Melding of visual expression and the written word

I have always been fascinated with the writings of artists - I believe it is important for us to be able to not only communicate visually but also through the written word. How can we be taken seriously if all we do is "paint"? I think being able to articulate our thoughts through writing as well as we do visually should be a main focus for any artist, especially the artist whom chooses abstraction as their method of visual expression. This is why it fascinates me to read what people like Pollack and Rothko have to say about their work, process, and ideas. Although "art for art sake" is a nice thought, even artists with wholly non-representational work have thoughts and reasons behind their choices, and I am always interested in knowing about those thoughts and ideas. I don't think it has been thought about enough, I look online for interviews and such (even though interviews are more sterile than actual journal entries or what have you) but there seems to be little. I was so glad to have come across "Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art" in college because it gave me what I had been looking for in terms of the above mentioned.

We as artists have a unique perspective on the world, and I think it's only natural for writing to coincide with whatever form of visual expression any given artist chooses for their own. I can't stand the pompous artists who believe their art should speak for itself - it's a cute thought, but rather arrogant when considering that we are offering visions from within ourselves for an audience to take in - why should we not back it up with our own thoughts on our "thoughts"? It's a constant, elastic give and take, and if the artist remains in the shadows and offers nothing beyond their image, I believe the image - no matter how moving or beautiful - gets lost in the shallow emptiness that is the artists conceited absence. Of course, that is just my opinion on the matter - there are bands whose music I used to like until I realized the kind of people they were and now I just turn the dial when one of their tunes graces the air waves simply because I have no use for their stuck on themselves, rock star attitudes - attitudes offered to the public in spite of their brilliant lyrics and moving guitar riffs.

The artist should remember that they are as much a part of their work as the medium in which their work is produced. "Theories and Documents..." is a healthy reminder.