mjf about me and about Art

mjfaustino, alias Mário Júlio Faustino, Portuguese, born on March 22, 1963 in Angola. 1975 moves to Portugal, Lisbon. In 1982/83 attends School of Decorative Arts and Art & Design António Arroio, Lisbon. 1996 moves to Germany, Munich, where he still lives. 1998 begins painting. In 2006/07, attends (two semesters in) Private Art School in Munich.

Essay

I arranged a letter I once wrote to a fellow artist exposing some of my views and concerns at that time…

In the beginning, I spent much time studying, thinking, in pursuit of an Art Theory that would help me to understand what I do, (and why not a theory that would explain it) and in the meantime, as I entered another Rhythm with an urge to produce and improve my quality standards this first call was gradually neglected or in praxis substituted by the thought of creating a method instead.

I do believe however that Theory is absolutely necessary as a complement; while it has lost its initial importance in my priorities giving more room for skill and Method. The remote memory of Kant and other thinkers and the need to analyse their theories lost the initial warmth, leaving place for creation and empirical solutions.

Apart from that, I think I think I identify more with Wollheim’s relativism concerning Art and Aesthetics, but then again not in its entire content from which I lack knowledge but more from personal experience – mine and the viewer. I think every and each of us have a different perception for what we see (contemplating the world, an artwork or other object) according to that own life experience, eventually leaving some room for common sense, for what the Artwork stands for alone or in its context and of course the artists intention.

The world is but how you see it! Although I have been conscientiously reducing my presence (my I) and influence in my paintings (I am not that important) I am aware that my experience cannot be separated from whatever I do (so why worries? J) I can still induce connotations and set the pace in my poetic or paradoxical and ludic titles. All in all the objects and colour carry enough metaphysical philosophical psychological and religious symbolic to be worrying about that and the motive will be acknowledged by the self identification of the observer or not with the Artwork…

In general I think Art should be free but also responsible. I mean serves nobody (not even one’s self, our ego should not be confused with the purpose but lend in this flow of thought authenticity in relation with your own life experience) but a means to express yourself and with that not being offensive or provocative or likely to cause pain to anybody although that may occur.  Art is not against anything or anybody but for something (Good) and if for somebody, the week and the needed.

Improving my statement, at my homepage it is also very important, because I believe we are constantly changing as (and as) we learn more and more. I said that Art for me is not necessarily a mimesis… but as well. And here the juxtaposition taking that the idea of Art has been through its History and for the most people exactly the opposite… Like my fellow artists, I give room to constant reflexion and is another to keep the dialog open.

I hope my views have helped you or that they have met your expectations and it would be very interesting to hear what your views are. I usually do not think much of these things being busy with other issues. I do feel alone at times in my thoughts and look in the sky sometimes for an answer, the reason of all this, whether it all makes sense…

You will find more about me at my homepage!