On Giacometti
Seattle Pt. 2/3
Alberto Giacometti is a legend that not many know about, it seems to me. Anyone can name Picasso. Comparatively no one can name Giacometti.
This ought to change.
The Seattle Art Museum had a special exhibition on his work in conjunction with the Giacometti Foundation. I had more time than I expected, and decided this is an important thing to do.
Before offering some photos of the show, I want to offer a small pretext to this human being’s work. For me, his artwork clarifies how frail life is for us; that is, at its most basic level, life is always a fragile thing.
I think of this quote I came across, “beautiful is difficult,” quoted by Ezra Pound spoken by Aubrey Beardsly in response to being asked, “why do you always draw horrors?”
I think of the same fragility I notice and cherish in the music of Rachmaninoff or Nine Inch Nails.
I think of a quote from Mary Oliver:
“Those who are the world’s working artists are not trying to help the world go around, but forward.”
And, finally, one of the most impressive things I took away from this show is that he was so often quoted that he thought his work failed. He often abandoned projects because they “missed the mark” or felt incorrect to what he wanted to express. Imagine making something genuinely original and still feeling that you have failed? No one is immune.
We have had Giacometti; we’re all better for it.
More soon,
Trevor
