What is wrong with Photo Realism?
Photo Realism is a mechanical process of copying. Unlike copying a drawing or master work of art, the process does not result in discovery of meaning, human sensitivity to the world, or technical means for articulating form. It is a boring process which results in a visual record of an instant in time. Unlike real art which involves the aspect of human experience (the intellectual and emotional experiences witnessed or felt during production of the art, photorealism is static and without a sense of life. These paintings (or casts) are mere modelsand do not stimulate questions of meaning or purpose other than revealing the abstract nature (shape,texture, color etc.) of the objects or scenes articulated in the painting. Photo Realism is void of individual identification. The artists in the movement rely upon certain subject matter for distinguishing their works from one another. They pat themselves upon the back when they deviate from the photo by softening edges or altering colors, but the end result is merely an enhanced photo image or an image which is more decorative than meaningful.
The acceptance of this craft as a fine art movement by art authorities and its inclusion in museum exhibitions has deluded many aspiring artists and amateurs to believe that they are producing "realistic art." and they know how to draw. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are mere craftsmen and will fail to develop a personal artistic vision. This is just another painful episode in modernist assault on good art.
Gerald King
