Famous conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth speaking about his work and his interest in Sigmund Freud and the exhibition SIGMUND FREUD AND THE PLAY ON THE BURDEN OF REPRESENTATION
Going, Going, Gone by Donald Kuspit www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/kuspit/kuspit9-15-99.asp quote: The New Old Masterism is a quiet rebellion against the avant-garde assertions -- they are the ironical dregs of avant-garde agonism -- that "art only exists conceptually" (Joseph Kosuth) and that "art is really over with, having been transmuted into philosophy," as shown by the fact that "the objects [of art] approach zero as their theory approaches infinity" (Arthur Danto). To which the New Old Masterism responds: "the rule of theory always rises in proportion as creative power falls" (Max J. Friedländer).
1st of all the phrase 'forms and colours' is already misleading, since colour is but an aspect of form. artists actually do create forms (not 'use' forms), as opposed to 'meaning' ('meaning' is that which is created through form). creating form is giving the observer a tool with which they can create their own meaning. even Duchamp is about form. the ready made is a form. it can, and actually has been interpreted in many different ways. a good form creates space in the observer's mind. that's the purpose of art. Claiming that abstract expressionist art is but a trophy for art collectors is both ignorant and hypocritical. conceptual art has been appropriated by the market in just the same way. What can an artist do about it? Withdraw their work from the market and build up their own infrastructure. Is JK doing that? No.
Going, Going, Gone
by Donald Kuspit
www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/kuspit/kuspit9-15-99.asp
quote:
The New Old Masterism is a quiet rebellion against the avant-garde assertions -- they are the ironical dregs of avant-garde agonism -- that "art only exists conceptually" (Joseph Kosuth) and that "art is really over with, having been transmuted into philosophy," as shown by the fact that "the objects [of art] approach zero as their theory approaches infinity" (Arthur Danto). To which the New Old Masterism responds: "the rule of theory always rises in proportion as creative power falls" (Max J. Friedländer).
1st of all the phrase 'forms and colours' is already misleading, since colour is but an aspect of form. artists actually do create forms (not 'use' forms), as opposed to 'meaning' ('meaning' is that which is created through form). creating form is giving the observer a tool with which they can create their own meaning. even Duchamp is about form. the ready made is a form. it can, and actually has been interpreted in many different ways. a good form creates space in the observer's mind. that's the purpose of art. Claiming that abstract expressionist art is but a trophy for art collectors is both ignorant and hypocritical. conceptual art has been appropriated by the market in just the same way. What can an artist do about it? Withdraw their work from the market and build up their own infrastructure. Is JK doing that? No.