Creative Lives
Five documentaries about artists
I love to be able to witness the artistic process and learn about an artist’s past. Documentary is arguably the better format than fiction for this purpose because it can touch upon important historical context and delve into the complexities of an artist’s life without being bound to a strict narrative plot. The five documentaries I am recommending showcase a range of artistic disciplines, and each artist has a compelling life story. The features give intimate access to notable artists Ai Weiwei and Nan Goldin, while the shorter works introduce audiences to equally exceptional but lesser-known creators Titi de Baccarat, Frank Wong, and Betye Saar.
Each time I watch a short profile of a new artist I feel like I have discovered a hidden gem. It is a reminder of the breadth of artistic talent that is in our communities that can often go unrecognized. One of my favorite shorts is Forever, Chinatown about artist Frank Wong who creates exquisitely detailed miniatures. It is moving to learn about Wong’s lifelong dedication to his art while working mostly in anonymity.
There has been a recent explosion of feature bio documentaries about famous actors, musicians, and celebrities, but these can often feel formulaic and blatantly commercial. For a feature length documentary on an artist to be compelling, the documentary needs to do much more than simply summarize the artist’s work and life. The two features recommended here, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry and All The Beauty and the Bloodshed are exemplary artist portraits for discovering intimate moments with the subjects and seamlessly incorporating a strong a political message.
I’ll be going into more detail about each documentary below. Some of the documentaries are a bit older, so I have added important updates.
IdenTiti
2 minutes, 2017
Director Tom Ryan
This is a haiku-like profile of artist Titi de Baccarat that captures his unique sculptures and collages. It is brief, so I won’t say more! He recently acted in the indie fiction film Nice People directed by Jeff Griecci. I saw this at the NYC Indie Theater Film Festival in February 2024, and it is a great anthology film that illustrates the darkness and humor of small town life in Maine.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business
8 minutes, 2020
Director Christine Turner
A creative portrait of the collage and assemblage artist Betye Saar. Using archival footage and photos the documentary moves swiftly through Saar’s expansive career beginning in the 1960s up until today. Saar’s work combines objects and styles from a broad range of cultures and time periods that result in pieces that are mystical and political.
I was introduced to this documentary through The New York Times Op-Docs series. This series is impressive overall for the quality of work and the wide range of stories and filmmaking styles. Most of the Op-Docs are available to watch for free online.
Forever, Chinatown
31 minutes, 2016
Director James Q. Chan
Frank Wong is a miniaturist living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The documentary showcases his miniature models of various homes, businesses, and locations throughout Chinatown that are no longer there. His extreme attention to detail is incredible and there is a special magic in seeing these real places rendered so vividly. It is a beautiful story of a gentle soul trying to preserve the history of his community.
Stream for free on Kanopy, which you can sign up for through your library or university.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
90 minutes, 2012
Director Alison Klayman
Ai Weiwei is arguably one of the most influential living artists. His artwork has been displayed throughout the world and his political work has challenged global leaders in the East and West. This documentary shows Ai at the height of his popularity, but also highlights the danger and exhaustion in criticizing the Chinese Communist Party. A lot has changed in the world since this documentary was released in 2012, but it is still a great overview of Ai’s major works and artistic process. Ai fled China in 2015 and is now living in Portugal. He recently published Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir, which connects anecdotes from his life to different stories of the Chinese zodiac symbols.
Stream for free on Kanopy.
All The Beauty And The Bloodshed
2 hours, 2022
Director Laura Poitras
Director Laura Poitras is known for political documentaries like Citizenfour, The Oath, and Risk that criticize the US government’s security policies and military actions. This portrait of photographer Nan Goldin is more intimate and artful, but is just as bold in its politics. The documentary cuts between the story of Nan’s life and her legal and public battle against the Sackler family. Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers knowingly downplayed the addictiveness of OxyContin, which helped lead to the opioid epidemic in the United States.1
Stream for free on Kanopy.
Meier, Barry. “Origins of an Epidemic: Purdue Pharma Knew Its Opioids Were Widely Abused.” New York Times, 29 May 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/health/purdue-opioids-oxycontin.html.
I have to remember to come back to this to watch these documentaries. Thanks for sharing