All Art is Political
Yes, art is always political, and with my tea and my art degree I'm going to tell you why.
Now you might be thinking, really Elizabeth, is ALL art political? What about abstract, landscape, and doodle art? Well, hold onto your hats; we are going there right now.
But first, let's talk about art which is obviously political. So-called political art generally has a narrative or a message they are trying to convey. When I think of "political art" the first image that comes to mind is "The Problem We All Live With" (the Ruby Bridges Painting) by Norman Rockwell. I also think of public murals of the Black Lives Matter movement, like memorials of George Floyd. There are countless examples, like Picasso's "Guernica", Frida Kahlo's depictions of love and disability, Rosie the Riveter, the Obama Hope poster, Pride Flags, and recently, pro-Palestine art.
“The Problem We All Live With” Norman Rockwell, 1964.
For all the images mentioned and sources cited, Click here
If you look and see what all these have in common, they all have to do with or are created by marginalized people. This brings up the question, is the mere existence of marginalized people politicized?
(Yes, reader. They most certainly are.)
But let's circle back to art that isn't "obviously" political. I'll use abstract art as an example, because it's my favorite type of art, and most people don't think it’s political.
Abstract Artist Sam Gilliam said it best - abstract art "messes with you. What you think isn't all; it challenges you to understand something that is different." You can watch Sam's whole interview on the Louisiana Channel below.
Abstract art doesn't have a clear narrative, and it breaks the mold of what you think art is: which in and of itself is resistance. Abstract art evokes a raw emotional reaction, it doesn't tell you what or how to feel. And if you're still not convinced, art is political because it has influence.
Hilter and the Nazis did not burn and seize all genres of art because he wanted to decorate his house. He took art away from the people because of the influential power that all art has, politically, socially, culturally, and economically. The Nazis began labeling cubist, expressionist, and impressionist art as "degenerate" and removed them from their art institutions. This included art by Van Gogh and Matisse. They seized any art they considered valuable, sold it to fund their agenda, and burned what didn't sell.
Adolf Hitler with stolen art (including a Picasso), WW2 (exact year unknown)
If you want to learn more about this topic, I highly recommend you watch "The Monuments Men" which is a movie that chronicles American soldiers finding and returning art to their rightful owners during the fall of Nazi Germany. (It also stars Clooney and Matt Damon so it’s a good watch regardless).
Back to abstract art...abstract art began appearing in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a way to reject classism, romanticism, and impressionism, in other words, an art form born out of rebellion against the art of the time.
Left: "Excavation" Wilhem de Kooning, 1950 / Right: "Black Reflections" Franz Kline, 1959
In the early 1940s, a new kind of abstract art emerged: abstract expressionism. This includes Rothko, Kandinsky, De Kooning, Kline, and Joan Mitchell. Abstract expressionists' goals were to break away from convention, create authentic and soul-baring art, and express their concerns in a war-torn and post-war world. Abstract expressionists were inspired by primitive art and wanted to create intuitive, free-flowing, pure expressions of the self and the collective psyche. All of that sounds pretty political to me...
Now you might be thinking, "Okay, Elizabeth I see your point, how does this apply to ME?"
"How are the doodles in my sketchbook political? The art I make that no one sees, or the art I make that doesn't sell?"
Human beings have an innate need to express themselves. Whether that's through art, music, dance, film, cooking, the list goes on and on. Life is so expansive, and we experience so much, that we have to have a way to process, to express these things. That's why we create. We create to deal with all the wonderful, beautiful, horrible, and hard things that happen because we are simply alive. Art fuels us, connects us, inspires us, and leaves imprints on us as individuals and as a society.
If you’re looking for more creative inspiration, there's this really fabulous TED talk by Ethan Hawke called "Give yourself permission to be creative."
Creativity is a part of being human, but what happens when you live in a society that values you only for the profits you can make, and not your joy and creativity? Capitalism squashes personal expression through its incessant need to make more and more money. So, when you take the time to make art for yourself, even for just a minute or an hour, you are engaging in protest. In a society that puts profit over people, creating for yourself is a radical act of resistance.
Your art doesn't have to make money, hang in the Louvre, or be praised by a critic to be valuable to you. If creating that art felt good, helped you process, or connect with others, then it is valuable.
SO! Make imperfect art, dance like nobody is watching, and fling paint on a canvas. The very act of creating for yourself, is political.
For all the images mentioned and sources cited, Click here
If you’d rather watch me make this argument, rather than read it, you can watch below.