Well, What Is It?!

             Last class we discussed the explosion of art in the 20^th century.  One artist in particular, Marcel Duchamp, changed the notion of the art making process.  In other words, he changed the way people looked at art.  He introduced the idea of conceptual art, meaning, “it is what it is” to contemporary art.  One of his most famous works is the fountain (1917).  This piece challenged the conventional art making process and ultimately the art market.  Duchamp’s actions greatly affected contemporary art.

Today, we discussed the meaning of art.  Milton Glaser described art as the most powerful tool for survival.  As humans, our objective is to survive.  Therefore, art is an essential part of life; it is important to the consciousness of humans.  According to Glaser, if something moves you to attentiveness it is considered art.  If not, it is something else.  Art is something that should spark a reaction in you, whether it is positive or negative.  The thing that calls attention to a piece of work is the artist’s art experience that they create.  Art serves several different functions; it can be spiritual, ritual or anything else. 

Bruce Nauman is one of the most innovative and provocative contemporary artists.  His practice includes a broad range of media.  He notes that he is an artist in a studio, and therefore anything that he does in studio is considered art.  When he realizes that he has mice in his studio, he sets up a tape to film the activity of the mice.  He began working in the art field a few years into his college education.

I think this discussion on what is art is intriguing because there are so many different opinions.  After watching Glaser’s video and then Nauman’s video, it is evident that no two people have the same opinion on what is art, or on any single work of art.  It is amazing to see that something so simple as a piece that looks like a men’s urinal can serve as a turning point in contemporary art.  After doing a little research on Duchamp, I was fascinated to see that the fountain was rejected from an art show because it was not considered art.  However, Duchamp is now famous for this piece and it is considered such a vital part of contemporary art and the change in the way people began to look at art and the process of making art.  One thing I found interesting was one of his pieces.  After talking about what art is and how it should provoke some sort of reaction from its viewer, I found a piece of work by Duchamp that I really didn't understand.  When looking at it all I could say to myself is, "What is that?"

This piece is Duchamp’s The Large Glass.  He executed the work on two pieces of glass with materials including foil, fuse wire and dust.  This piece is intended to compliment the visual experience.  Duchamp stated that this “hilarious picture is intended to depict the erratic encounter between a bride and her nine bachelors.”  When I looked at this piece I did not see any of this.  I personally had a hard time seeing the point of the work until I read an explanation of it.  I felt more of a reaction when I viewed his fountain piece and some of his other pieces I viewed online.  For some reason I struggled with this particular piece.

-Kristen