[inasmuch]

I feel as though I'm fighting an unwinnable battle by asking for more, not less intention in art. Most artists at least produce a statement to accompany their work, but I rarely find them substantive, despite their often turgid language.

What I find particularly distasteful about this is the presentation of "art" as interior design products. This seems to be a trend among independent creators looking to make a living outside of the traditional gallery/fair/buyer system. I of course understand why they're doing it, but I'm using those disparaging quotation marks because that commercial contextualization commercializes the work itself. And at that point, it escapes my own nebulous boundaries for art and becomes something else.

What exactly, I don't know. I'm not sure "design" qualifies here, even though we're being asked to appraise the work as we might a chair or credenza, because I'm not sure I believe "this wall feels empty" is a problem to be solved, in the design sense.

So what is it then? Stuff? Just more stuff for people to buy and feel good about owning? Okay.

(And no, I don't think this counts as me having a reaction to the art. I'm reacting to the creator, the marketing, and—sorry—the bullshit.)

[Nevermark]

Well if the color, pattern and texture of fabric on furniture counts as design, certainly rectangles or other shapes of color, pattern, or texture, on a wall count as design.

There is purpose behind design. It allows us to build up unique associations with a place, its people, its purpose. It keeps us from being bored. It gives us a break from other places. It sets a mood conducive to whatever a place is for. It expresses something about ourselves to others.

Decorating our spaces and walls seems to address a deep need in our species.

A wall with nothing on it creates tension. It isn't neutral.

Nowhere in nature are there environments comparable to huge vertical flat surfaces of white, brick, or wood or other uniform material.

[hemmert]

I never liked artist's statements, either. Perhaps that was also what motivated me to do the stamp thing. I want to paint in peace :-)