Visit to Saatchi Gallery
Prior to visiting Oxford for TED Global I had a few days in London. I decided to visit the Saatchi Gallery. It was interesting.
There was an exhibition of American Abstract artists. Some of the work was wonderful (to me). A huge pile of clothes on legs by Guerra de la Paz was both intriguing and worrying.
But some of the work was incomprehensible to me. In the latter category was the work of Gedi Sibony.
A work of plastic wrap and tape (see below) on the wall is described as a “monumental assemblage of plastic wrapping and packing tape. Its overwhelming scale magnifies its fragile physicality, making its precarious presence simultaneously awesome and embarrassed.” Just to be clear it is not monumental in scale (it is about 6’ high). I genuinely don’t know if the curators are having us on.
Among the most moving pieces is Old Persons Home (2007) by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu (it was not part of the American Abstracts). It strongly evokes a genuine sadness and humanity.
And I guess my overall takeaway is that I appreciate art that I don’t have to do a background research project in art history to understand. If the work only exists in the context of other art works (as I think is the case with Sibony’s work) then it leaves me a bit cold in my real and visceral world.
What do other’s think about some of the more obscure art that is currently being produced?
Juilee Pryor
it seems to me that the more kooky irrelevant and obscure the artwork the more likely it was paid for by a hefty government grant…. the cult of the shiny and shallow I think of it as…. it’s the art world equivelant of mindless TV like big brother and dr phil et al….. pulls in the crowds but utimately means ziltch…..
Pilgrim
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Julee
I must admit I felt a bit like that with some of the work. It just was not comprehensible unless you read what it was supposed to be about. There seemed to be little skill, beauty or accessible insight behind some of the work. And yet the curators sounded like they had found a new Mona Lisa. Made me feel a bit thick to be honest.
Juilee Pryor
that’s why it’s exclusive art… it excludes everybody except those in on the joke…
I have this theory about the Aura… ( walter benjamin is good to read for more info on this )... if an artwork has an authentic aura (of greatness or truth or whatever) about it… it compells an audience to it… you can’t help yourself… you need to stroke the painting or whatever… but if and artwork … like some of those above … needs the audience to be brought to it… and it needs to be explained … it lacks authentity and has no lasting aura…. so its power is a trick or mirage….. and won’t last…. really great art is authentic and powerful and has a visereal power that communitates to an audience without the inderdiction of words or theory….
banksy is one of the only contemporary artists in the UK that seems to have any authenticity or any real ‘aura’ to his work at the moment and he wouldn’t be involved in shows like this if you paid him….. it’s all smoke and mirrors… no substance and no power… except to bamboozle the audience and make them feel small and stupid… really powerful art connects at a deeper level with it’s audience…. that’s what makes it dangerous …this sort of contemporary art is a con on so many levels…
Pilgrim
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Juliee
That is a really useful perspective. When I see (a lot of) Aboriginal art it has that aura, as indeed does the work of the old masters or the impressionists. It does seem to be lacking in a lot of art of the last few years.
Mel Brackstone
Sounds like the curators were having a go…..but I guess that’s their job :)
georgiegirl
There are many types of art in the world, but I hardly think a bit of plastic and packing tape is something that deserves to be in a gallery. The nursing home is really sad to see, cos there are bound to be places like that around. I hope there was other art in the gallery that made you smile.
monocotylidono
Art is in the eye of the beholder… apparently! I must say, a lot of “modern” art (e.g. Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst, etc.) leaves me cold and goes over my head. Even some classic pieces like Picasso’s Guernica, which I understand but don’t like!
On Juilee’s point above, Bansky is in a different league. His work is specifically designed to be anti-art and approachable, and he’s very clever and funny with it too. Just look at the Bansky vs. Bristol Museum work…
George
Shanina Conway
I sometimes think the real “Art” is in the curators description;)
Janis Zroback
I posted some articles on Dash Snow, considered to be the* muse on the New York art scene and recently deceased at 27, at Earthmonster Illustrated this month…Snow’s work is currently on exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery…makes these shown above look like the most wonderful things you’ve ever seen….click on the link and leave a comment….
Pilgrim
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I have had a look at this and agree. My over-riding sense is of genuine sadness. When art becomes so destructive (and I really reject the connection between self-destruction and art) it concerns me. Art can and should be life affirming – critical perhaps, beautiful maybe – but always life affirming.
Jordan Busson
Ha, agree with Juilee!
Alice McMahon ...
This is typical for Saatchi – he’s the guy who made Tracy Emin and Damien Hirst.
My work “Chains” was exhibited and sold at the Saatchi Gallery this past January, because of the Showdown. (Yes, really!) I visited the gallery and felt the same as you….what the? All of my friends who visited the exhibition felt the same way, and even went so far to say mine was the best piece in the place. I don’t believe that, but I know what they meant, so much of what was being shown was inaccessible, incomprehensible, or just plain poorly crafted. I think the “What?!!” factor has more than had it’s day. Interestingly, an employee at Saatchi told me Charles loved my work – and he seems to be showing more figurative pieces recently. There is hope.
Pilgrim
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Alice now that is interesting. I think there is a real conflict between what normal people want to buy and are interested in and what a very small art elite want to promote as “cutting edge”. I think the gap is also getting bigger. And that this is a problem.
shanghaiwu
ha ha/love your words
“some of the work was incomprehensible to me”
tkrosevear
just another confirmation of our social transformation sharing our heART with the world who sees…
thanks for sharing your experience Martin ;) xoxox ♥
Janis Zroback
Thank you for checking out EMI…I know how busy you are…
I just posted the most comprehensive though short article, on the age old Question “What is Art” in my blog News and Views ..since I read it I no longer have any doubts about what can be considered art…...in future I plan to simply quote sections of the article, whenever the topic comes up which it is bound to do…
Pilgrim
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Yes, I thought this was an excellent article and indeed have found the other parts of the blog to be quite insightful. I like the discussion you had with Peter on pornography and violence.
Janis Zroback
And I totally agree about the destructive element in Snow’s work…Art should indeed be as you have said..”life affirming”