Monday, March 30, 2009

Normal Art



I know many people not in the Art World are surprised at what passes for normal. Take this painting at a recent opening in a rather conservative gallery. No one even batted an eye. Other work verged on pornography, but that’s the point—it’s playing with porn, it’s not porn.
Of course, some of this stuff can’t be shown in schools or public places. But shouldn’t artists be permitted to make this kind of work, if that’s what they feel they must do?
Ongoing discussion.

3 comments:

Fluffy said...

I saw the exhibit and I agree with you.

Richard Gleaves said...

I don't see this as a paradox - art's focus on esthetics rather than ethics makes for a different slant on the world. So regarding the work in question, the issue becomes not is it offensive, but is it cliche?

Answer: monumentally dumb one-note cliche, so nobody bats an eye.

Or: what rhymes with "o-ring", and starts with a "b"?

kloeamongtheturks said...

thanks for chuckle...

Have a personal story about this, need to write a post. But "offensive" art can have real world consequences beyond just discussion, where eye-batting would be preferable to action.