What is Conceptual Art? - Ms. Urioste's Art...
Transcript of What is Conceptual Art? - Ms. Urioste's Art...
What is Conceptual Art?
Definition:
Conceptual art is art in
which the concept(s) or
idea(s) involved in the work
take precedence over
traditional aesthetic and
material concerns
R.Mutt / Duchamp “Fountain” 1917
Picasso 1942
Conceptual art was intended to convey a concept to the viewer,
rejecting the importance of the creator or a talent in the
traditional art forms such as painting and sculpture.
“In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important
aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of
art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made
beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The
idea becomes a machine that makes the art. ” —Sol LeWitt
Joseph Beuys
1921-1986
The Legend of Beuys
Signature Materials of Fat and Felt
Wolf packBeuys asks us to
look at his work in
the point of view
of a German who
shared in the
devastation and
guilt following
WWII.
The Pack
piano
In this sculpture the felt takes on a suppressive role. The piano, an object used
for individual expression, is completely encased in the thick heavy material. In
this case the felt suppresses expressive qualities of the object it entombs. If we
think about the policies the National Socialists enacted against artists and
musicians in Germany.
Plight (piano room)
In “Plight” the felt again surrounds the piano.
Some have noted that the size and shape of the felt bundles are similar to that
discovered in Auschwitz…bails of human hair which was processed and made
into felt. This potential meaning also allows us to look at the Felt suit in a
different way.
Felt suit
• Beuys Felt
Suit…
hearth
Auchswitz demonstration
Nuremburg action
Pipes (environment)
Abandoned sleep of all my loves
Pain room
7000 oaks
PerformanceHow to Explain (Modern Painting) to a Dead Hare
“Even in death a hare has more sensitivity and
instinctive understanding than some men with their
stubborn rationality."
Beuys in America
In 1974, Joseph Bueys visited
America for the 1st time.
As an illustration of his confidence
in his theories and abilities…
Instead of bringing with him
sculptures or objects,
He came empty handed and
planned an exhibition tour of ideas.
He set out on a 10 day, three city
lecture tour of New York, Chicago
and Minneapolis, creating art
objects, actions and “multiples”
along the way.
multiples Act as reminders
Multiples
“Energy Plan
for the
Western Man”
Creativity = Capital
Art as teaching, not teaching art
Art as Teaching, Not Teaching Art
Joseph Beuys
believed passionately
that art should change
the way people think.
Open admittance policy
• Beuys imagined that an
expanded application of
human creativity would
result in something he called
“Social Sculpture”.
• Social Sculpture was
broadly defined as a
conscious and continuing act
of shaping all human
systems (political systems,
the economy, or a
classroom, etc) from a
chaotic state to a form, or
structure.
• Social Sculpture should be
accomplished collectively,
cooperatively, and across
disciplines.
• Life must be renewed by the
lessons of art in order to be
sustained.
Intuition
“Intuition”
Joseph Kosuth
Jenny Holzer
A controversial movement, supporters believe that
Conceptual art expanded the boundaries of art and stopped
the influence of commercialism. Critics see the movement as
dull and pretentious. Although some Conceptual artists
attempted to make serious political and social statements,
more often than not they were preoccupied with analyzing the
nature of art. Conceptual art was the forerunner for
installation, digital, and performance art, more generally art
that can be experienced.