Page 6 - TAG

The ‘MacDonald’s take-away’ type of art has been dominant for decades, so much so that
society seems to have forgotten how to ‘look’ at a work of art or to give it any length of time
to connect with (paintings in particular) - on a level other than an immediate visual impression.

Art Entertainment (figurative decoration or nostalgia paintings) have been the driving
force in visual art for much of the twentieth century and in the twenty first century this
sort of subject matter is still the main thrust of exhibited work - one which propels artists
to create more art which has ’decorative-values’ as its core concern.
This interior design consideration is especially relevant when the artworks created are to
galleries needs, who wish to sell for profit. Abstract art often falls into this category too, for
example when interior designers need to polish off new swish apartments or boardroom.
Statement Art is the new 18c Landscape Painting for the socially liberal affluent elite.

I have no ambition to set one form of painting against another [i.e. realism verses abstract],
each in turn have their merit and their admirers, which is as it should be. Today the art field
is populated by all forms of painting which has been a direct inheritance of the artistic ground
breaking paths well trodden in the past. Exploratory art now seems to have been put aside for
other media to expand the existing artistic landscape, i.e. digital, conceptual and performance
art, more so than hand created painting. (note to self: indeed it is questionable what
exploratory abstract visual art is actually useful for and does anyone create it today ?)

Are the abstract paintings on offer today really that different, from the semi-realism, realistic or
the super realism paintings that we see in ever increasing numbers in high street galleries or
on social media? This TAG #4 issue may not provide the answer to that question, perhaps it is
for the viewer of the art featured within it to decide that for themselves.