Not all messages are displayed:
show all messages (22 of them)
I'm pretty ambivalent. I suppose a lot of open mindedness and sensitivity is being encouraged when the Tate modern exhibits a heater.
The fine art world has opened up very interesting creative territories, and its obviously decided to revel in them for a while. But all this preoccupation with conceptual innovation has detracted from things like atmosphere and emotional depth. Maybe sometimes its like Barb said, maybe there is some devaluing of human spirit occurring.
― Sam G, Sunday, 24 August 2008 02:15 (fifteen years ago) link
While I love rap, I'd have to interject that there's little preoccupation with any innovation, conceptual or otherwise, right now. I think most of the underground peeps and the big artists would love to have the clock turned back 10 years right now.
To contribute to the above conversation, everyone's made some valid points. But I also think that a lot of us are giving the work a bit too much context - at the time when Duchamp and Warhol came about, the kneejerk response and ensuing critical discourse was what they wanted (obv). I think we're somewhat past the time for that conversation, though. By either subconciously or consciously taking into account post-Duchamp modern art (at least the kind we're talking about), the frame of reference for the debate that they and contemporaries wanted is shifted and different. I think it's difficult, even impossible, to have that conversation after we've had Lichtenstein, Nagel, Koons, and the thousands of bullshit and legit artists that have followed in their paths. I think both the original artists and their critics on both sides of the debate would have wanted something new by now. I guess my point is that it's less important at this time to bring Warhol and Duchamp into the debate than it is to try to find something new and interesting (as Peter aims to do) or to trash people like Tony Rosenthal (like I enjoy doing. "CUBES!" "ACCUMULATIONS!" Not to devolve into the "Pollock's paint splatters? EVEN I could do that" mindset, but seriously. Circles, lines, and piles of stuff. Even I could do that.)
I think either way - whether you still think Warhol is trash or you still enjoy their play with artful context - they're laughing at us and giving us the thumbs up from their graves.
And I concur - Lichtenstein is a fuck.
― skygreenleopard, Monday, 25 August 2008 08:00 (fifteen years ago) link