A Few Quick Questions for Francisco De la Barra
Francisco De La Barra, whose art is being featured in the Somerville Art Council's window exhibition at One Davis Square, was kind enough to answer some weighty questions on art by email for me last night...
Earth is about to be destroyed. You have room for one work of art (not your own) in your escape pod, which will it be?
[Picasso's] Les Demoiselles d'Avignon...
...is a summary of the evolution of 20th century art.
How long could you go without art and what would your withdrawal symptoms be if you were forced to go cold turkey?
One week, no idea what you mean with the second sentence, a cold turkey?
Which is more political, art that is political or art that is not?
All art is political, even if it's apolitical.
Can art ever be evil? Is it ever art’s fault?
Yes, comes from evil artists.
Name a piece of art that scares you.
[Munch's] The Scream is terrifying.
Can art ever be too fine, too abstract, or too contemporary?
No, extremes are necessary.
Can species other than humans make art? If so, which species are the best non-human artists in your opinion?
Monkeys make nice paintings the same with cats, dolphins and whales do sounds nice as music.
Untitled, by Congo the Chimpanzee, c.1957
Unknown cat artist at work in the studio.
Briefly: what’s the main difference between art and everything else?
It's interesting.
Name one thing art can’t do, no matter how it tries.
Change the world.
Mike, your questions are nothing short of pure genius.
"Can species other than humans make art? If so, which species are the best non-human artists in your opinion?
Monkeys make nice paintings the same with cats, dolphins and whales do sounds nice as music.”
I like Ms'. Answers too. Talk about concise; you both really say something in haiku form. The fact that you bothered to accurately illustrate these tidbits really makes it work.
You go Boy!
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