SIGGRAPH: the Salon of the "fin du vingtième siècle"
There is an interesting parallel that can be drawn between the Paris Salons
of the 18th and 19th century and the annual SIGGRAPH conferences.
Their locations are somewhat different, however, compare a spring in Paris
with a hot and humid summer in a southern US city. In both cases
"visual works" are submited reviewed and exhibited. The criteria and the
nature of the works, of course, are different. In the Paris Salons the
works of art consisted mainly of large oil paintings, while the siggraph
works are more akin to "performance art" (visuals, twenty minute presentation
and eight pages on glossy paper). The works of the Salon were judged for
their "realism" and "heoricism". The latter might seem rather strange in
our decadent times, but a century ago, it was equally important that the
work somewhat heightened our moral awareness (of course, being a product of
our age I don't know what this means). Siggraph works are also
sometimes judged for their "realism", I am not sure whether morals
play a significant role in the reviewing process though.
When I lived in Paris, I had the pleasure of seeing many of the works
that were shown at the Salons. The Musée d'Orsay has some great works,
which even today make me say "waow, how realistic, that dirt especially
in the corner of the painting, you almost want to pick it up".
Interesting how the works that were refused are actually the ones that are
best known today.
Should we create "le SIGGRAPH des refusés", located preferably in Paris
and held during the springtime ?