Petra Kook
D 59457 Werl, 16th February, 2007
Zum Salzbach 1a
Art and graphic design in environment and human
As long as the human species exists, art and graphic design accompanies our living. All the archeological discoveries proof our ancestors had their specific way, style of living – like we believe today. Of course, often this was dictated by functionality, by necessities – like today??? Hence, it is proved, that all the multitude cultures all over the world had different rituals and different forms. The worshipping, the forming, carving of precious sculptures of the goddesses was not uniform, but differed from region to region.
This is proved and documented , no doubt.
Therefore art and graphic design had indeed an impact on our lives. We are formed by our surroundings, by the environment. The human species – our humanity is no doubt influenced by our culture. Culture is an expression of tradition and we, no matter from what tradition we come from, are part of the input of information, of fate, of victories of losses and also of our individual backgrounds.
And today? Does art and graphic design have an impact on environment and humanity or has the environment and humanity an impact on art and graphic design?
In 2007, the temporary situation has not altered from those of former times, although because of technical progress, know-how and IT, a multitude of different forms and material is known and for sale on the market.
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Is it possible to create or come to new forms of totally innovative design that is not know anywhere, in spite of the transparency, because of the use of mediums, we have a comprehensive knowledge of what is just top or modern all over the world.
With all this knowledge “is it possible to come to an innovative, completely knew style in art or graphic design” – Definitely “YES”.
A professional artist, designer, has by intuition – of course also by his knowledge of techniques – the instrument to see forms, pictures, colors, shades in a new context, innovative, totally new way. He/she is not content with what is just modern, elite at the moment, he/she hunts towards new ideas the very moment the latest idea was born.
Does this not implify to believe an artist/a graphic designer to be queer, not normal, crazy odd!
A professional artist/graphic designer is not to be put into a box/cliché. Developing new, or call it unconventional forms/shapes, putting colors in an unusual way together/on top of each other, using new techniques, new medium!
What does this mean to consuming people, people who are far away from construction forms, combining colors. To people who still struggle to accept new forms/colors/shapes or who have just arranged themselves with unusual, odd art or graphic design?
In the opinion of the consuming world tends everything that is new, unusual to be strange, not allowed, not accepted.
Everything that is new, that is not common was and is and will be rejected, maybe laughed at. This happened to art or graphic design all over the world. Artists and graphic designers going consequently their way, know what this means.
And I can understand this mechanism.
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The consuming mankind, not living themselves in a world of forms or colors, those who have just adopted their way of looking at things, people who have just arranged themselves with unusual forms, paintings, sculptures, do not want to accept that those things, they have just adopted, just acknowledged
as normal, as part of their lives – are overtaken by new forms, strange or odd arrangements.
And is it not comforting to stick to that what we are used to?
It depends on the artist, an professional artist, on his/her absolute insisting way of working, his intention to live his work, whether he/she goes on, not paying attention to irritation
It the artist graphic designer himself/herself to become successful - whatever that means!
History tells many examples of bitter success or failure. We all know the great names, but who tells us, there have not been countless masters of their profession who were not crowned with success?
Names, that say nothing in our days - but human beings, that at their time, have influenced the environment and the human way of living in an much stronger way, than those great names, that have written history, those names we all know, when we think of art or graphic design.
The unknown mass of artists or graphic designers or the great names in the business: who knows who influenced the environment or human life? I cannot tell. But definitely art and graphic designs has great impact on our being, existence.
This art festival here in China, in Qingdao, reveals a multitude of different forms, a multitude of techniques, a multitude of craftsmanship and maybe some strange, new combinations of long known techniques.
However, I believe, we all will reflect this multitude show and it will be the input of totally different or innovative forms, way of mixing colors, of combining techniques that will influence all of us to keep working, to go on!
I am grateful to be able to participate in this art festival!
Thank you.