Last nite I went to a local bar to see a humble exhibit of found slides that had been water damaged, resulting in a natural deterioration of the images. The exhibitor had the slides blown up and presented upon constructed light boxes emulating a large scale slide. The images belonged to his parents, presumably on mid-century travels around the globe. The eroded slides were beautiful and made interesting by their decomposition. The slides that caught my eye were the ones that mimicked impressionist paintings, lost in diaphanous smears of color. I could not stop thinking about erosion.
What is the role of natural erosion in found Art?
Initially, when an artist chooses to exhibit a found object, he or she is essentially the scientist placing the object beneath the magnifying glass. There is an inherent talent in spotting an object and seeing its potential as a thought and sense provoking thing. Further yet, artists throughout history have experimented with different ways of deconstructing objects. Artists have strived to simulate the chaos that exists in nature within their works of art.
There is entropy in nature. It is the natural reversal of ordered things, thus, the order of life.
When an artist chooses to present to the public a collection of found objects which have been manipulated naturally, the outcome is not contingent upon his or her will. There is a lack of responsibility at hand. Natural deterioration takes the blame, if there be a fault. It is fascinating, even mind blowing, to look closely at an eroded object. Then, to associate that feeling with the artist behind the exhibit is perplexing and certainly raises some questions.
There is entropy in nature. It is the natural reversal of ordered things, thus, the order of life.
When an artist chooses to present to the public a collection of found objects which have been manipulated naturally, the outcome is not contingent upon his or her will. There is a lack of responsibility at hand. Natural deterioration takes the blame, if there be a fault. It is fascinating, even mind blowing, to look closely at an eroded object. Then, to associate that feeling with the artist behind the exhibit is perplexing and certainly raises some questions.
everything went south after Duchamp. the everyday replaced the magical, and art was dematerialized. intent was more important than execution. the object no longer mattered. and the aura was lost.
ReplyDeletewe cant see through those eyes anymore, we are not allowed. we can't build with those hands because they are not valued. the most we are permitted to do is the arrangement of trash.
If you care about what you're supposed to do anyways. pshaw.