Perception Possibilities by Brianna

Perception Possibilities by Brianna - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

In an Art Appreciation class I am currently taking, my instructor greatly emphasizes the importance of not simply looking at art but actually analyzing the elements of each piece. Whether it be a prehistoric cave drawing or a fifteenth-century oil painting, the viewer is encouraged to more fully explore the stylistic elements inherent in the artwork. When an artist deviates from traditional style, it brings a new perspective to the individual viewer and, in some cases, to the entire world of art.

For example, John Baldessari, a contemporary artist who gained his fame in the same era as other famous modern artists such as Andy Warhol, is known for his piece declaring “I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art”, which is an affirmation in written form of his philosophy. The statement alone, which he repeats more than a dozen times in his work, asserts Baldessari’s intention to create art that is unexpected and challenging to the viewer. As stated on the Museum of Modern Art’s online website, Baldessari questions the blind following of tradition in terms of art, and urges that art is “open to interpretation” (Moma.org). For Baldessari, he may only be thinking about his relationship to the art he creates, but the concept of his statement “I Will Not Make Any More Boring Art” can be extended to life in general.

Baldessari was and still is praised by many art critics for his abandonment of the usual and the typical. He is not only creative in his approach to art, but his art also raises philosophical questions about already-established norms. Baldessari's statement about "not creating any more boring art" inspires me and validates my personal interpretation of what “thinking outside the box” means.

Many people follow routines and “play it safe”, as the phrase goes. However, in our day-to-day lives, I believe that it is essential to reassess our human experiences and express life in unique ways. In other words, we should learn to question even our own perceptions of reality and “think outside the box” rather than merely accepting everything as it is presented to us by others.