THE NEW ART

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 489, 5 November 1948, Page 5

THE NEW ART

»ir,--i was much interested in your article "What Does the New Art Mean?" Art and intellect appear to occupy to a large extent incompatible spheres, as Mr. Woollaston expresses it. He has neglected like other artists to develop the art of explaining his pictures, . Dr. Carrel, the eminent worker in medical research, in his book Man the Unknown advances the theory that’ in human development the artistic faculties make their’ appearance first, and are dominant up to about the age of eleven. As the reasoning faculties begin to develop this artistic faculty declines (note the high standard of art in the primary schools compared with the indifference in the secondary schools). In a case of arrested development, where the reasoning faculties fail to develop normally, the emotional and creative faculties of the artist continue to be dominant. It appears .to me that the more extravagant forms of the new art are the outcome of a childish desire on the part of some artists for public notice and recognition. Instead of being content like the old masters with the natural satisfaction which the exercise of creative and emotional powers brings with it, they create something different in the extreme from accepted standards, call it a new -ism, and intimate that it is progress in art. The public react by taking notice and talking about it, they try to find a meaning (like solving a crossword puzzle), but this does not add to its aesthetic value.

H. M.

HELM

(Pangatotara).