THE SIT DOWN
PHILO
SOP
HY
Contemporary art is heading to a dangerous place: galleries, the work they champion, and consequently, we as viewers, have drifted far from the theoretical and historical anchors to which art was grounded for so long. We find ourselves in an era of ‘baseless-art’; pictures that are considered for neither context nor intention, purely for their aestheic merit. This is not to say that the aesthetic is a flaw of contemporary art, quite the opposite, rather that the appreciation of art lies in more than just what is on the surface. Meanings, stories, and methods are often overlooked and ignored, and the only question asked: is it a pretty picture I’d want on my wall? Or, how will this look on my Instagram?
BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL ACTUALLY MEAN
Blank Studio sees art as visual enigmas whose unlocking and understanding is why artist’s ulitmately create art. The enjoyment of art should be entirely subjective, and is nowadays often coerced by environment or popular opinion. However, this is where the contemporary understanding and appreciation of art fails; the enjoyment of art is entirely subjective, it should be personal to you. When you as the viewer understand both the context, the meaning, and the result; a deeper sense of connection with the work will only further your aesthetic pleasure.
So, frustrated at the situation contemporary art finds itself in — as well as the unrecognisable relationships artists nowadays have with galleries — mean we’re starting again; making the Studio Blank.
We want you to reconsider how you appreicate art, for both artist and viewer. Blank Studio will represent contemporary artists who want you to do more than just look at the little white tile stating a title and a date, but also to understand. Their work will go against the principles of ‘baseless-art’. Blank Studio will find artists with whom they can truly collaborate on ideas and art. Meaning, maker, and method will be given equal measure to the artwork itself, we want you to understand why it came to being and, fundamentally, what it means.
You might connect with it instantly, or you might need to wait for the picture to become visual to form that connection, or you might not form it at all — which is precisely our point. As a critic once said, beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder.
We are reconsidering how art is appreciated today, Blank Studio wants to sell art where the the artist and their inspiration comes first, and the picture second. Ultimately, Blank Studio will provide words and ideas to the viewer that seek to create a relationship with an artwork that cannot be put into words.
WHETHER IT’S SOMETHING YOU WANT ON YOUR WALL IS THEN UP TO YOU
Art today is institutionalised narcisssism, a conspiracy between creators and curators to make people feel stupid.