I just saw a very inspirational programme about Brian Duffy (a famous professional photographer) on BBC’s IPlayer. Clearly Brian (who unfortunately died earlier this year) was a very bright man and his answers to the inane questions from the interviewer were intensely sharp and well-considered. One of his answers is going to stick with me for the rest of my life, Brian said: “The work is the statement” – what an obvious (and quite brilliant!) observation. Basically Brian was saying that a work of art, wherever displayed, creates its own statement. A great work of art needs no accompanying flowery prose to justify its existence. In contrast – I am sure sure we have all visited Art Exhibitions where quite abysmal pieces of “artwork” have been accompanied by the most exquisite and carefully crafted prose in a vain attempt to give the work credibility and substance.
And talking of Exhibitions – please remember that the Star Vistas Exhibition opens on Friday 3rd September 2010 at the ArtSway gallery – where a portfolio of deep-sky images can be seen, sans flowery prose. After all what words can possibly describe the mind-stretching wonders of the Cosmos?
