Last night I watched the History Channel’s “Decoding” of Da Vinci’s “Code”. I have spent a lot of time studying Da Vinci in my life, and never have I seen such a conservative and ignorant portrayal of his genuis. It reminded me though, of how clearly even the greatest artists still remain misunderstood. Society eventually becomes so intrigued by not being able to uncode the masters that value and fame soon follow (after death of course). To the ignorant, why would someone spend countly years to perfect the Mona Lisa, never to finish it?

From our modern percpective we might look back at the 13th century Renaissance artists and say they had a purpose to capture the images in paint as there was no other meduim to record them. But upon studying Da Vinci’s work it is clear as day that he captures and says more then a photographic portrait of a person would see.
It is the seeing that makes us different.
It is the seeing that makes us artists.
It is the the seeing that is not only a blessing
but a curse.
It is the seeing that pushes our sanity level and makes us obsessive.

Persisting past the blind eye of the consumer to continue our quest to express our innermost thoughts and feelings is our work. This is what makes art the most accurate record of history. It is not what money has dictated as the ‘truth’ but rather the deep seeded truth that permeates from our souls through our hands as artists. The fact that we will be misunderstood allows us to reveal secrets that may not be acceptable in words.

I think that landscape images are popular because they don’t require any explanation. You can come to them with any level of knowledge of art history, technique, etc. and basically comprehend it.

Conceptual work is a little harder for broad audiences to appreciate, unless it has that intangible element of wonder that certain works of Andy Goldsworthy’s do (leaf paintings, ice sculptures, etc.). I don’t think your average Joe would see a Sol Lewitt concrete block sculpture and be awe-inspired as he might with a Goldsworthy photo or the Sistine Chapel.*

Are we creating just images? No. We are creating images with deeper meaning, but we must recognize that many people will not be aware of that meaning. So, our work must be imaginative and creative and amazing to relate to the ignorant consumer of our work, and a deeper level of meaning will be available to those who take the time to read wall text or artist’s statements or Robert Henri.

*I think certain of Sol Lewitt’s open sculptures have that element of wonder. As in “I wonder why someone would do that? But, it’s neat!”