The Invisible Dragon by Dave Hickey

Image source: photo by the artist

Reading Reflection written September, 2022

The way Dave writes is spicy, that intense all-electrifying heat that gives you a euphoric high; albeit not a flavour everyone would enjoy (or have the stomach for). 

If you haven’t at least dipped your toe into the realm of art history, I don’t think you’d be able to appreciate this book in its entirety. Even if you’re a self-proclaimed art history addict like myself, if you’re not turned on by definitions then this book probably would be frustratingly incomprehensible. 

To explore the concept of an ‘image’ (where people create things as a form of communication), gives birth to such an interesting concept of transactional relationships between the artist, artwork and the viewer. I wonder if other artists consciously think of art as a therapeutic institution? This book rips apart the archaic submissively-elitist term of fine art to reveal its transformation through to the ‘modern’ era. What ambiguous terms ‘contemporary’ and ‘modern’. It’s no surprise that current popular depictions of people in the art world are turtleneck-wearing eccentrics holding a glass of wine, speaking at each other in verbose terminology. I’d love to be in a social setting with Dave’s punchy art lexicon cascading throughout the room; I’d love even more to experience the live reactions of people drenched in his opinions. 

Read this book when you want some art history porn. Read again and again when you feel like bathing in the depths of literal and figurative imagery.

Beauty Documents of Contemporary Art by Dave Beech

Image source Amazon

Reading Reflection written December 2021

The relationship status of beauty and art is currently complicated, but there’s still hope for reconciliation. 

What are the thoughts of more artists (not just the well known ones) as to the condition of beauty and art’s relationship? Is this something that other artists consciously think of as much as me? I’ve found through reading this, I’ve gained insights into why artists create what they create. The interviews in this book are worth holding onto. There’s always viewing an artist’s artwork online or experiencing it in the flesh, but reading the interviews of artists (or casual letters) is a new thrill for me. I think reading an artist's thoughts is as stimulating as experiencing their tangible works. This book provokes so many questions, simmering in the back of my mind. I’ll just have to remember they are there so they do not burn.

Read this book when you are curious about how different artists approach beauty. Read again and again when you want to soar throughout the universes that best encompass beauty.

Beauty A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton

Image source Audible

Narrated by the author on Audible

Reading Reflection written August 2020

If flowers are the universal archetype of beauty (that oh so golden ratio), capable of inciting divinity and the paradigm of ethics, also ponder this, that stamped flower icons adorn toilet paper. It seems there is no scenario in which a flower (beauty) isn’t out of context.

The contemporary focus on beauty is designated for the cosmetic industry and what beauty looks like and not how beauty makes humanity feel; what beauty gives us? How can something so vast and influential lay dormant in stimulating discussions? Such a large portion of people/artists vehemently reject the importance of beauty/aesthetics in their life/art. I’m not sure I will ever understand why some seem to focus primarily on the problematic nature of beauty. Whenever I hear that popular saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, or that other ubiquitous paraphrased version ‘beauty/art is subjective’, my jaw clenches with irritation. Nine times out of ten these truisms are a dead weight to any further interesting conversation.

I haven't heard anyone speak about beauty as eloquently and in depth as Rodger does. There are so many references in this book I must return to. This book deserves to be elevated to theatrical form. Just imagine this rhetoric coming to life as characters illuminate concepts of: art, life, the sacred, desire, sexual pleasure, aesthetics, evilness, human nature, objects, sensory interest, rational thought and culture. If this book was a performance, it might cure my craving of being in an audience to passionate and dedicated lectures, an itch hard to scratch since uni. I miss being surrounded by passionate speakers, watching online is never comparable. Twice is nowhere near enough to have read this book, I could read this over and over and forever uncover new insights. 

Read this book when you want to become lost, actually, more catapulted through the rabbit hole of why life is worth living. Read again when you need a slap of passion.