ART AS A RESULT OF SOMETHING AND STEP "ART AS A RESULT
OF SOMETHING THAT ALREADY HAPPENED"
Raziel TOVAR
"Making art is to take possession of a life they do not get to live "
Annette Messager
" It is the spectator, and not life, art really mirrors "
Oscar Wilde
Introduction
The work of clinical psychologist, is to help the patient to find the necessary tools to deal with their discomfort. However, although psychologist has a number of formal knowledge about psychological processes, which it acquired in your career, you need to also realize that each "individual" represents a culture in which this operates.
Freud said that all psychology is social psychology home. In this sense, the psychologist must take into account the history of mankind, to understand how our ancient generations were formed over the years, a culture composed of a their own language, rituals, religions, traditions, philosophy, art, etc..
All these elements of culture, but today is in some cases very different from yesteryear, yet still influence our thinking, our beliefs and in the way we perceive ourselves as a nation.
For unlike the major powers, in which they tend to be themselves as powerful nations that have dominated other countries, Mexicans tend to see ourselves as a people dominated throughout history.
This feature, while not visible to the naked eye, has a major influence on our thinking, among many others that social factors influence the behavior of Mexican .
It was not just enough to know the history of a culture or social group, we must also understand how this was developing, ie as it was changing the mind conforms to the historical events that were happening with every passing year.
In psychoanalysis the individual states that do not exist or memories of past traumas, but these memories, say " traumatic" or who made a mark important in our psyche, are experienced in this, repeated acts or actions unconsciously, in order to make sense or understand those "memories" of the past. That we live in the past continues to influence our thinking and way of feeling in the present.
Similarly, the above applies to a society, whether a state, nation or even an entire continent. Take for example the second world war in which millions of innocent people died because of the ideals of a nation. This happened more than 60 years, but the impact of this event has left devastation in families, institutions, nations and continents like Europe, even to this day. No social group who have been victims of the terrible deeds committed by German fascism, forgot what its rising generations suffered.
is important to note that the present generations are formed almost entirely by people who maybe were not born in the success of the under world war. However, the experiences of a society are transmitted to new generations, not only as a historical knowledge, but is also conveyed the feelings of each person, ie generations down, to some extent, "inherited" what they experienced.
Returning to the clinical aspect, I take the above example to point out the relevance of knowing the history of our patients. We know we have many times with a history, but you must also know a patient's history of feeling, knowing you have lived your discomfort. Taking into account their personal, family and social course.
While we have been talking about the past and present, we can not put aside the future as the past also exert great influence on societies and individuals, in how they perceive the future, and expect this. A better future is the ideal of any society, and to achieve this ideal, you have to flip back and look at the past, since this will take the lessons learned so they can be applied to the present.
In clinical practice, it is also important to note that the resources and the experiences of the past, will never be erased, we can not "do as that no longer exist" . We must find the proper way to make our patient to see that while the past can not be modified, if possible change the representation we have this, and structure a new meaning to change his feeling and thinking.
A unique activity of man, by which we usually see reflected the conscious and unconscious desires of the individual, but in turn reflects much of the culture in which they live , and in which we can also see the historical influence personal and social level. This activity to which I refer is the Art.
"Art is a consequence of something that happened" Filemon Santiago says, is that art is precisely to unite elements in making abstractions but taking into account aesthetics. A work of art shows (as we review below), aspects of the artist's life, which may refer to his past or his future.
This paper will briefly review some features of the works of the artist Philemon James and Annette Messeger, exhibited in May 2010 at the Museum MARCO in Monterrey.
Analysis exhibitions
First I would like less extensively analyze the painter Filemon Santiago.
was born in Oaxaca in 1958, studied art in this city and years later he moved to the city of Chicago. The same author says in a documentary series another way to look , that contact with this city makes a big impact, since the city came from a semi-rural, unlike the other which is a large industrial city and developed, also changing the culture and language.
This cultural change greatly influenced the artist's work, however, as he discussed his acquaintances in Chicago, felt that Filemon Santiago in particular shows a very it, and this is his great sense of belonging to their land Oaxaca. " He knows who he is, it came from and who is its people," said friends. Certainly according to the U.S. this is easy to notice in a Mexican Filemon Santiago as it is because Americans are highly individualistic, in contrast to the collectivist Mexican culture.
can see as many of the works of Philemon James present the same items again and again and they also have a close relationship with its roots, place of origin. For example are the many paintings that he painted chickens, some covertly and other eye. We also see corn on several occasions, characteristic of Mexico. Shellfish also are present, whether fish, lobsters and more. All these items speak much of the original culture of Filemon Santiago. Is characteristic of the style of their work is the similarity in the faces and the complexion of all its characters and even between men and women.
