by Harumi Sugimatsu
The reason I open a new Home Page is that I would like to express my idea as an individual artist through Internet. Nowadays, artists can easily interact with viewers by taking advantage of internet.
There are various activities of artists for presentation. My basic style is holding personal exhibitions. I have continued to hold the personal exhibitions more than 10 years in Japan. On the basis of these experiences, I would like to point out some doubts about the conventional system of Japanese galleries. First, the galleries are ranked in based on an unspoken agreement. Second, artists are evaluated whether their exhibitions are managed by the galleries or as rental ones. Sells well or not is also important issue.
These situations make me feel that there is any artists independence. There is no standpoint of artists themselves. Artists can only create art works and have to produce their own exhibitions. Artistic value of the work is not based on the exhibition form, gallery's name value, artist's name value nor how many pieces are sold. It is only based on the work itself. It is funny to discuss whether some artist's exhibition style is rental one or not. Why does not say this is an artist's own planning exhibition or not.
Our artist's stance should be emphasized. Holding many exhibitions or publishing many books is one method of presentation. But, actually, it is difficult for many artists to own the space for exhibition and to become publisher. The chance to give myself as an artist real intention away is so little. Taking advantage of new technology, however, I can introduce my activities & works and express my thought on art. The world might expand by interacting with viewers. The word "an individual artist" includes such my wishes.
But, it is not sure what an individual artist essentially is and what kind of things an individual artist can do. I just say, in other fields like science an individual researcher can not exist anymore, while in the art field an individual artist can exist somehow. Because, art has basically no social meaning. An artist equals an individual artist. They had however the illusion as if art is useful for society, or capitalized contrary on the antisocial pose.
That causes the decline in art and contemporary art today.
Any pose is not necessary for an individual artist. Namely, as an individual artist I have to carry out my artistic intention as far as possible. This manifests my wish to be an individual artist.
I hope viewers participation.
Let's join my H.P..