Just What Is Art?

Last night I went to the Tight Arse Tuesday gig at the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel (one of the best places for live gigs in Adelaide), in where I had been recruited by a friend to take some photos of her band playing.

Blow Up Betty is their name, and they’re a punk rock chick band thingo. Of course, the drummer is a good mate of mine, so I feel obliged to heap some superlatives onto them and then encourage you to buy their single when it comes out in July… if you’re a local. (end gratuitous plug)

Also, now that I’m writing an article on their performance for either the local rag, or for the local street press (ie low prestige unpaid stuff, but at least I can’t be accused of “selling out”), they are now technically a “client”. So, hooray for me. I’m expanding my clientele, despite the fact that I’m doing it for a friend… er… and for free...

So, I took a myriad of photos of the performance, and it turns out that I like the conventionally crappy photos more than the sharp ones. But I put that down to my bizarre taste and the use of crappy equipment.

But it does beg the question, just what is “good” art, and what is “bad” art?

For instance, ChickyBabe takes some great shots of landscapes and the like, with the kind of depth and sharpness that makes anything I do look stupid (I’m a writer, not a lover… oh wait, no, scratch that… photographer). But sometimes a certain effect can be… er… effective.

I mean, I like this one… I think it gives a good impression of movement, and retains the light well. But looks like I totally fucked it up.


The one I like... but looks crappy...

But this one is sharp, clear… and still looks like I totally fucked it up.


The one I don't like... but most people do...

Which only serves to prove that art is largely a subjective matter.

It recently came to my attention that the Adelaide Index is tracking my blog. It is a site that details what is on the mind of the local bloggers. It also provides a slight insight into just how many nutbags, tormented and intellectually superiors are in this town.

Now, if I can only get this particular entry to feature in their little sidebar thing, it could be classed as art… you know…

“This blog, comments on this site, which in turn comments on his blog. How avant-garde!”

Art is where you find it. Most are horrified at the appearance of a spider, whereas I have oftentimes found myself staring blankly at them, like that freak job in American Beauty. Their intricate construction, and the way their legs move perfectly when they scurry around their web is like beholding an unspoiled canvas... until you tread on them. And if you find that more appealing than a live spider, then I infer that you're more of a "Monet" person. Good for you.

No, I don’t like spiders. In fact I don’t rate them at all, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t find the art in them. Are the intricate movements of a spider so much more different than the rippling muscles of a lean cheetah in full flight?

That was rhetorical.

Oh, and if you want a photo of me, you can see it here.