What is the role of temporality in the artistic process?
The concept of time has been at the center of artistic expression, from the rapid strokes of the Impressionists to Bruce Nauman's observation of time in relation to space; time served both as a catapult for the emergence of new points of view and as a subject for deeper investigations. The way artists understand time in the context of their practice has always reflected the dynamic between the artist and the external demands of the world, whether through contemplation or intervention.
As we live in an ever-changing, extremely fast-paced world and our social experiences are mediated by frenetic demands, how does the lack or abundance of time affect artistic practice?
Some main points to consider:
Temporality in the process of producing art
First, it is important to think about the ways in which time has entered artistic practice and how artists try to portray the abstract and invisible nature of time through the visual arts. Secondly, the act of contemplating a work of art is also interchangeable, as the work itself changes over time, gaining new perceptions and meanings. Nagel and Wood (2010) argued that works of art always “inhabit plural temporalities”, as a work of art is made by someone at a given moment, but refers to ideas or events that often preceded that moment, or point to for an imagined future. (Serafini and Banks).
Portfolio-oriented artistic practice
While artists work in increasingly time-limited conditions, having to be self-sufficient and produce work for specific formats and platforms (a portfolio, a website or social media), is there room left for surprises and slow experimentation?
As our digital environments become more complex, the need to produce work that is relevant to current times seems to be the only “correct” way to make art. But if relevant topics are constantly changing and it's impossible to keep up with their speed, is there any time left to allow ideas to develop organically? How can artists take advantage of the esoteric – and often slow – nature of the creative process in today's world?
Lack of time when looking at art
The lack of time when it comes to visual arts has an impact not only on the creator, but also on the viewer. As for the spectator, do we still have enough time for contemplation exercises? What is the ideal time for the aesthetic experience?
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we delve into these questions and others more related to time and art.
Sources:
Nagel, Alexander & Wood, Christopher (2010): Anachronic Renaissance, New York: Zone Books.
Serafini, Paula & Banks, Mark (2020): Living Precarious Lives, Time and Temporality in Visual Arts Careers