week two reading and questions
In the first part of the reading the book discussed video and photo production of installation art pieces and how it ruins temporality and perception. Seeing installation art through a video or photo could not make up for actually being there to experience it. Even in a video installation you must be in the original location to completely appreciate the piece.
The second part of the book covers the fact that art changes with the viewers perception. In Tiravanijas and Ackermans work a truck traveled across the country. The installation consisted of two videos in the back of the two artists on their travels. Each different place they traveled to offered different locals who viewed the piece differently.
possible questions......Can viewing a video of an installation art piece ruin it's temporality? and...Should the artist always have meaning behind their work? And if there was no meaning intended but the viewer finds meaning somehow, is it still seen as created by the artist, or is the viewer the creator of their own perception.
David Shannon
exhibition review
When I went to the exhibition I was mainly drawn to Erwin Wurm's work. Although I viewed and participated in everything, Wurms work spoke to me and was captivating in a strange way. I found myself asking, "Why the hell is this guy sticking tubes of lotion in his pants?" It was verty strange to me and very funny at the same time. Some of his work actually made me comfortable in away although I'm sure it was meant to make me uncomfortable. I liked his videos most of all because they were less cement. In the videos you saw him through trial and error trying to accomplish the positions shown in the various photographs and many more.
The other work that I found interesting by Wurm was "Searching for a Bomb". The pictures were extremely uncomfortable in nature. One picture consisted of a man with his hand in another man's mouth. It was very strange and compelling.
Although I mainly focused on Wurm's work I was still drawn to the other work. There was on piece with hanging shoes that ceated a rhythmic sound when one put a quarter in the slot. I can honestly say I never put a quarter in because there was always someone there ready to do it for me. The other part of the exhibition which I liked a lot was the old paintings. The room in which they were in were so dark and comfortable with couches in a circular form. The light was easy on the eyes and didn't distract from the art.
My other favorite part of the trip was being stopped by the guards. It was fun in a way, and I kind of felt like I was doing something wrong and dangerous but it turned out we were just going to look at a guys studio. It was funny to me.
David Shannon
