Damaged art might just be every artists worst nightmare. I have had paintings that were scratched during transport, so I know how disappointing it can be.
Paintings on canvas are sometimes torn or scratched. Sculptures may be dropped on the floor, and cracked or broken, especially ceramics.
Question: How do you react when one of your artworks is damaged by accident?
Did the damage to art happen during shipping/ transport, or while on display at an art gallery?
Do you try to fix the damage, and hide the repairs… or do you use the opportunity to create an artwork based on a happy accident?
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Hi! I am Graham, a professional artist, blogger and aspiring writer.
5 comments:
The great thing about paintings is that they are usually fairly easy to repair. Put a patch on the back and some paint on the front.
How long are we supposed to keep art? Is it necessarily something perfect that we shelter until it is out of our hands? Or is it a living expression that has a limited life? A little damage may mean that it was doing something to engage the world rather than just hanging on a wall or sitting in a closet.
@John
Thanks John!
There are certain paintings that I have hanged onto for years. I go through great pains of protecting those, especially when I have had to move a few times. Some of these have been damaged or destroyed through inadequate storage and moving, especially sculpture.
Nowadays, I do not hang onto any of my newer work. But, I still feel compelled to keep the pieces that have survived intact or have been repaired. These hang on the walls of my home.
I may have overstepped the mark recently. My description of certain heeps of shite may have up-set certain artists. But when you think about what you have been taught and what the real world is like, then im sure you will look at this in a more enlightened way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvblZAS0oPM&
It happens. The alternative is never letting your paintings leave you.
I've had a few mishaps when working on pieces. This semester I had large ceramic sculpture that was going through the firing process. it made it through the bisque firing, but when we were taking it out of the kiln, it literally fell apart in our hands. When that happened, I was determined to use what was left to finish it off. When working with the main piece that was left intact, I spilled a small bottle of black ink on the top of it, and knew then that I should just let it be after that.
In the end, I like how it came out, but still would love to have the original idea pan out. I like to take issues in stride, and work with the issue to create a new piece, for better or worse.
Your feedback is welcome and much appreciated!
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