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Spare a thought this Thursday morning (5th April) for Denise Ferris who’s been given the unenviable task of judging the Lion’s Easter Art Exhibition. How she’ll pick winners and losers from nearly 300 entries is anybody’s guess. I remember being jostled in a crowded turbulent throng of eager Louvre visitors in Paris when a shrill and quizzical voice exclaimed; “Is that all it is? Not much really. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.” She was speaking about probably the most celebrated painting of all time; “The Mona Lisa.” Another celebrated artwork depicting the ubiquitous finger of the Creator sparking life into Adam, in Michelangelo’s “The Creation Of Man,” in the Sistine Chapel constitutes only a tiny fraction of the whole painting. What is it about this tiny section that has made it so famous? What makes any painting special? Is there something else? Some “X” factor perhaps?
Outstanding paintings have that X factor, so hard to define, but which makes them special.
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Paintings I adored as a young boy, depicting outback campsites and gum trees don’t do much for me now that I’m adult. It’s probably because as a young boy I grew up in the outback. Camping and gum trees were part of a familiar world. I knew and understood well. Maturity broadens horizons. Tastes change and new and exciting frontiers are there to be discovered and appreciated. The Australian Government’s purchase of Jackson Pollock’s painting; “Blue Poles,” created an enormous outcry from many public sectors at the time. I too questioned the high price tag. However with the passing of time I have come to like it a lot. Considering “Blue Poles” was painted in 1952 one would have to say that Jackson Pollock was quite radical and well ahead of contemporary artistic appreciation. It’s a well documented fact that mothers instantly recognize their wrinkly newly born babies as: “just the most beautiful infant ever.” And it’s lucky they do because it ensures the survival of the human race but it also begs the question: Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Whatever the beauty beheld in Denise Ferris’ eye, she will need to make decisions about which paintings do it for her. And one thing’s for certain, not everyone will agree with her decisions. Like I said: “Spare a thought for Denise as she attempts the unenviable and nigh impossible task of selecting the best painting this Thursday morning.” To see previous ART ZONES visit www.pauldion.com “Articles and News”
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