Should the practice of using exclusively words as a mean of representing something figurative be considered a work of art? Got into a discussion with someone I know about this, and he should know better because he works in the art world and reports back to the government about it. Anyway, it all started because he has this canvas in his living room that simply says: 'Reject The Mother'. That to me is not art at all, but he reckons that it is, and simply because it can be when heavily contexualized, like he says. I don't fucking think so, leave the writing to the writers, or at least incorporate it into something that has visual qualities, rather than a nice display of one's calligraphy.

[MellySingsDoom]

Well, I guess in a sense it could be art, but personally it sounds like a very poor piece of work. Really, most conceptual artists should have their bottoms spanked and then forced to serve me pints at the King's Arms.

[Washing Machine]

I dunno, Words on a canvus can be quite striking sometimes. Some of Yoko Ono's stuff comes to mind. Although 'Reject The Mother' hardly sounds insightful

People always argue whether or not something is Art. I think The question is: Is it good Art?

[nicfit]

Originally Posted by Washing Machine

I dunno, Words on a canvus can be quite striking sometimes. Some of Yoko Ono's stuff comes to mind. Although 'Reject The Mother' hardly sounds insightful

People always argue whether or not something is Art. I think The question is: Is it good Art?

Words everywhere, on a wall, on the sidewalk, on an ad, on a piece of paper can be striking. That does not mean that those can be considered "art", but rather that, quite obviously, words have power.
IMO.

[Washing Machine]

Yes but to argue whether something is art or not is a boring vicious circle. If we just accept it is art, then it allows us to debate whether the said piece is good or bad.

It's not a boring vicious circle. If there weren't people whose thought resisted all the crap that gets called art (cooking, anyone??), we would start thinking that farts can be considered as such..........and probably someone has found an excuse to call them art already!

[nicfit]

Originally Posted by Washing Machine

Yes but to argue whether something is art or not is a boring vicious circle. If we just accept it is art, then it allows us to debate whether the said piece is good or bad.

Yes, I understand what you mean. this applies to almost every aspect/ "type" of contemporary and modern art in general, actually, debating wheter some "pieces" are art or not is usually pointless, as long as something gives me some kind of emotion/feeling/reaction I'm happy. My "taste" will be quite stressed when I'll go to the Biennale in venice, I suppose...

[nicfit]

Originally Posted by sarramkrop

It's not a boring vicious circle. If there weren't people whose thought resisted all the crap that gets called art (cooking, anyone??), we would start thinking that farts can be considered as such..........and probably someone has found an excuse to call them art already!

more than a "boring vicious circle" I think it is just a discussion that relies too much on personal tastes, I guess. Eventually I think that "real" art will stand the test of time, while crap "artsy" things will just be forgotten. Hopefully.

[Washing Machine]

haha yeah but I just accept everything is art. In so far as everything is an expression of something. A fart could very well be art, its certainly not good art and I wouldnt spend much brainpower on it.

Perhaps my position comes from being brought into debates by idiots who insist on decrying modern art, when their only point of reference is Tracey fucking Emin. For the sake of argument its just easier to accept its art.

[Washing Machine]

Originally Posted by nicfit

Eventually I think that "real" art will stand the test of time, while crap "artsy" things will just be forgotten. Hopefully.

Exactly. Thats how I feel...

There is a tendacy out of sheer outrage to give some works more publicity than they deserve.

[Rob Instigator]

works like this?

 

[ALIEN ANAL]

haha fuck horse, oh i agree

[Rob Instigator]

I do not like art pieces that are just text. Leave that to poems and books and plays and such. I want my art to be something other than language.
I find that using words in art pieces makes things too specific, even if you have the words hidden or the words are not the m,ain visual cruz of it. words are loade symbols, like guns, crosses, lips, etc. they are easy and detract from deeper meaning.

FUCKHORSE

[floatingslowly]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

works like this?

 

OH MY FUCK!! that's brilliant.

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

I do not like art pieces that are just text. Leave that to poems and books and plays and such. I want my art to be something other than language.
I find that using words in art pieces makes things too specific, even if you have the words hidden or the words are not the m,ain visual cruz of it. words are loade symbols, like guns, crosses, lips, etc. they are easy and detract from deeper meaning.

FUCKHORSE

I agree with that. Sometimes I think that some artists use words in their work because the images are weak and are not expressing much. In saying that, graphic design makes brilliant use of words, when there is talent behind it.

[nicfit]

 

art or not?

[racehorse]

alot of really boring pseudo conceptual art uses text on canvas and to me, most of it looks half-assed and hackneyed. there are many exceptions, however, eg. Joan Miro's "Une Étoile caresse le sein d'une négresse" springs to mind most immediately.
it's interesting though to examine whether words are effective for what they bring to the piece asthetically, or what they contribute conceptually. it's also interesting when the characters are in a language foreign to a viewer, for example, japanese/chinese brush calligraphy. these have nowdays become so popular, with people purchasing prints for their walls etc... it forces the audience to focus solely on the visual qualities of the words.
interesting to speculate what outweighs what... i'm not sure about it myself.

[Rob Instigator]

Barbar kruger uses graphic imagery and graphic typesetting to create her artworks. I consider them art, because she strives to have a balance sometimes between imagery and text but it is all very conceptual. I mean, do you want to look at a barbara kruger art piece hanging in your house every day?

a good example of language in a work of art is renee magrittes

Leci N'est pas une pipe

 

(This is not a pipe)

It is at the Menil Colection in Houston TX

[ALIEN ANAL]

haha rob
i was just about to post that image, that is one of my favourite paintings
but i was looking for his other paintings of oblong shapes with writing in them.

[StevOK]

That "Fuck Horse" thing reminds me of my friend Eddie's stuff. I'm gonna go look for his stuff...

 

He's removed some of his older stuff, I remember there was one that said "You can lead a horse to water, but can you make him think?"