Simon Foreman
Contemporary Art
2/5/04
Art illuminates the darkened corners of our hearts and minds. Contemporary art, or all art for that matter, should attempt to discover truths. Modernism, among other things, sought to find truth in painting, by painting about painting. Many Postmodernists subscribe to the “exchangeable” truth of Baudrillard's simulacra or find truth in the shifting binary opposites in Derrida’s post-structuralism. I attempt to make no value judgments on the viability of differing art concepts or mediums. The intellectual statements made by Duchamp’s “Ready Mades” are as valuable in seeking truth as the ease and capriciousness of Twombly’s stroke. Kaprow’s embrace of quotidian occurrence as art is as meaningful as Robert Irwin’s difficult and disciplined road to self-discovery. By the same token, I give equal credence to those working in digital arts and traditional arts. I am drawn to ephemeral figures lit up on crowded television screens and the silence of Cage’s 4’33”. Artists working in emerging technologies, such as GPS tracking, are as equally innovative as those who hash out formal concerns on canvas. All are seekers of the truth.
The truth I seek is spiritual. Since being in graduate school, and exposed to the writings of many brilliant minds, I have retraced the steps in my walk with Christ. I have, so far, come to the conclusion that I will not abandon God in making art. On the contrary, a fire has been lit under me to further lay bare the torturous ambiguities existing in my personal faith. The truth I seek in art is already there, and has always been there as the manifestation of God. Its illusiveness taunts me, yet I am comfortable in its shadow. To search for religious truth in art may seem paradoxical. The contradiction of creating false idols (art objects), while attempting to glorify God, can be especially discouraging and full heartache. To have faith in God and still explore the philosophy of man, seemingly throws roadblocks but never dead ends. For while my faith is tested I sacrifice nothing more than human achievements and superficial accolades. Nietzsche once wrote, “If you wish to strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee of truth, then inquire.” In my opinion faith and inquiry are not mutually exclusive. Ideas born in the Enlightenment, and in the further secularized philosophy that followed, it is a given that there is no God. Moreover, in many modern art circles, if an artist takes a crap on a portrait of the Mother Mary they are applauded as courageous iconoclasts, yet a simple testament of faith is seen as the propping up of an oppressive institution or the propagating of a passive ignorance. For refuge from this storm, I recall John 15:18-19. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out the world. That is why the world hates you.”
As long as people inquire about truths, whether it is faith in God or the will of man, whether it’s on a canvas or a laptop, art will facilitate, illuminate and ultimately help reveal what they are looking for.
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Simon's purpose
Statement in Support of Application
My experience as a Korean-American child of a US Army officer contributed greatly to
why I make art. My ethnic mix and nomadic upbringing often left me as an outsider gazing in.
This vagabond youth inspired me to view reality through the creative process, while fueling my
urge to explore and experience far away places. I am committed to doing my graduate work in
the UK. The times I have visited the UK, I fell in love with the people and was truly inspired by
the rich artistic history. Currently, I work as a web designer in San Francisco, while spending
nights writing, recording and performing Hip-Hop music. Throughout my undergraduate studies,
I worked at a faculty enhancement center, tutoring professors and staff in web, graphic and
information design. In May of 2002, I received my Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, from
San Francisco State University.
I am an interdisciplinary artist. Although my work crosses several genres, it is supported
by the common framework of critical theory, inquiry, research and aesthetic. My four principal
avenues of expression are conceptual/digital art, ceramics/sculpture, Hip-Hop/poetry and
information/graphic design. The program from which I graduated, Conceptual Information Arts,
encouraged me to question and challenge the conventional ideas of what constitutes viable art
media, contexts, and approaches. I also broadened my approach by combining traditional and
new media, while incorporating concepts, materials, and experiences from outside the art world.
A few themes in my work have been: the Hip-Hop culture, spirituality, altruism in art,
instants in time, fine-art vs. design, celebrity, the television culture and virtual worlds. Recently I
have been interested in juxtaposition: contrasting benign images, objects, situations and ideas
with others to produce a stark and sometimes frightening comparison. "Virtual Self' (see item 11
in portfolio) pits a two-story tall digital rendering of myself against my actual self, while
performing a verse on the subject. In "Head Loops"(see item 12 in portfolio) I amplified the
absurd and harmful ideas found in late night infomercials and their relationship with a "going to
war" speech by President Bush.
, As a graduate student I plan to do my research in a few areas. First, I would like to
further investigate the role of artists who have successfully transcended artistic genres. I am
fascinated how works such as Duchamp's "ready-mades" and Oldenburg's "soft-sculptures" have
leveled paradigms. I am especially interested in the "Happenings" instrumented by Kaprow,
Cage, Cunningham and Rauchenburg. By studying these artists' theories and bodies of work, I
hope to raise questions and break down walls in my own work. The second vein of research is to
continue exploring sources of inspiration outside of the art world. Psychology, Social Science,
History, Anthropology, Technology and Philosophy are rich mines of artistic illumination. By ,
tapping these vast arenas I hope to find fuel to carry me through my ambitions. Third, I plan to
improve my technical skills, not only through practice, but also through researching past and
current techniques. Whether it is learning an old and proven method or keeping abreast of
emerging technologies, through research I hope to improve my current techniques.
In the studio I would like to focus on conceptual sculptures and assemblages, which
could include clay, paint, bronze, video projection, objects, text, digital images and sound. One
of my aims in the MA program is to systematically deconstruct the relationships between my
ideas and the media I use to express myself. From conception to execution, I would like to
understand how my ideas translate into a form, allowing me to re-structure, streamline and focus
my creative impulses and habits. By sharpening my focus, finding a "niche", and pursuing my
muse until I am satisfied, I hope to leave the MA course with more confidence in my art
practices. Upon completion of the program I plan on returning to the States to pursue my MFA.
Ultimately, I would like to teach and exhibit my work. |
