It feels like there is pressure to produce work that is 'authentic' - work that truly shares what you feel - screw your eyes tight shut and squeeze the precious you-ness out into the world... But why?!
Does art exist for the artist? Or for the viewer? If art exists for the artist, do it in a backroom and keep that shit to yourself. If art exists for the viewer, why do they care whether what you create is authentic?
Perhaps because they have been told that they should want art to be authentic?
Perhaps because nobody likes to be lied to?
Perhaps because art is inherently voyeuristic and everyone wants to see your blood and guts?
Authenticity matters if art is self-expression because there's not point expressing something that isn't real... But people lie with their words all the time, why shouldn't they lie with their images? I think the question can only be answered by looking at why each artist makes art.
My answer for my own work
In my work, I want to share an experience and a point-of-view, I want people to be forced to recognise a way of seeing the world, but also be enriched by doing so. I want to notice things, and help others to notice those things too, I want to reflect on things, and help others to reflect on them too. In that context, authenticity is a tool (gasp!), a tool to help make work that is compelling, because compelling work will meet my aim. Authenticity should be wielded as a tool, and applied where it is valuable.
Totes going to regret saying this ;)
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