Context

Artist Alley is intended to be an exploration of fan-made work as a form of contemporary art, and takes inspiration from a section of fan conventions by the same name. Most Conventions have things like Panels, Gaming Areas, Cosplay Contests, and Dealers’ Halls, but I chose to focus on the area where the primary function was on the creation of artwork. By looking at the artwork that these fans create, the goal was to ask the audience to bridge the gaps in our self imposed art hierarchy where popular culture and entertainment are considered a “lower” form of art. There is a noticeable and strange dichotomy between the taboo of being in fandom, and the natural state of being a fan. Most people experience fandom at different levels throughout their whole lives; Some are casual and just have a favorite musician or writer, while others go the full distance in seeking out more content, creating fan art, and attending events. It seems like the entertainment factor of certain obsessions are what trigger a negative response in people’s perception of fan content, but what is art except the ability to say f*** you to limitations. Creation is an ever evolving amalgamation of ideas, and unfortunately for the more elitist of us, that includes the young Tumblr artists with a Procreate account.

Curatorial Statement

When you think of a “Contemporary Art Exhibition”, your first thought isn’t usually the fanart you saw on your latest instagram doomscroll. The question is: Why? Is it because it isn’t experimental enough? Is it because it’s not considered fine art? Is it because it’s digital, or maybe it’s because you saw it online first? What is the reason for this stigma?

As a longtime, and frequent, fandom joiner, I could not help but wonder why one form of art is considered more legitimate than others, while still feeling the same, if not more awe at the talent of fan artists compared to more institutional work. Art is anything and everything; It’s protest, it’s a message, it’s entertainment, it’s beauty, it’s manifestation, and it’s for all. Knowing that, I wanted to understand and bridge the gap between this self imposed hierarchy, and appreciate fan artwork for what it is: communities of artists inspired by a love for something that had an impact on them. Through my research, I have looked at fan events and made connections to art festivals with their own contributions to the collective art of fan-beloved creations. Artist Alley is a culmination of all these ideas into one project with the added influence of my identity as a multi-fandom artist. Artist Alley presents art that commonly lives on the internet as something with the potential to draw in new audiences to the art world. I don’t want people to see this as purely a fan event or a fine art space, but rather a place for us to let go of preconceptions and let ourselves fangirl over something that makes us happy.

Reflection

Originally, I thought to use my exhibition to highlight animation and digital art works which garners a similar, if lesser, aversion in the art hierarchy, but I considered whether or not adding the fan label would have greater impact. In past research, I have explored how digitized artworks and animation is seen as a lower artwork because of its interconnectedness with childhood. I’ve looked into the projects that have contributed to the shift towards animation as a vehicle for creativity and maturity, not just kids entertainment. I could have gone further and made it the focus of my project, but I also considered if I wasn’t just saying something that’s already been said before. Many of the examples that I referenced were written twenty years before I was born, and have been reiterated since through larger events. I wanted to use this opportunity to explore what my own experiences as a fan could contribute to the conversation. Fan works would be even lower on the metaphorical totem pole than regular digital artwork. Not only is it seen as even more immature, but it also has a level of controversy because of the perceived unoriginality of creating art inspired by others. I think it’s important to consider the potential of this methodology of art creation. For a lot of younger artists, their access is both limited to and expanded by the internet. Not everyone has the means to see fine art in person, but they easily can through the internet. In conjunction with that is also their access to all things fandom. Where you can find original artists, you can also find extremely talented individuals who are inspired by their (and your) favorite media. For many people, including myself, art knowledge is an eclectic mix of classic, contemporary, and fan art. I grew up learning to draw from still life practice in school art classes and comic books at home. Once I was exposed to the internet and joined every available fan circle I could, I learned from other fan-artists as well. And thus, I made the switch to creating my exhibition based on fan culture.