Works of Art: Aesthetic or Historical Value?

The afirmation that works of art mainly demand to be enjoyed aesthetically, might contradict our further use of it as a historical document of our past.

Works of art do offer us precious information. We can learn about the techniques, materials, style, culture and historical information – political, social and spiritual values among others -. But it is important to remember the need to stablish a certain priority regarding on the status on which we consider the object.

Repercussions of an Aesthetic Value

Giving importance to the aesthetic value would consequently have an effect on how it would be treated along time. Conservators, as the most important figures and responsabiles of heritage, might treat the work of art differently according to its value. If the item were to be treasured as the artist originally created it, experts should consider to respect the original as much as possible.

For example, given a piece of art with a percentage of losses up to 30%, it would be unrespectful to cover it in a way that imitates the artist’s job. Although with the trattegio technite for reintegration, the conservator would methodically cover both the visual illusion and an honest approach away from a copy. From a certain distance the eye would complete the lost message, revealed its different technique when seen closer.

If the piece had a higher percentage of losses, this technique still would respect the original. The added sections would moderate the dramatic view of the damage .

Repercussions of an Historical Value

«Battle of Trafalgar», Louis Philippe Crepin

On the other hand, if the same work of art were to be conservated as an item of historical value, the result might be completed faking the original. This approach of a permanent look-as-new should not be accepted.

At the end of the day, artists did not intend to create Art as an historical document but as a comission. If we take the case of the sketch «Study of Lion» by Rubens, the intention was to create notes as a mere analitical approach to a bigger piece of art.

Conclusion

To sum up, it is important to consider the values added by us, colored by our time. They are indeed an essencial award to Art, given the status that deserves in our time. Although in order to protect our heritage from the rages of time it’s needed to make sure that we value them in the correct order of priorities.

<Bibliografy: Introduction to The Eye's Caress: Looking, Appreciation, and Conoisseurship, from Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage. CGI.>

© María M. Mayorga

Experiences from Westival ’19 vs ’20

Original photo created&used for the Westport Music+Art Festival 2019 (Ireland). Not mine.

I was prepared to tell you good news today. I hoped I would have my Art pieces exhibited again this year in the Westport Art Festival ’20.

Today I got an e-mail with a negative response because of a huge amount of entries. Although, in times like these, it’s a positive thing seeing lots of people healing themselves through creation. That’s why I am so pleased to see this outcome despite the sour answer. I can’t wait to see what other artists in this town got out from this unusual experience.

Positivity against challenges

This quick turn into a more positive thinking was possible because of a simple fact: it was the time I enjoyed the most at creating for a specific purpose. The risk of failing is always there but it is what the experience gets from you that you will store in your memory.

«Deep Blue» at the Westival ’19 at McGing’s Pub

If I look back to last year and my contribution into the Westival ’19 I can see a huge difference. Ok, I felt thrilled by just developing old good ideas that spoke about myself to be seen under the same topic required.

What did it change then?

We might uncover a lot about ourselves through creation: some of us would run away from the dark side; others would get surprised after a healing wept. 2020 has been a huge example for me.

This year, when I approached the Open Call I was fearless. It felt more important and vital the fact of expressing myself entirely for the theme. In search of new ways to tell my experience. And I got this two pieces:

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  Music is in the News (Front)

• 

  Music is the News (Back)

Collage on sculpture made out of an upcycled guitar. Right from its centre, Nature finds a home, taking the item back from the heart to the place where it belongs.

With the first work of art I went back to my favourite topic: Music. Because it’s one of the elements that I missed during this quarantine. The one that made me stay in Ireland.

The same way live music, as we knew it, turned into a luxury – a memory. It became a renewed concept that we could see on the news across the Globe. Music cheered us up on-line as a reminder to us that it wasn’t really gone.

Vision of Nature

The second piece talks about that home we forgot to go to. Nature calls us back giving us comfort when we needed the most. At least in my own experience. What it was a taboo to approach as an artist, now is an intriguing source to consider.

Let’s wrap up, shall we?

The moral of all this is the same guru’s phrase you will hear all around but that I consider more a truth every day: focus on the path and not the outcome. Put some energy out there as if you already got your dreams come true. And if all this sounds like bull***t for you, well, then value the courage you had to let yourself be creative using your genuine way and voice.

Even if you think you are still in search of it. It is the path. Through yourself to it as if everything is possible and better outcomes will come. I believe it. Will you give it a try?

«Sing» and myself at Westival ’19

© María M. Mayorga