'A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous
opinions than anything else in the world' - Edmond de Goncourt, art critic. The Orange Balloon Dog by Don Thompson uncovers the systems of
money that support the art world and how the art world supports money making -
a must read but be weary it's got nothing to do with actual art making. In 1899
economist Verlem defined luxury as 'a form of waste designed to confer status
on an essentially useless class of people'. Russell Brand's podcast Under the skin 045 - What's the biggest threat to Freedom? islam
or Consumerism? Had an excellent conversation with Sam Harris taking
in thoughts around learning which I extended to education. 'Real learning is
hard because it's usually painful, you have to recognise that you are wrong in
some way, you have to let that part of you that is wrong die' - acquiring a new
way of thinking is never easy so, although never a truer word but maybe it
could be more about building and developing rather being than such a binary
experience. In the film The Shape of Water
the sense of loneliness in all the characters lives is truly heart breaking. This
extends to the sign language used by Sally Hawkins - it's just so mournful -
truly excellent direction and great acting from the whole cast within spaces
that are believable and add to the tone of the whole piece. It's been mid-point
review time at Camberwell on the Book Art Course. It's where the students whose
work is being discussed and critiqued by the group cannot respond and they have
to listen and watch the group deconstruct their work without defending it. It
can be a hard core challenge if the student holds onto their original
intention. They have to become flexible, finding a way to engage with the
groups thoughts and incorporate it into their own understanding of their work.
It is one of the great learning sessions within the course. More images from
Bilbao - to add to my collections of 'buildings covered in stuff' and 'doors blocked
up'.
