Avignon in Provence is rightly revered for its historic cultural icons, such because the immense Palace of the Popes. However in recent times, Avignon has additionally develop into a scorching spot for modern French ‘idea artwork’ or just ‘con artwork.’ Expressing a contempt for the same old gallery-based presentation of artwork, con artwork as an alternative regards the degenerate bodily world as its gallery (certainly, as its material) whereas navigating the unavoidable paradox of slender gallery rejection however expansive gallery acceptance. The decision of this obvious paradox is central to the appreciation of con artwork.
Relatively than imprisoning us within the bourgeois paradigm of visiting (say) the Musée d’Orsay, with its insolent insistence that ‘this and solely that is the sort of place the place nice artwork occurs,’ we will expertise a transcendent liberation by embracing the con artwork perspective that the aware act of curated perceiving can create a way of artwork in and of itself. That’s to say, we could be guided by conceptual artists to mission our perceptions past bodily manifestations to the essence of the idea implied by the matter, if solely we will actually see it for what it actually is.
As an illustration, one of many seminal expressions of latest French idea artwork could also be found in a seemingly-derelict shopfront on nondescript backstreet of Avignon’s outdated city – and with deliciously self-conscious irony, being located just a few moments away from the Palace of the Popes. ‘Idea Retailer’ was an set up created by the Avignon Anarcho-art Collective. The very identify of the work itself – the mix of ‘idea’ and ‘retailer’ – conjures the dialectical battle between the best of the notion of ‘idea’ and the putrid capitalist actuality of the phrase ‘retailer.’ The inherent contradiction that we will understand inside the title ‘Idea Retailer’ primes our consciousness for an existential battle that expresses itself however by no means utterly resolves itself within the artwork set up.
Trying intently, we will see that the very title ‘Idea Retailer’ is expressed in a random assortment of each upper-case and lower-case adhesive plastic lettering, intentionally subverting the standard and ‘appropriate’ solution to render which means, whereas retaining its ironic perceptibility. In the meantime, the plate glass of the shop window, which capitalism sometimes expresses as being clear, as if to say ‘there’s nothing between you and your materials wishes (besides cash)’ is definitely revealed as being grubby, dirty and apparently impenetrable for the plenty, absent direct motion.
Gazing by means of the grime, we’re confronted with the tawdry stays of lifeless and desiccated foliage, badly swept right into a nook. However the idea and actuality of the uncooked metaphor can’t be hidden from sight, if we select to see. On this soiled nook are capitalism’s even dirtier secrets and techniques uncovered: rapacious deforestation, world warming and tasteless flower arranging.
What’s capitalism’s reply to all of this? As we will see, merely a drained roll of masking tape. However no quantity of masking tape can conceal capitalist evil, revive a rainforest, make a vegan sausage tasty or, certainly, mend a damaged coronary heart. Not even the Bee Gees might work out that final one.
And what’s holding all of this collectively from the window-tapping, anarcho-rebelling world exterior? As we will see, it’s a concrete window sill: fatally cracked and crudely patched, a mere momentary forestalling of the inevitable corrosion and collapse of the bottom and the smashing of the glassy superstructure. Cautious the place you stroll, now.
Effectively, when you imagine any of that garbage, you’re much more cracked than the sill. ‘Con artwork’ certainly.
Wait a minute! Does (or did) the ‘Idea Retailer’ really exist? Certain… effectively, maybe not precisely as an Anarcho-art Collective set up. However the deserted retailer actually was on a tiny Avignon side-street within the outdated city, reverse a elaborate shirt store and a bit of pizza place with pink and white verify tablecloths. That ought to slender it down a bit.
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