Roles of The Artist, Aesthetics and Kitsch

There are 4 Roles of the Artist, 1) new and innovative ways to see the world; 2) to create a visual record of a time or place; 3) making functional things more pleasant by giving them meaning and beauty; and 4) give form to immaterial feelings and ideas and spiritual belief.  Below is an example of each of the 4 roles.  

Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows. by Cai Guo-Qiang, 1998

In the Cai Guo-Qiang work entitled Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows, gives a unique and innovative way to show the use of many arrows to make a boat.  I believe this is a metaphor for using your enemy's arrows to build a boat to escape from them. The sharp points of arrows do not point outward, as not used for a defense mechanism, but a way to escape.   I think that the use of the arrows is an innovative way to display art for the boat.

Fireman Chris. Rigoberto Torres, 1993

Rigoberto Torres sculptured the above of Fireman Chris. This is an exquisite plaster cast sculpture.  It is as if the Fireman is alive, the details are realistic. Fireman Chris was undoubtedly an acquaintance or a person known to Torres.

Coffin in the Shape of a Mercedes.  Kane Kwei 1984. Wood and Enamel

Kane Kwei is an artist that can make almost anything into a coffin.  He has the ability to make functional things more pleasant by giving them meaning and beauty.  Coffin in the Shape of a Mercedes above is a wonderful example of giving special beauty and meaning to a coffin.  

Christ Carrying the Cross, Jan van Eyck (undated)

Jan van Eyck's Christ Carrying the Cross, is a very moving painting.  Christ carrying the cross is very spiritual.  It gives you belief that the stories we have heard are true and add meaning.


Aesthetic Response to an artwork.  You may see a piece of art that is not beautiful to view, but it triggers deeper thoughts and meaning.

Ladder to Heaven, Yayoi Kusama 2002

I choose Kusama's Ladder to Heaven because aesthetically its does not appeal to me; however, the meaning of a ladder going to heaven really made me think about what Kusama was stating.  The work has no opening to enter heaven, it is just a ladder.  It is inviting because it is bright purple.  Is it as simple as climbing a ladder to enter heaven?

Kitsch is something that is over the top from the normal, something that makes you smile. Kitsch is something that usually may be gaudy or tacky.

The Hustler, Arthur Sarnoff

The Hustler by Arthur Sarnoff is a perfect example of kitsch.  It makes me laugh. The idea of dogs playing pool, smoking and a beer is funny.  The details of the painting are wonderful and its pleasing to the eye and funny for the soul.