotional energy in a number of the drawings in addition to his obvious technical skills (which doesn't necessarily mean his work is my cup of tea, because most of it's not). Second: since when is "emotional energy" alone the defining factor of art, anyway? By that definition, actually, you could make the argument that a toddler's finger painting (chock full of emotional energy!) is actually "more" of an artwork than many objects produced in the fine arts.
posted by scody at 12:43 PM on February 20, 2005
*sigh* I usually steer clear of the whole "what is art?" debate that crops up here now and then, but this statement is patently false. Of course illustration is an art; there may be some debate whether it is a fine art or a graphic art (or somewhere in between, or whether those distinctions are even meaningful in all cases).
Moreover, to decide that it's something other than an artistic discipline solely on the grounds that Poyarkov "lacks emotional energy" is absurd. First off: lacks emotional energy for whom? I find plenty of emotional energy in a number of the drawings in addition to his obvious technical skills (which doesn't necessarily mean his work is my cup of tea, because most of it's not). Second: since when is "emotional energy" alone the defining factor of art, anyway? By that definition, actually, you could make the argument that a toddler's finger painting (chock full of emotional energy!) is actually "more" of an artwork than many objects produced in the fine arts.
posted by scody at 12:43 PM on February 20, 2005
CaptMcalister: I think you misunderstand the diffrence between art and good art. All art is art, but not all art is good art.
posted by delmoi at 1:13 PM on February 20, 2005
posted by delmoi at 1:13 PM on February 20, 2005
I was serious when I said he should paint like a toddler. And while this might be art, not everything created is art, so I'm not really sure what "all art is art" means.
posted by CaptMcalister at 4:07 PM on February 20, 2005
posted by CaptMcalister at 4:07 PM on February 20, 2005
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(j/k!)
posted by dash_slot- at 9:31 AM on February 20, 2005