***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 06:22:26 +0100
   [From]: Juan JosŽ D’az Infante <jdiazinfante@altamiracave.com>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Re: America?

Hi all


I would like to make several observations about the discussions in order
to straighten certain concepts that sometimes are not obvious to the
bear eye. 

Discussing something that is happening in Brooklyn is part of the
"global" nature of the net. Being anywhere at any point. This event has
to do with Newt Gingrich, Mother Teresa, Lady D, Giuliani, Saatchi, 40
million or more latinos that live in the US and the Brooklyn Museum.

Art is about poetry. The politicians have learned the usage of the
poiesis in politics the same way that the people of advertising.
Therefore Art is not about politics unless it is being used in the
politics arena and if such is the case does not belong in an Art Museum.
The same way advertising belongs to an advertising museum.

It is the very little knowledge of a lot of people involved in art that
creates myths based on quotes of many books, and smartness about making
a puzzle (the case of Ofili). It is something that sort of sounds smart,
relies in being heavily anecdotic (just in the anecdote should give us a
hint that something like that is bad or not art), the scatological part
has the intention of being daring (Evel Knievel was daring).  A bad
piece of art has the right to be protected against censorship, being
protected against censorship does not make it a good piece of art.

I am posting a note published on Ofili winning the Turner prize

"ARTnewspaper.com does not support the Turner Prize. In the opinion of
the Editor, it is less about promoting and rewarding young British
talent and more about promoting Britain as the land of never-ending
eccentricity. The credo of Nicholas Serota and the Tate Gallery who with
a board of judges determine the Turner Prize has become, "the stranger
the better". As weirdness is the deciding factor, one can hardly take
the Turner Prize seriously. However to many, it is construed otherwise.
So for those many, we give you...the Turner Prize 1998... "

On the other hand the public does not demand quality, following the
expression of PT Barnum: "There is a fool born every minute".

Juan