“A cat in a box is not an unusual sight. Put a box out, the cat will jump in, to play or to hide for a nap, depending on its mood. Although cats appear aimless most of the time, their behavior is not random at all. Both domestic and feral cats go through life following feline patterns, much like humans follow societal customs and norms. The latter go through transformations as new contexts arise; we make use of what’s available according to our wants, our needs, and society’s expectations.
Kittens are everywhere these days, probably because people love their cats and -thanks to developments in image and social media technologies- they can photograph and post their favorite pet a hundred times a day. As a matter of fact, people photograph everything all the time. Indeed, with the emergence of new resources, the production, collection and diffusion of images has become available to everyone. And while the spontaneity of this approach is certainly attractive, unleashed instinctiveness may also result in maniacal behavior, or at least a certain randomness of thought. The unabashed proliferation of random images is the proof.
Imagination is an artist’s most precious tool… Mind-wandering is desirable in this case, and even necessary: a key to art’s deepest secrets, a place where chaotic ideas resolve and deliver something more than what meets the eye. Yet, too many resources may put this process at risk. Given unlimited budgets, plenty of free-hands, and the promise of stardom at the end, artists may forget their true calling and gladly accept to act as business-endeavor directors if the price is right. Decorative props and spectacular events appear to be proliferating these days as a result, presented as art for the art market’s sake. We know the artists who sign them, they’re the celebrities of today’s art world. Overwhelmed by an overabundance of both means and ends, urged by wealthy uninformed art consumers demanding “Bigger! Brighter! Better!”, it doesn’t take long before randomness blurs their vision, misleads their intention and, ultimately, compromises their creation, lowering thus to a minimum art’s real value and sense. ”
Rose Marie Barrientos
