Apparently, it’s a cardinal sin to describe one’s own art through words, though that’s what we’re asked to do by people who see our work in shows or galleries. Often, what you really want to say in response to well-meaning interlocutors is “How the hell am I supposed to know?” Because visual art is, well, visual. Its power lies in its ability to communicate on a direct, emotional level, unencumbered by words. And there are a lot of emotions words can not convey.
Sometimes, however, I am called to start writing about a piece after I’ve made it. It can be an interesting exercise, though I wouldn’t recommend it all the time. Better to let most images stay in the realm of the unsayable, methinks.
LISA GRIEST 