A brief visit to the Snow centre trying to sort out Barnaby’s web project brings on another discussion, again about the point of making art of this nature as a part of regeneration, but this is a little more about what we are trying to do. The questions are over who it is this really for, what value does it have. The nature of the apparent altruism of making art and the altruism of socially engaged practice. In the end are these strategies for the person with the impulse to be an artist to find a way to do that - in basically a traditional way, i.e. I am the artist, I am important, look at me, that I am working with you just underlines how much an artist I am able to offer the creative input to you because I am utterly confident in my ‘I am an artist’ world. The problems of this area - Tsumari - are so complex that in a way the only thing an outside influence can offer is a demonstration of an alternative, the opportunity to suggest that the community can take control of it’s own future, rather than letting random factions (like art triennales or economic initiatives) haphazardly influence the future. Really just a simple and old art message that has motivated artists since way back and the principle message of the Seven Samurai film.
I visit Junko’s studio/school house (the plastic bag flower maker) and come away angry that she is in this position - albeit self generated, but in many ways the product of the harsh climate of the art world. She is putting herself through hell, she seems near to collapse, she doubts what she is doing. I have to say I doubt it to, I am sure she could be doing something more useful and fulfilling, the art formulae of making an installation drawn from the community but requiring a massive work load from them to realize it. It’s a bit like the Anthony Gormley version of engaged art, getting ‘local’ people to undertake some slavish labour which ultimately only reflects the very narrow interest of the artist.. If the project is about waste it is effective I feel angry about the waste of valuable resources – peoples time and energy - Junko’s time and energy. But mainly I am angry about the ludicrous and unconscious art construct that promotes this kind of approach, trapping people in absurd activity and ambition - waste.
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