Kandinsky and Pollock

 

One of the purposes of this blog is to perhaps provide explanation, background, theories, approaches, and context for my music.  Ideally, providing background on what I do might help to make it more understandable and accessible.  In other words, an attempt at edification for listeners.  For me, understanding in art can sometimes be the key to truly unlocking the work of a given artist or period or movement.  

One example of this is the work of Jackson Pollock.  There was a time when I didn't understand his work, or for that matter or likely because of that, I also didn't like it.  Actually, it wasn't that I didn't like it; I just didn't understand it.  So, one day I went to my local library and checked out four books about Pollock and his work.  I read each one cover to cover.  I came away with an understanding of his work, how he arrived at it and what was behind it, and I finally grasped the meaning of his paintings.  Now Pollock is one of my favorite painters.  I would never have arrived at the understanding, appreciation, love of his work, and how it has enriched me as an artist had I never delved into it to try to attain an understanding of his art and what it meant; both to him and within the art world at large.

This was a key lesson for me.  Often in the world of art, music, and literature, I may be exposed to artists for whom I initially feel no connection to, or have an understanding of, their work.  In these instances, if I take the time to research what it is they're doing, how they arrived at it, and what it means, I often find that they become one of my favorites.  Jackson Pollock: case in point.

Other times, there are artists to whom I do feel connected and for whom I have an admiration and appreciation of their work.  One of these is Wassily Kandinsky.  I loved his work from the first time I saw it.  And I wanted to know more about his work, and about him as well.  I discovered Kandinsky's theoretical writings on art.  I read all of his writings, and from that emerged a deeper understanding, appreciation, and connection to his work.  It also helped me to see or consider elements in other painters that may have been overlooked.  

I love and thrive upon those kind of artistic discoveries and learning.  It is very enriching to me; both as a student of art, and as an artist.

By providing some background and theoretical writing on what it is that I do, I hope to bring some understanding and enlightenment to listeners, and ideally for them to hear it differently.

Or not.

-kk