***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:55:22 -0700
   [From]: Britta Erickson <britta2@leland.Stanford.EDU>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Re: web curating/exhibiting

I love Juan's story.  I just have to ask, is that really when people
started always wearing black to art events?  It always strikes me as
bizarre that a set of people who would call themselves individualists
always wear the same black outfits.

I also have to ask, what is a "bank art foundation" doing supporting a
commercial event?  Was the money raised supposed to be donated to some
worthy cause?

Art can be a game, it can be serious, it can be anything and everything all
at once.  Same goes for writing about art.  Sometimes it seems grand and
important, other times--or even at the same time--it is pure bullshit.  The
writing and the art are sometimes just busy work, and it is the life
underneath that counts.

So from that point of view, why not wear black, and why not buy the most
expensive painting, and why not tease the cretin who bought the most
expensive painting?  It helps keep us busy.

--Britta


>
>I was yesterday at a contemporary art show (prices ranging 20, 000 dollars
>and upwards). Sponsored by a major "bank art foundation". It was very
>unfortunate that somebody asked me what I thought. You can imagine the gala
>setting and the typical question: "Does this painting talk to you?"
>
>The painting was like any other painting, nice colors, semi abstract, not
>insulting to anybody, decent composition, decent size, decent signature,
>very pretty.I decided to be frank to that semi-known set of people dressed
>in black, black and black (that fashion established by the science fiction
>action movie men in black). I said, all the paintings had a strong statemen=
t
>to say: "Please buy me and hang me in a rich person=B4s house"... Maybe ten
>seconds after I had finished my very cynical remark a very well dressed man
>in a dark blue suit (Hermes tie and maybe two aesthetic surgeries) came int=
o
>the group to announce "I have bought the most expensive one"...In a very
>fast reply I said "Are you sure?" It sent him  right back in a panic  to
>check the prices again.
>
>The average artist in today=B4s world of art is continuously painting (or
>creating) a work of art that imitates a work of art that keeps saying:
>"please, at least hang me in a museum"... Art is a game we make the mistake
>of taking it seriously.
>
>regards
>
>Juan



-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-
Britta Erickson
66 Peter Coutts Circle
Stanford CA  94305
britta2@leland.stanford.edu
Tel/FAX:   650 857-1007
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/art/china/