WHAT IS AN ARTIST STATEMENT? An artist's statement (or artist statement) is a brief verbal representation (didactic, descriptive, or reflective in nature) created by the artist about his or her own work. CONTENT It is a text composed by an artist and intended to explain, justify, extend, and/or contextualize his or her body of work. Artists often write a short (50-100 word) and/or a long (500-1000 word) version of the same statement, and they may maintain and revise these statements throughout their careers.

BREIF

WHO AM I? ARTIST STATEMENT An artist’s statement (or artist statement) is a brief statement of an artist’s intention through their work. It is a text composed by an artist and intended to explain, justify, and contextualize his or her body of work. by Wikipedia. ASSIGNMENT BRIEF Prior to writing your own statement, you will research about one artist/designer you would like to know and understand the basic structure of the statement. Once the ground work is completed, then you will create a personal mind-map in order to fully explore who you are and capture your artist vision as a professional artist/designer. This will assist you to write your statement based on how you translate the world of art and design as of now, what the source of your inspirations are, what area of art/design you intent to work on, and finally what your dreams and visions are.

WRITING AN ARTIST STATEMENT You want to write your artist statement by reflecting on who you are (want to be) as an artists/designer, what inspires you, how you explore your passion and curiosity through art and design, and what are your plans for your professional development. So what is your story? It’s always good to have a story to tell. Start making notes, this process will assist you as you write your statement. There is no one right way to write an artist statement but here are some general guidelines. Spend a few minutes looking at the statements below and write true/false/maybe/why - next to each of them: 01) An artist statement should be written in the present tense. 02) An artist statement should be written in the first person. 03) The audience for an artist statement is a potential buyer. 04) An artist statement should be about 100 words long. 05) An artist statement does not change much overtime. 06) An artist statement should include what other people have said about your work. 07) An artist statement should be written in the most complicated and impressive language you can come up with. 08) An artist statement should tell the truth. 09) Artist statements are a waste of time because people should be able to

understand my art just by looking at it. 10) An artist statement is closer to a poem than a novel. 11) An artist statement should give too little rather than too much. 12) An artist statement should leave the reader wanting to know more. 13) An artist statement should tell people how they should react to your art.

An Artist Statement: A very personal reflection on what, why, how, you do what you do from your perspectives.

Why do you need to write one? It provides a window into your art for your audience. It provides a bridge between you and your audience. It should be completely honest, just as your relationship with your art is completely honest. A clearly written statement will make your name stick in people’s memories longer. It will be part of the process of “branding” you as an artist, and it will also help you in the same way as defining a goal. It can help you to know that you are headed in the “right” direction- whatever that may be for you. The process of writing it can help you crystallize what it is that you striving for in your art/design/career. Think now about the resources that you have available to you to help you write your artist statement. Jot them down in the space below.

——————— YOUR DESIGN PROCESS ——————— Personal Mind Map + Artist/Designer Research + Artist Statement. Topics | Identity, Interdisciplinary, Connectivity, Inspiration, Meaning Process | Research > Design + Development > Upload > Presentation > Submission STEP 1 | WHO AM I MIND MAP Start with a Self Brainstorming writing out some of your personal attributes, characteristics, inspiration, exploration, and contribution. Add your artist research information here as well after completing step 2. Create Your Mind-Map with Key Words, Matters, Interests, Passion, and dreams with your work Develop with your own style of your personal visual map Try to identify an image and look and feel of your map, which will provide you an art direction for your portfolio design later. STEP 2 | STUDY ARTIST/DESIGNER’S ESSAY You are going to look into bibliography, artist-statement, essay, etc. of other artists/designers about their works. You will understand their works in terms of how they capture, translate, uncover, and contribute to their particular field of art/design. STEP 3 | YOUR ARTIST/DESIGNER STATEMENT Your 300-500 words statement should include 4 points below. 1) Your Translation: Introduction to your Art/Design world 2) Your Inspiration: Artists, Objects, People, Event/Movement, etc. 3) Your Exploration: Interests in movements, techniques, issues,

social impacts, etc. 4) Your Contribution: Vision/Direction

Translate: What does the world look like to you? How does this vision appear in your work? What connects you to your work? What dreams are in your work? Inspire: What/who inspires you? Artists- alive or dead? Other people? Role models? Why do you do what you do? Explore: How do you explore your passion/curiosity through art and design? How to best describe your creative process? What patterns emerge in work? Contribute: What are your goals? How do you believe your work will contribute to the future of world of art and design, or others in the world?

ARTIST STATEMENT SAMPLE #1

ALIA JASSIM / GRAPHIC DESIGN / “CITIZEN DESIGNER”

[INTRODUCTION] Like confessions you might find in diaries, I confess through my artwork. Art is not only something I do, it is my friend who listens to me and interacts with me, a well where my thoughts can echo without any disruption. [TRANSLATION] Everywhere I look around me I see inspiration, an old man walking in the street, a bird soaring in the vast sky, or something as simple as a piece of furniture. Seeing a child’s smile can lighten up my day and make the world seem so beautiful, and through using bright colors on a canvas, visual illustrations that represent innocence, and the soft strokes of a paintbrush, I can translate that experience into an attractive, inviting visual artwork.

[INSPIRATION] The most influential inspirations are the two factors that made me who I am; my religion and my country. Building an identity that relates to both my cultural background and my global character is challenging, since I need to learn how to balance them. And through practicing my work and looking at other people’s work like AbdulQader AlRayes, and young, emerging local artists such as Reem AlGhaith, I see that identity more clearly and I begin to understand it better.

[EXPLORATION] I don’t set out to practice one field of art; I am interested in printmaking, drawing, painting, photography, fashion design, graphic design, and interior design. Practicing all these kinds of arts is very important to me since each one can influence the other as well as encouraging me to learn new skills. I also try my best to learn new skills and research new breakthroughs in the art field. Awareness of what’s happening around me can benefit my style greatly. Through my art, I aim to convey my beliefs, me feelings, and my thoughts. I also try to reflect upon other individuals and nations around me and aim to articulate what they are experiencing. Through these visual illustrations, I hope that the viewers will be able to experience whatever feelings I’m trying to communicate. I try not to talk about the confessions in painting, and instead leave it to the viewer to decide. I take interest in seeing what other people understand from my work, even if our reflections might vary greatly.

[CONTRIBUTION] Art has opened my eyes; I now pay attention to details more than I used to. Everything and everyone seems more significant than ever, not only visually, but also concept wise. And with that, my way of think has changed and still is everyday.

ARTIST  STATEMENT  SAMPLE  #  2  

ZU  GRADUATE  

 

I  come  from  a  family  where  there  is  little  appreciation  or  understanding  of  Art  

and  Design.      Pursuing  my  interests  in  Interior  Design  became  a    

challenge,  and  one  I  faced  with  little  familial  support.      

 

Designing  is  a  dream  for  me,  I  am  amazed  by  the  amount  of  creativity  and  

strong  work  being  created  by  so  many  designers  world-­‐wide,  and  now  knowing  

that  I  too  will  hopefully  contribute  to  this  world  of  design  is  turning  the  dream  

into  a  reality.    

 

Too  often  we  see  the  same  designs  used  over  and  over  again,  like  cookie  cutter  

structures  without  innovation  or  attention  to  aesthetics.    I  want  to  address  this,  

I  want  to  see  designing  redefined  and  not  recycled.    

My  strengths  are  taking  any  number  of  elements  and  pulling  them  together  to  

create  organic,  connected  and  original  designs.    I  want  to  introduce  new  

designs,  new  materials,  and  new  ways  of  living.