‘The True Artist Helps the World by Revealing Mystic Truths’ – Bruce Nauman 

Bruce Nauman is an American artist, whose creations are continually testing what we label as ‘artwork’. Since the late 1960’s he has created new forms, reshaped old ones, through use of film, sound, video and neon pieces. His work has inspired the artwork of countless artists, and still does to this day.

I was so excited to visit the Tate as this is Nauman’s first major exhibition in London for more than 20 years. This year I haven’t been able to attend many art shows or exhibitions due to COVID 19. So the last two weekends I have been so happy to finally be back viewing others interpretations of this crazy world through their art. I got to encounter some amazing immersive installations, using sound, moving images, and poetic sculptures. This post is a little review around some of the incredible work I saw and what I took away from the experience as a whole. 

One of my favourite pieces by Nauman was displayed at the entrance of the exhibition. It reads ‘The True Artist Helps the World by Revealing Mystic Truths’, I feel this is truly the basis of his work, as the Tate describes we are viewing Nauman’s ‘universe’. Every time someone creates art, it is a representation of their experiences and life. How I write and how I create is individual to me, because what I produce is a reflection of my take on the world seen through my eyes. At first glance a lot of the meaning behind Bruce Nauman’s work is hidden to the naked eye. The reason being what he has created is his specific interpretation that is hard to grasp straight away. Walking further into the exhibit it was so interesting to not only learn Bruce Nauman’s take on societal structures, but see how my own were repeatedly challenged.

When you google or research Bruce Nauman’s he is famously known for his work depicted through aesthetically pleasing neon signs. Included below are his pieces ‘One Hundred Live And Die’ and ‘Human Nature/Knows Doesn’t Know’. ‘One Hundred Live And Die’, is a collection of neon news headlines that irregularly appear and reappear across the screen. This piece plays on the idea that individuals eventually become statistics rounded up to the nearest hundred. Nauman’s piece ‘Human Nature/Life Death/ Knows Doesn’t Know’, focuses more on the materiality of language itself. Forcing us to consider our own relationship with the speaker and other viewers in the gallery, through neon tubing. These pieces truly make you stop stare as you walk into the room they are displayed within. In return they stare back at you, imprinting their colourful message upon your soul. Every individual part of neon art is equally as mesmerising in its own way, and were some of my favourite parts of Bruce Naumans exhibition.

‘One Hundred Live And Die’                                      ‘Human Nature/Knows Doesn’t Know’

What I noticed when walking through the exhibition was how many art pieces people often skipped over. Nauman had been clever to cover each part of the exhibition with hidden gems and meanings. As I studied his first section of the exhibition, I found the meanings were harder to decipher and you simply had to stand still and take it all in. A few of his pieces for example ‘Shadow Puppets and Instructed Mime’ or ‘Black Marble Under Yellow Light’, were immersive experiences that consume you in them. It almost felt as if you were in Nauman’s mind itself, seeing each cog and wheel turn. The huge emphasis on sound and moving image allowed me to move from each singular room whilst being immersed still in the whole exhibition. I loved watching couples discuss their interpretations of Nauman’s designs, each with their own take on his work. However what I loved the most about walking this exhibition solo was how much more I was able to take in and interact with the art. As I glided from room to room, all I had was my little guide book and my own thoughts.

Walking around galleries and exhibitions it lights me from the inside out to see people sharing their creations. It’s the same when I listen to a friend’s new song or I read someone’s new blog post. These all started as ideas, probably sketched out onto pieces of paper as a draft, now they’re here in the flesh and making the world a better place for it. The past few months I’ve doubted my skills in my career and my writing. With everything going on in the world it’s natural to feel lethargic and unenthusiastic about sharing our work. After visiting the Tate again I have realised how much of a gift it is to be able to experience others emotions and expressions through art, and in return create it ourselves.

Putting your art out there is incredibly nerve wrecking, but the most important thing we can do is push past that fear and share it with the world anyway. Remember that your art should be first and foremost for you, and sharing those creations is secondary. When I write something that I have poured my soul into there is never any hesitation to share these pieces. It’s the work in between, the hesitant pieces, slightly unpolished that I label in my head ‘not my best’. What I tell myself everytime I sit down and create is that these pieces of writing are just as important. They show growth and more importantly determination to a craft that sets my soul on fire.

If you have found yourself stuck in a standstill with your creativity, my advice would be to stop doubting, stop questioning and press share. Even if you think it’s imperfect, or you hate it, put it out there so in the future you can look back and see how far you have come. Growing up, the arts was never seen as a serious career path I could take, however I know now how dull society and my life would be without it. So keep viewing, keep creating, keep sharing art in all its beautiful forms. 

The world needs more of it.