The Artist Perceiver

These musings come from a collection of places.

A piece of art stands tall on the horizon of the moors. Its body intersects between the land and the sky as seen by a standing adult. For a child this will be different, so will reach into the sky considerably more. Should I be sat, this would have a similar impact. Its form is not ‘solid’ in the fact that there are more elements to it to see past or through it, than structure to block the surroundings. But it holds presence as it stands there. There are in fact 3 of them. But the form a collective together.

When an object enters a land, there is an interference of sorts. It is new, it is unfamiliar. To those who know the space well, it creates an interruption to the expected. For those new to the space, it poses as more of a spectacle through different materials, shapes and colours. Eitherway, it stimulates and draws us, as it is unrecognisable to a space we know, whether through memory or expectation. This catalyses the moment and bridges a point of multi-choice, conscious and otherwise, as we engage (afar or close) to the work.

Perception has arrived, and now we truly become the artists, as the artwork itself is purely a medium through which we can perceive. Some will be spontaneous, others longer in arriving, forming. As we see the art, we reach out so much of ourselves, like tentacles from an anemone reaching out to meet the stimulus via perception. We bring our past selves, deep rooted (experiences over years that have led to this point) and contemporary (our mood as we arrive is an influencer for an example), we bring our world views, our ideologies, our backgrounds, our knowledge, ego, opinions, hopes, bias and so much to the forefront as we engage with something that is not, in some ways living, certainly not breathing in the pragmatic terms.

We, as the sentient being are presented the material and our perception opens/ unveils. For many, art can be divisive, preconceived ideas of money, purpose, value come forward. It becomes a pinboard, for various frustrations that in many ways are not directly connected, but also are as we exist in a societal construct within which culture and the arts sit. And it may bring positive feelings, joy, curiosity, wonder, amazement, maybe because of technical skill or because of how it makes us feel. There is a great amount which we could talk about this.

But this is the thing I am starting to get at. There is an argument that there is no such thing as good art and bad art, only what we perceive it to be (whether original to us, or manipulated by others’ communicated opinions). But something that I value in art, is when it gifts us the best platform through which to open ourselves. Arguably this latter statement is nonsense as really, every element of perception of the art is over to us, however, I will present at this moment that there is some art that just feels more approachable to opening our perceptions. This sculpture collection, for me, being within that.

And so as we looked at this work, it does hold a narrative and idea behind it (an inspiration from which the artist could create their work), but in its immediate physical engagement with us as perceivers, the idea is redundant, and is for afterthought/ attention should we desire, as really the artwork exists as catalyst of thought and perception. As we look at sculpture, we are presented with the world around it, and the movement of time. So time and space are welcomed into the conversation, as outdoor sculpture, is liberated in so much as the control of its presentation is relinquished to nature. Rain, sunshine, snow, wind, impact it, and us as we (holistically) experience it. Nothing is moderated. And to share my motivation to write this, is that the concept of art as a gift is particularly compelling me at this moment. Because I am playing with an idea about when art is given away to the audience, then in that handover, it is reborn and lives with a purpose to the individual. This can be in books, film, photography, sculpture etc. But whatever medium, there is a gifting. And the rest is down to us in how we receive that gift.

As I looked at these sculptures, they invited me to look at the landscape in new ways, to watch the light washing over its shape, to give the light a surface to land on so we can see its colour, frames through which the landscape is focussed and amenities highlighted that we can muse over playfully. And its physicality is something my daughter loves to engage with and I value that deeply.

The works offer an opportunity to ground ourselves in the moment, to reflect and be in that space. It is a gifting to be present.

This piece of writing and photography series was inspired by the Muamba Posy sculptures of the artist Vanessa da Silva as part of the Wild Uplands project from Bradford City of Culture

An article by John Slemensek-Thorne