“Everybody wants to get on the Van Gogh boat. There's no trip so horrible that someone won't take it. The idea of the unrecognized genius slaving away in a garret is a deliciously foolish one.”
- René Ricard, Basquiat (1996), written and directed by Julian Schnabel
- René Ricard, Basquiat (1996), written and directed by Julian Schnabel
The point of being an artist is to make such mind-bendingly unique work that you'd etch your name in the history books forever. Right? This was the initial assumption of 16 year old Mike Coughlin.
I then gradually realized that people make art for many other reasons- and fortunately, so have I.
Having not considered my original goal of fame in almost 30 years, I was purely satisfied with the love of art, even resigning myself to the idea that people might only see this body of work after I am dead.
Frankly, every artist creates work that will resonate with at least someone. But I have been interested in tapping into something that resonates with many. What is it about the heavy hitters, the Van Gough's that send shockwaves through the world? This is my pursuit.
As it turns out, I was so obsessed with creating and perfecting the work that I've neglected to push for notoriety. But the time has come to test my theories. Have I discovered the formula for uplifting the vibrations of my fellow humans through art?
More importantly then how other's perceive my art objects, what I have come to understand is this: "the horrible trip" that Julian Schnabel was referring to, is actually the pursuit of validation. Because the pure creation of art is LIFE GIVING, not horrible.
If my work resonates with you, please consider joining the journey via social media, or by supporting through a purchase.
I then gradually realized that people make art for many other reasons- and fortunately, so have I.
Having not considered my original goal of fame in almost 30 years, I was purely satisfied with the love of art, even resigning myself to the idea that people might only see this body of work after I am dead.
Frankly, every artist creates work that will resonate with at least someone. But I have been interested in tapping into something that resonates with many. What is it about the heavy hitters, the Van Gough's that send shockwaves through the world? This is my pursuit.
As it turns out, I was so obsessed with creating and perfecting the work that I've neglected to push for notoriety. But the time has come to test my theories. Have I discovered the formula for uplifting the vibrations of my fellow humans through art?
More importantly then how other's perceive my art objects, what I have come to understand is this: "the horrible trip" that Julian Schnabel was referring to, is actually the pursuit of validation. Because the pure creation of art is LIFE GIVING, not horrible.
If my work resonates with you, please consider joining the journey via social media, or by supporting through a purchase.
