VISIONARY REVUE

NOTES ON
VISIONARY ART
AS ANTI-MODERNIST
continued

MODERN ART

- The cultural value of Modern Art is directly linked its financial and investment value. It is a commodity subject to financial speculation, media manipulation and power politics. Its cultural value rises and falls in relation to its market value. Our perception of the work alters as a result of its latest auction price (unfortunate examples: Van Gogh or Picasso).

VISIONARY ART

- Visionary Art leads an outsider or marginal existence. The spirit-quest of most artists precludes them from an overwhelming interest in the material value of their work. The artists are too busy exploring and painting the inner realms to promote their art as a commodity (attend gallery openings, 'make contacts' etc). The painting remains a work of art.

For more information on the editor and his works
visit his website at: LCaruana.com

PARIS - FALL 2004

MODERN ART

- Modern Art is linked to the Gallery system. The Gallerist's role consists of narrowing and focussing our vision onto a particular fashion item or speculation commodity - so as to increase commission (usually 50% of the sale price). The works are then purchased by state-run museums (power politics) which keep them in the basement, or by collectors who put them in storage (why did Charles Saatchi recently lose an important part of his collection from a fire in a warehouse?).

VISIONARY ART

- Visionary Art is linked to the internet. Rather than conveying the painting's 'painterly qualities', the internet im-mediately presents the image. The web allows the viewer free access to the artist's vision and even offers direct communication with the artist himself. The gallerist, as intermediary and spokesman, becomes obsolete. And the gallerist's role is now subsumed by autonomous artists and collectors with independent thinking and breadth of vision.

      With the end of the 20th century we have hopefully witnessed the end of Modernism and the long shadow it has cast over our souls. We are witnessing the beginning of, not only a new century, but a new epoch or millennium.
      For the better part of its history, in both the Occident and the Orient, art has subsumed itself to the more sacred purpose of bringing the Holy before our eyes and into our hearts. With the turning of Time's wheel, we can only hope that art may resume its ancient and eternal role once more:

to be revelatory...

L. Caruana
Paris, August 2004