Drucker article

As a response to the article written by Johanna Drucker, my initial reaction was to the constant theme of comparing conceptual art to the fine art of decades past. The reason for my attention being drawn specifically to this topic is because my grandpa is a painter. For as long as I can remember, I have gone to his house to watch him paint. However, much like the artists of the past decades, my grandpa is very much a painter of fine arts. His works are truly based on talent and execution. He is amazing at what he does, but as times change, so does the public’s grasp of art.

My grandpa and I always end up talking about art. As an artist of fine arts, my grandpa has always said that he appreciates the new era of art, however, it is nothing that speaks to him. He is still and always will be drawn to the more traditional ways of creating his masterpiece. On the other hand, I appreciate his works so much, yet I have always been more drawn to the works of today. I have been fascinated by the minimalist movement which Drucker brings up in her report.

I think what she was most trying to get across is that now it doesn’t matter what medium you use, how much is on the surface, or what the subject is, art today is based on a piece that will create a discussion. The best works of our era are the ones that speak to everyone, but everyone can tell a different story. Her idea of an idea to me is the foundation for a discussion on the piece. The true value of any piece is the amount of reaction from the audience. Her paragraph about the idea becoming a work or material yet holding that the piece “is and is not the idea” is how art is formed today.

Art today is much more of a broad topic. There is a major difference from the traditional portrait and landscape paintings of the past and the performance art of today. However, one part of the reading that caught my attention was when she talked about the “radical” movements in the past where someone redefined art. She uses the example of cubism, which is a totally fair comparison, as are the many other art movements that have taken place. Art remains great when people are willing to push their own boundaries and create something great. As technology increases and openness increases, the world of art has expanded to a variety of images and texts, which enhance the world of art.