ART, CREATIVITY AND CONTROVERSY
Why and How Artists Develop New Ideas
“Call that art?” “My child can do better!” "How do I find a style?"
Art, Creativity and Controversy succinctly addresses the questions surrounding controversial art for the lay viewer as well as artists and students trying to find a style. It gives those looking to find a style a series of steps—based on extensive research into the creative process—to follow in their quest in this day and age. In addition, it explains how and why the teachings of a saint, some singers, a philosopher and a monk were instrumental in the development of Renaissance art. It explores how inventions such as the camera, telephone, radio, flight, the automobile, as well as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophy, Freud’s ideas about the subconscious and a series of wars influenced the thinking that led to innovations made by modern artists. Art, Creativity and Controversy also discusses how the expectation that art should be about beauty and realistic representation detracts from understanding it.
Reproductions of artworks and diagrams accompanied by text reinforce the concepts presented in the main text and explain why and how specific artists such as da Vinci, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp and Pollock developed and executed their revolutionary ideas. To further engage the reader most chapters are preceded by reproductions of contrasting images under the heading FROM THIS—TO THIS?
Over a period of 34 years I have based my teaching on the principles embodied in Art, Creativity and Controversy to hundreds of students. By applying the principles of creative thinking former students—each with their own approach to creating work—exhibit internationally—including the Venice Biennial—and also teach in prestigious schools in the USA, Canada, Europe and South Africa. My work, grounded in the same ideas, has been exhibited internationally, most notably at the 1973 São Paulo Biennial and is in museums, corporate and private collections in the USA, the UK, Europe and South Africa.
Please visit my blog on this site and leave any comments that you may think will be of value in writing this book.
Art, Creativity and Controversy succinctly addresses the questions surrounding controversial art for the lay viewer as well as artists and students trying to find a style. It gives those looking to find a style a series of steps—based on extensive research into the creative process—to follow in their quest in this day and age. In addition, it explains how and why the teachings of a saint, some singers, a philosopher and a monk were instrumental in the development of Renaissance art. It explores how inventions such as the camera, telephone, radio, flight, the automobile, as well as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophy, Freud’s ideas about the subconscious and a series of wars influenced the thinking that led to innovations made by modern artists. Art, Creativity and Controversy also discusses how the expectation that art should be about beauty and realistic representation detracts from understanding it.
Reproductions of artworks and diagrams accompanied by text reinforce the concepts presented in the main text and explain why and how specific artists such as da Vinci, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp and Pollock developed and executed their revolutionary ideas. To further engage the reader most chapters are preceded by reproductions of contrasting images under the heading FROM THIS—TO THIS?
Over a period of 34 years I have based my teaching on the principles embodied in Art, Creativity and Controversy to hundreds of students. By applying the principles of creative thinking former students—each with their own approach to creating work—exhibit internationally—including the Venice Biennial—and also teach in prestigious schools in the USA, Canada, Europe and South Africa. My work, grounded in the same ideas, has been exhibited internationally, most notably at the 1973 São Paulo Biennial and is in museums, corporate and private collections in the USA, the UK, Europe and South Africa.
Please visit my blog on this site and leave any comments that you may think will be of value in writing this book.
