Robert Ryman: Possibilities | Art21 "Exclusive"

Episode #046: Robert Ryman installing "Philadelphia Prototype" (2002) at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia.

Robert Rymans work explodes the classical distinctions between art as object and art as surface, sculpture and painting, structure and ornamentemphasizing instead the role that perception and context play in creating an aesthetic experience. Ryman isolates the most basic of components—material, scale, and support—enforcing limitations that allow the viewer to focus on the physical presence of the work in space.

Robert Ryman is featured in the Season 4 (2007) episode Paradox of the Art:21—Art in the Twenty-First Century television series on PBS.

DISCUSS: What do you think about this video? Leave a comment!

Learn more about Robert Ryman: http://www.art21.org/artists/robert-ryman

VIDEO | Producer: Susan Sollins & Nick Ravich. Camera: Bob Elfstrom & Mead Hunt. Sound: Tom Bergin & Roger Phenix. Editor: Monte Matteotti. Artwork courtesy: Robert Ryman. Thanks: The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

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[woofer0doofer]

I was always deeply conflicted about the 28,000 a year I pay to attend PAFA's MFA program. Now I see the good it does. Why bother to feed hungry children, build colonies on Mars, or conserve rainforest when I can not only earn a worthless piece of paper, but underwrite many worthless pieces of paper being taped to a wall!!

[toiseywoisey]

what a con! i fell for that crap in art school because it made my immature self feel superior and self-important--like i had a line on some higher knowledge that other poor souls just couldn't understand! Luckily I finally learned that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, it probably is a duck.

The only impressive thing is how long Ryman has maintained this ruse!

[chandru1103]

Owning art is traditional and time-honored.

[toiseywoisey]

Chandru:I 'm not sure what you mean by a "status symbol"?"Owning art","being an artist"?Talent doesn't exist in a vacuum, if the talent isn't expressed there are no witnesses and it doesn't exist except for in the mind.If it is expressed visually it is held-up to the history and criticism of the tradition it builds on, because art expression doesn't exist in a vacuum either.Your comment recalls Da Vinci's statement "the supreme misfortune is when skill outstrips the idea" (and vice versa?).

[toiseywoisey]

Griffin:

It's extremely bloodless intellectual self-delusion, elitism, or both. It does call to mind the parable about the naked Emperor mentioned in a posting below.

[TheMWGriffin]

Haha. I just don't understand why people feel drawn to this type of material. I think it is as you said previously "feel superior and self-important--like i had a line on some higher knowledge that other poor souls just couldn't understand."

[toiseywoisey]

Even judging him by his own criteria, Robert Raushenberg beat him in this silliness by doing a black painting in the Fifties, I believe!

[TheMWGriffin]

Totally! Absolute ridiculousness. I think that the paintings done by elephants are more inspirational and talented. Search for elephant paintings on google if you don't know what I am referring to. I just don't understand how this no-tallent-ass-clown ever got into a gallery. Not creative, not talented. I could demonstrate the same thing on any construction site. This stuff just makes me laugh. And all of the aforementioned opinions are all personal opinions. But seriously? I agree.

[chandru1103]

Now you can either except the nature of art...or not...but to say that art has become a status symbol in the past 100 years is just ridiculous. It has been a status symbol of power and wealth for a millenia. And I would like you to define talent...I am much more interested in free-thinkers with marginal technical ability than people with just "technical ability" and no creativity. Although don't take this comment to mean that I like this aesthetic, because that is not true at all.

[AgnesShadbolt]

Hello and thank you for your message. I am rather interested what possessed you to even view this Robert Ryman video, if you think he is not a valued and important Artist as I know he is. there are millions of Artists globally that produce in general the same standard run of the mill Art. How boring.... Ryman is a "higher intelligent" gentleman.

Kind Regards

UK Artist: Stuart Ridley

[toiseywoisey]

Stuart:

After hearing him on the video, what could possibly inspire you to hear more (please note the numbers on the videos counter)?!