ART, WHATEVER IT TAKES
Since the early pandemic in 2020, Rome Art Program has conducted a series of interviews, “Art, Whatever It Takes.”
Artists, Art Critics, and Art Historians living in Italy, the U.S., and U.K., share their insights during these powerful times.
Interview with Sarah Eyton
Sarah Eyton: Voice to Nature. Sarah Eyton is a fine art photographer, specialising in portraits of humans, flowers and dogs. Sarah studied BA HONS in 3D design and photography at Brighton University. Her first book, ‘Anthony Eyton by Sarah Eyton. Lockdown diaries’ was published this year’.
RAP: What is your definition of "art" today?
Sarah: My personal definition of art is not as loose as some peoples. I am firm believer in the fundamentals of art, drawing observation technical skills and an understanding of what has come before from there, one can branch out and experiment but I believe the basics are very important.
RAP: Art is dynamic and regenerates itself... How does it change and how has it changed us?
Sarah: There will always be people practising art, styles may change and tastes may come and go which can be intimidating but artist should always be able to express themselves in whichever way they can.
RAP: What role does art play today?
Sarah: Art should make you feel something within a wide spectrum. Some art will make you think and some will just make you feel... The artist’s role is to take themselves and the viewer there, the viewer’s role, if they are lucky enough, is to be taken there.
RAP: What would you recommend to an 'emerging artist' today?
Sarah: The act of making art doesn’t really change much over the years however there are so many effective ways now of marketing one’s work aside from going down the traditional gallery route. Experiment a lot and find your ‘voice’. Try not to spend too much money doing it! One must try to distinguish between the process of art and what an artist does, and the business of art, which can be an entirely different world!
RAP: How have new technologies & media culture changed art today?.. made it better or worse...? ...challenges?
Sarah: Media culture has changed art in its reach and scope which I believe has made it better for serious artists but it has also opened the doors to work from others that has not been vetted or edited… Just like with the advent of mobile phone cameras everybody thinks they’re a photographer, with a little bit of encouragement from social media, there are a lot of people who think that they are artists as well… The immediate access to presenting one’s work can easily dilute it… Whilst that is possibly more democratic I think it can make an already confusing arena, even more confusing!
RAP: Understanding, interpreting, and then possibly judging a work of art; which is the right way to approach a work of art?
Sarah: I don’t believe you have to know something about a work of art to understand it or appreciate it however gauging one’s initial physical and emotional reaction to something and then reassessing it with more knowledge about the piece of art, is always an interesting experience.
RAP: What is the real role of Academies and Art Schools today? What can artists learn from them today?
Sarah: Everyone can benefit from learning basic and advanced skills and having ones thoughts and approaches questioned by good teachers. They provide a place and time to grow into ones artistic expression but hopefully prepares the student for life outside the Institution and how to navigate and survive the business of being an artist.
RAP: How do Art Galleries and Museums position themselves today, and, in your opinion, how should they?
Sarah: In the UK a lot galleries and museums are free to enter. This is so important and ideally all countries would make this possible. Young people should be introduced to Art at the earliest possibility and neither wealth nor status should be a barrier. Art Institutions should keep pushing the boundaries for public awareness of past and more contemporary artistic expressions.
RAP: ...will art save us?
Sarah: Artists explore both the eternal verities and the ephemeral and transcendental, applying their own intangible imagination and unique process. They manifest things that are both within and beyond the realms of the viewer’s imagination, which goes a long way to create new worlds... The ability to get lost in another world, for both viewer and artist is an invaluable gift to society and mankind.
saraheytonphotography.com
@saraheyton