What’s in a name ?
Does an artist’s name on a work impress you ? Do you have, or wish you had, a known name in art, or are you uncomfortable signing your work ? Here’s an article that asks the age-old question:What’s in a Name ?How do you sign your artwork ? When you look at art in a gallery, do you look at the artist’s name first ? Part way through ? Last ? Or, do you even bother ?
How much weight does a name hold for you in viewing a piece of art ? For some, it signifies reputation. Some folks read biological statements at art exhibits, and some seldom do.
When considering which art to hang in your home, assuming you do acquire art other than your own, how much weight does the artist’s name hold ?
I’ve met people who want to know the name and how well known it is, as a way of reassuring them of the quality. I haven’t met any real art collectors though. . . the folk who need to be assured of resale value, and history.
If you see a piece of art that doesn’t initially attract you, does spotting a big name artist’s signature, cause you to reconsider ?
I really wonder how most people go about selecting art to own. If all art in existence today were available at an affordable price, would there be any you’d want to own ? Would you want to live with the Mona Lisa, if it wasn’t worth much monetarily ? Would you still keep any art you already have ?
Many times I have been asked if I am a ‘real Varley’, or ‘the artist Varley’. Well, technically, yes, I am, but how I answer depends on the actual reason behind the question. Usually I need to discover if the question is really a shy way of saying they’ve heard of the Group of Seven in Canadian art.
If your family name were Rembrandt, O’Keeffe, Moore, Jackson, Chagal, Monet, Carr, or Smith, would people ask you if you are related to ‘The’ Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henry Moore, and so on ?
If you were related to a well-known artist, would this mean – that’s where you get your talent ? And if you’re not related, would it mean – you have no real talent ? And, isn’t everyone actually related anyway ?
If a name represents reputation, what does reputation mean ? What does talent mean, for that matter ? Do I have enough of it ? Are others better ? Why is life so unfair ?
Success in art making of any kind is built on hard, constant work. Talent has nothing to do with it. Occasionally you’ll meet someone with what looks like an innate talent, but who invariably does nothing with it. What good is talent without work ?
Even then, what is the thing we call “talent” which sometimes shows ? It might be a natural facility with some piece of the whole complex of art making tasks. You know yourself, how certain parts of your work come easier than others.
Technical affinity is not a sign of special artistic gift. Art making does not depend on talent. Read that sentence again out loud. Art making does not depend on talent.
Occasionally you see artists who sign their work only reluctantly, and others who write their name very prominently on their work. Yes, your work should be signed. It’s part of the piece, just like the frame or pedestal which enhances the whole thing.
An artist’s signature also reveals a lot by impression. Many viewers are not conscious of signatures, yet they hold a lot of personal information encrypted within them. There’s a whole science of graphology, that tells how a signature reveals much about the signer.
Each work of art also has a name. Have you ever met a child without a name ? The name or title of a piece shows respect and gives an inkling of the artist’s meaning or intention in showing the piece. There’s still room for viewers’ own interpretation, but it’s respectful to give a work more than just a number.
On rare occasion, I’ve been stuck for a title or name for a piece. I’ve been tempted to label it “Untitled”. I have never left it at that though. It feels like a cop-out; an unfinished relationship. If I haven’t worked out my reason for showing a work, have I any business showing it yet ?
Once, I pinned a sheet of paper over each of my titles, and asked viewers to suggest their own titles for the pieces. They could look underneath to see my titles if they wanted. This was a good way of involving viewers in taking part in a show, instead of remaining passive onlookers. There were many different viewpoints given me in return, which enhanced my own appreciation.
“What’s in a name ? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” wrote Shakespeare. Well, quite a lot is in a name, as it happens. Different roses are named too. But the sweet smell of your artwork isn’t masked by your name or its title either.