“Knowing that foraged plant colours are short-lived, an artist would normally avoid using them in anything but ephemera. The last thing you want is to sell an art piece only for it to fade within months of being put up on a wall. But whether this evanescence should be considered a drawback or a quality, is a matter of perspective. Personally, it got me meditating on our expectations of artwork, the received wisdom that once finished it should never change. What if the work was intended to change with time? What if we accept that change and mortality are valuable aspects of reality? With a proper understanding of organic colours, I could work their fugitive quality into a piece, and insure that however much they fade, the work remains an art piece (as opposed to a piece that will deteriorate beyond repair…)
Joumana Medlej, “Creating with the Land“
My first venture into this concept was my piece Loss.
Joumana’s artworks “Loss” and “Blessings Everlasting“, where some colours fade through light and time whilst other elements* remain unchanged, captivate my heart and my imagination. The exploration of impermanence, the creation and knowledge of colours, the patience required for the cutting of the paper layers, words I can’t read. Designed to change, without controlling how or how fast it will.
(*the layers of cut paper, gold, mineral pigments)
As I try to adapt to life without the in-house art critic, I hope for some things to fade and for permanence of others. I find myself wondering where I put that watercolour set of Sennelier natural pigments that has fugitive (non-lightfast) colours; the fear that the colours would fade stopped me from using it , but now I see possibilities in this. Colours that change, fade, and last as a representation of memory, grief, life.
Art that continues to create itself, perhaps.
Yes, intentionally but with an unknown timeline.
I love the work of Andrew Goldsworthy, the work of whom is founded on impermanence.
Love this!
I wish I could find it, but I watched a short video recently about an old man walking around a town painting very simple pieces of art on walls and sidewalks with water. It would disappear within minutes. He tied into his life and aging. It was very moving. Can’t, for the life of me, find it.
Sounds like a poignant piece. That you can’t find it again rather ties into its ephemeral nature.
Yeah, I actually wondered whether maybe the video was intentionally only put online for a short time. I’ve tried every search query I can think of, and I can’t find it.