Vygotsky says that "most obvious reasons for an artistic effect hidden in the unconscious" and I totally agree with this. I do not pretend to be exhaustive in this essay, so I do not come forward to make an interpretation of this painting, but if I dare say that there is something in the works of the author that let you represent many of her fantasies, whether unconscious or not.
The museum does an interview MARCO Philemon Santiago, where we spoke briefly, among other things, about the creative process. It says " creativity does not come as a magic moment, but as the consequence of being continuously insisting on your job." Personally, as a musician and composer, I identify in this regard. While it appears that most viewers think that the creation a work of art "is given easily," easily artist or have a "gift " requires also work and perseverance, he dared to acknowledge and represent your own desires and fantasies, and as said Philemon, a lot of patience.
Now let's review a little about the work of Annette Messager . She is French, born in 1943. His works often include photographs, prints, drawings, and other materials. He studied at the School of Decorative Arts in Paris. Later travels the world and wins awards for photography among others.
Philemon I did not know James or Annette Messager when I went to the museum exhibitions MARCO, but I have to admit that I identify more with the work of Annette Messager, reasons I can not fully explain, but at least try to explain to the reader because, as a material for this test.
The work caused the most impact on me was "War of the Worlds" . This work on first impression leads me very much, to see two balls floating and crashing by the force exerted by the wind from the fans on them. However, there was something in this book that left me spellbound for several minutes. At times I feel as though these balls were actually two worlds at war, and every bump represent war and destruction. A similar effect occurred me Casino works, Articulated-broken, Black Stains, among others.
has this wonderful art feature that allows us to identify, sometimes without realizing it, with the latent content in the works, and live our fantasies through them as if they were foreign to us. It is through the aesthetic form that art us traps, but at the same time as hiding something that reflects our unconscious desires. It is through this last quality of the way that we identify with the art and enjoy it without it posing a threat to us.
Annette Messager Just manages to combine these two characteristics aesthetic and harmonious. His works speak of the forbidden sexual desires, and others who may not be expressed in words rather than artistic effects. The art is revealed as a symptom of something that is not expressed in all its intensity.
see that Annette Messager uses in his works everyday items such as toys, clothes, and also uses photography, drawing, painting and other elements.
At first my reaction to this contemporary art, was somewhat negative, as my understanding Art has always been attached to the fine arts such as painting, music, sculpture, literature and dance. So I took some work to see the works of the author and art from my point of view.
I can tell now that the first element of artistic form, aesthetics I mean, I can not get my attention at all, but with still inside in the form works by Annette Messager, the second element of the way, I get into my psyche. Then unconsciously, I identified with that lack of "aesthetic" that I allegedly could not perceive. There was something I was seducing insidiously.
Annette Messager, from elements of daily life in some way under me a new conception of art. And change my way of thinking about contemporary art, as demand for new desires and fantasies, other than those represented by centuries ago by the classical arts.
Conclusions
Both art and the history show "a consequence of something that happened" the individual or society, and history shows us that we see those consequences often reflected in art.
In clinical practice we need to develop the ability to observe these consequences, see the patient that the past but lives in the present.
Symbolically, we must be able to see the art of our patients, be they artists or not. I mean all aspects of life through which will be able to resolve what ails you.
the same way that Annette Messenger achievement creating art using elements of everyday life, we help our patients to find those elements to achieve create your own work of art.
Art has been little studied by psychology, due perhaps to science has been too influenced by positivism, where everything has to be observable, measurable and measurable. However, most of the psychological processes in humans are not observable, measurable or quantifiable.
psychoanalysis, not being a science in the orthodox sense, is able to study everything that rejects science, like love, dreams and art, between others.
see throughout history that art has been a distinctive element to suit your style, every society, in a certain period of time. So through art we can learn a lot about human psychology.
art is not only a means of expression, but also a tool to reach the unconscious processes of man and his psyche. It is like the daily art history.
I dare say that in the future, when you have more tools and emerging new knowledge to study the art, this will be recognized with more value currently attached to it. For if we come to understand the psychological processes that involve artistic creativity, we will have a more complete understanding of psychology, and with this, possibly, better clinical practice.
Monterrey NL, June 3, 2010
