Small Art for All

Minimalist painting is often described as flat and emotionless. It is also very literal meaning a square means and represents a bunch of squares represents just that and not the artist’s inner struggle with four sided shapes. The naming of art typically becomes very general often drawn from the tools and resources used to produce the piece rather than the deeper meaning or inspiration. In fact in one of Robert Ryman’s works pictured to the right the title is “No Title Required”. It is simply a collection of wooden frames on white enamel painted walls. This may inspire great feelings in an individual and it may not. It may speak on an extremely deep and personal level to someone and it may not. However, for Ryman that is far from significant. “Painting is about pleasing” says Ryman when asked if he felt viewers need to understand the deeper complex meanings he replied “you don’t need to know the score of a song to like the music”. This simplifies art without reducing it. It is not denying there maybe some prophetic inspiration or message conveyed but it’s not a requirement to appreciate it.
            Another artist of the minimalist genre generates a great irony in her work. Vija Celmins on several occasions painted very small paintings of outer space. Vija uses a very small brush to add a little different touch each time over and over again. She makes a very slight impact on the work but over time creating a beautiful piece of art. On more than one occasion Celmins has completely painted over the piece in all black to start again feeling she “builds the work from the very beginning”. Celmins also enjoys working on paintings of a snapshot of ocean water and spider webs.
            The approach of minimalist art to simply amuse and not provoke deep conversation and thought in turn does just that. As individuals not very verse in the art world it is nice to feel you can appreciate art for its face value it’s art everyone can understand.