Alone Bird by Vahakn Arslanian
Courtesy of Andrew Edlin Gallery
Heading down to the Outsider Art Fair , we had time to ponder the meaning of the label, Outsider Art.” Generally defined as creations of artists who are self-taught, and whose lives and careers often find them fair from the mainstream of the art world, it also extend to works by individuals who are imprisoned or mentally ill, isolated from society in general, hence “outsiders.” The artists, that is - but what about the art?
When was the last time you walked into an exhibition and said, “Aha, outsider art!” in the same way you might distinguish, say, impressionism or pop art? It isn’t always that clear to the eye. There are some visible distinctions, as in the case of the beautifully conceived and crafted utilitarian items of the past, elevated to art by the appreciation of later generations. But when you face, as we did so many times today, a painting or sculpture that could be displayed in any gallery in Manhattan without any disclaimer, and no one would question that it belonged there, is it still “outside?”
Or is it just great art, which was exactly what we expected to see, in abundance. Why? Because the craft of these artists was nurtured outside the “system,” leaving the talent to be fueled by the essential impulses and inspiration of the creative process, without being contaminated by criticism, redirected by training, or responsive to the marketplace of the moment. The work is filled with energy, innocence and winsome confidence. The experience of this art is probably not enhanced by some sort of social conscience, the notion that these artists should be given recognition beyond the appreciation of the work itself because they have been somehow underserved.
Fine outsider art is fine art. You don’t have to read a story about the artist to appreciate its value. Outsider artists paint, sculpt, shop for materials, ship work and attend receptions, just like us. When a viewer feels compelled make such comments as, “He has schizophrenia,’ or “She’s a factory worker,” they miss a real point, which is that people who create these objects with real beauty and real meaning, are real people. We all are. Of course, not being outsider artists ourselves, we don’t know this story from the inside. But we do know who to ask…
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