Beautiful Losers

This was not my first watch of the film Beautiful Losers. I watched it whilst in hospital last year in a bid to attain some much needed artistic inspiration. My first watch left me feeling inspired to produce art that didn't necessarily have a meaning or purpose and that didn't necessarily have to be 'good' by any definition or opinion. It affirmed in me the need and desire to paint and create purely for the sake of doing. And I felt good about it! I was at the time becoming consumed with the 'What does my degree require' and the work i was churning out was god awful!

On my second watch... in a lecture theatre, i approached the film much more critically then the first time, I really listened and still inspired to paint, found myself slightly more enchanted by the group of artists encapsulated in the documentary, because it is clear years on and now successful, the art makers are still dedicated to their craft and their enjoyment and respect of it and their peers is so easily witnessed in their expressions, tones and lack of pretension. They are far more accessible and identifiable.

The film in essence centres around a collective of artists brought together by sharing an ideal, to create. To create what they wanted to see and to produce what made them happy, to deliver a message in their way and seemingly not worry about how that message is received/ perceived. Selfish art. and why not? I found it refreshing in an age were more and more frequently its the signature that sells the piece and gets it recognised and less about the piece itself. They seem to allow the work to speak for itself, lending a new meaning to whoever looks/watches/feels it.

I loved how each artist was inspired by their emotions and external influences, the finished piece was generally just that and there was no blurb or artists sentiment. No bullshit.

Alot of their work seemed renegade, Fluid, Organic.

Many would acuse them of being lazy, criminal, opinionated. All fair statements but so what, in expressing themselves they seemed to have ditched the pretence. Take it or leave it but here it is. I admire that.