Well, I know that many people say that they could do the same - or that their three year old or whtever could. But they don't!
It's too easy for anyone to call another a brainless lemming. It could be said that the ones who propound their (not very eloquent) opinions on this ng are brainless lemmings - I'm not saying it. I don't say that of anyone. I do know that I respect the opinion of those who know more about a subject than I do and I haven't seen much of that round here when it comes to art.
You might be surprised to see the art which decorates my walls and ceilings and garden ...
Ah but the act of calling supporters of such art "brainless lemmings" is all part of the overall artistic process. The Fauvist movement at the beginning of the 20th Century got its name because they were called wild beasts by people who didn't like their art.
Just as those who like Damien Hirst's work are fully entitled to praise and buy it (and enjoy it) others have the right to pour (artistic) scorn on them for doing so. The discussion of art by "those who don't know much about art" as you put it is essential in a civilized society (or even a ng). There can be no "right" or "wrong" in such a subjective area, only discussion about right and wrong.
The issue of art as an investment is relatively modern and, some may say, injurious to art but the buying and selling of art occurs between consenting adults and it's their money.
"sPoNiX" wrote | Why is it that when damien hirst pickles a dead rabbit it is | "Art" worth million, but if I were to do exactly the same | it'd simply be a "pickled rabbit" worth nothing?
The only way it would be worth nothing is if Ebay don't allow pickled rabbits. If Ebay allow pickled rabbits then somebody will buy it.
But like sPoNiX said, if I was to "compose" a piece of silent music, nobody would take any notice. John Cage was well known for writing avant garde music from the early 40's, at least 10 years before he wrote 4'33". I haven't had the chance to design any avant garde buildings, but I have been trying to dabble with weird sounds, but nobody has shown any interest. That's because my work is not fashionable.
I didn't call anyone a brainless lemming. I asked whether you felt that people who follow fashion for the sake of it, like the King's courtiers who praised him for going naked, could be described as such. As far as knowledge of art is concerned I could be called brainless, but I'm certainly not a lemming.
Maybe, but I don't know you well so I have no preconceptions about your taste in art. Mary, I am not decrying your taste or anyone else's - I merely pointed out that fashions and trends play a large part in what is classed as "good" and "bad" art, and free thinkers form their own opinions.
Did you see Dairmuid the gardener on TV last night, building his display for Chelsea? He had some really weird ideas I thought, but some aspects of it were clever, and I would have praised him for those. What I didn't like was the people who gushed with fake praise about the whole thing, not because they really liked it, but because that's what they thought would enhance their own personalities. They are the modern King's courtiers in my view, as are many avant garde art and music fanciers.
This reminds me of something I read a few years back. Apparently CS owned a work of modern 'art' consisting of a head sculpted from frozen blood (the artist's own IIRC).
CS's woman (Nigella Lawson [1]) had the builders in to extend the house or some such - electrical work was included in the plan so guess what happened to the freezer and the blood....
[1] Yes the one who cooks Shepherd's pie with Venison and calls it 'Rudolph Pie' 8-)
Now come on Geoff, shape up! It's in B# of course! I heard that every time he played it, John Cage insisted the piano was detuned to A=435.
You can watch a complete performance of it on line if you have Real Player. It's at
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Scroll down to where it says Online Video Item 4 or search for 4'33". It even has background sounds of jet airliners and a police siren!
I reckon they are all practical jokers really. I can just see John Cage or Tracey Emin getting home after a long day at the silent piano or at the Tate, and laughing their socks off at all the idiots who've been taken in.
"Andy Hall" wrote | geoff wrote: | >>Besides, the elephant didn't apply for an arts council grant. | >Even if they had, it would have been truncated | tusk, tusk.....
Sort of - depends on the temperature and the coefficient of expansion of the piano strings - but there or thereabouts.
I tried to learn it but it was too hard. I was only 6 and the piano lid was too heavy. Besides, I could tell the time at that age.
Oh NO!! Did you miss it? That was the best performance I never heard! I've got it on tape somewhere if you'd like to not hear it.
Never watch adverts, but I expect you're right!
OK, it's time for me to go to "My Bed" and think of "All the people I ever slept with". On second thoughts no, the thought of Tracey Emin puts you off don't it? G'night. :o)
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