Hello Christina,
                 Interesting points, but I really can´t buy `real feelings can never be hidden´. I know nothing about graphology or how precise its insights might be. Perhaps a graphologist can identify a sick person infallibly but that´s a long way from no hidden feelings. To take just one example, why would the wrong people get convicted of crimes if innocence were transparent(and the legal process fair)? Also, the points I tried to make did not concern the production of a work of art or the style the artist might use. I was only trying to describe my idea of the relationship between real feelings/experiences and the ordering of that experience into art. I think the questions of how interesting or meaningful the work is are different issues. But I really shouldn´t get into a discussion of the visual arts, even though I referred to Magritte myself, because I´m even less qualified to comment on that than writing. But I can accept your final comment fully, each person has their own interests and preferences for any number of reasons that have nothing to with poetic/art theory.



Best wishes,    Mike



--- Alkuperäinen viesti ---

Dear Mike,
You could also take the line that real feelings can never be hidden.  That's 
why I find art therapy, poetry, graphology etc so interesting.  I can always 
see whether someone's poorly from their handwriting no matter how much of a 
stiff upper lip they show.  Now I'd suggest that a not-too-hot-shakes 
spontaneous painting is usually more interesting and meaningful than a 
controlled attempt at painting like an Impressionist or whatever-elseist.  
But that also means that the observer has to be receptive to a visual 
language that isn't 'art history' based.  That's not what a lot of people 
want but it is what I tend to look for because it interests me and helps me 
to widen my visual vocabulary.
bw
christina