tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673965398898619575.post7035580132800231070..comments2024-02-05T01:03:12.476-08:00Comments on Que j'ai rêvé: This is just a Tribute...Paul Rekkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877967547670893967noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673965398898619575.post-91973562338720215742007-10-31T14:08:00.000-07:002007-10-31T14:08:00.000-07:00That's the joy of it -- he was just phoning it in....That's the joy of it -- he was just phoning it in. The story, if I remember correctly, is simply that Rauschenberg had forgotten about the potrait of Clert that he had been commissioned until the last minute, so he sent this telegram instead. There's such a glee in the act that it's not even the affront it necessarily might be.<BR/><BR/>I think that's the common thread in all of these artists. They're complexity comes from their simplicity. Their work on the one hand is the basis for huge theoretical arguments. On the other hand, it's just a urinal on a pedestal. It's just a bunch of pink cloth surrounding some islands. It's just four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. What's the big deal?<BR/><BR/>The big deal is that they did it. They did it and they are entirely aware of how silly or simplistic it is. And they are entirely aware that that fact detracts nothing from the work.<BR/><BR/>Rauschenberg didn't withdraw from the exhibit as most artists would have. Instead he mocked the importance of his submission. And I bet he was suprised they displayed it. (The curators deserve almost as much credit as the artist on this one.) And it's just two more examples of what art needs to remember. Shooting from the hip and keeping a sense of humor.<BR/><BR/>I could probably make a book of everything I've said art needs to be. I could devote a few chapters to this blog alone. But to bring this around to the veeeery origin of this discussion (Stelarc, that is), that's because art needs to be everything and art needs to be nothing. I'll talk for hours on what art should and shouldn't do. But come the end of the day, I know that my view is just one voice in the crowd. I'm not going to lower it, but I'm not going to tune the rest out, either.<BR/><BR/>Which didn't really focus on your question, Tony, but it was an excuse for me to do some more thinking out loud. Thanks!Paul Rekkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877967547670893967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673965398898619575.post-54751815489021320002007-10-31T12:44:00.000-07:002007-10-31T12:44:00.000-07:00Though I'd agree with a lot of your list (fountain...Though I'd agree with a lot of your list (fountain excepted obviously), what is it about Iris Clert that fascinates you so? (I hadn't seen this till today but you can probably guess my thoughts. To me it seem more like he was just phoning it in instead of creating.)Tony Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02141675073979325374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673965398898619575.post-91201524138288262082007-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:002007-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00Premise 1: All elephants sleep in the nude.Premise...Premise 1: All elephants sleep in the nude.<BR/>Premise 2: Fritz is an elephant.<BR/>Conclusion: Fritz sleeps in the nude.<BR/>P1: Nudes are often art.<BR/>P2 (C1): Fritz is nude when he is sleeping.<BR/>C2: Fritz is art when he is sleeping.<BR/><BR/>Ya, OK, I have no idea why I felt like doing that just now. But it felt kind of good, nevertheless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com