June 20, 2009: what do artists know?
The question that keeps coming up the more I reflect on what I’m doing- on artist’s research projects and considering what the creation of new knowledge means is: what do artists know?
What knowledge do artists know that other people don’t know. are we talking about tacit knowledge, things I know intuitively over a lifetime of making art? I am aware that I have a more refined sensibility- a hight level of connoiseurship. Over the years, I have experienced artists who make interesting work, but who don’t understand what they are doing.
Is your artwork better if you are more reflective and articulate? If you can talk about your artwork and ideas- that doesn’t necessarity make the art better.