Page 80 - Art-Addiction

Marte sZIrMay

1946 born in Budapest, hungary
lives and works in Auckland, new zealand

My initial Fine Arts training was based on a traditional figurative approach to sculpture. While I am not
figurative, occasionally I tend to be representational. AHowever within this framework there is the potential of
endless movement, both intellectual and visual, Art, of which sculpture is a sub-category, is a name used to
label one aspect of our cultural landscape. It is a term for which it is impossible to locate a universal definition,
and therefor a specific function. It is all culturally linked. Art works as such have not changed their own nature
or function throughout history. It is society’s changing needs, attitudes and economic philosophy that has
changed art’s function. Through technological advances visual communication has increased on a global scale,
over the past 50 years. globalisation has given rise to the multifaceted character of contemporary art practice.
The contemporary art work still communicates its message to an audience, but that audience may vary in size
from the global to the intimate, and will have varying and contradictory expectations of art. This is what charac-
terises art’s function today -an indeterminate purpose that can be everything or nothing, universal or intimate,
political or aesthetic, et cetera. On saying that an art work still requires interaction from its audience through
the senses, intellect or a physical engagement with it. Art works are still perceived by some as something to
’transport’ the observer beyond the everyday, mundane concerns of daily life. Art works are still collectable
and are still tied to the economic superiority of the few. The economic superiority of ownership still divides the
’patron’ and those who can only enjoy art works as ’ worshippers’/ onlookers in a gallery/museum, with all the
narcissistic benefits that this provides.
FIsH OF HappINEss, 2001 cAst Bronze 12 x 12 cM. / 4¾ x 4¾ in. 
 CHasE plaza aUCKlaNd, waTEr sCUlpTUrE, 1987 stAinless steel 178 x 51 x 152,5 M. / 7000 x 2000 x 6000 in.

76 ARTaddiction