The discussion about the unmade bed and what is art yesterday on this site ?

Question

There was too much debunking of today's art. There is plenty of great work now and some rubbish, of course, just as in the past.

Answer 1

Obviously there must be a lot of fantastic art around today, but the only ones you ever see winning any awards or money are the ones that are really awful.

Answer 2

I think the art in the unmade bed is the fantastic way Tracy Emin self publicises. She knew her work would cause controversy and raise her profile. Clever woman.

But I totally agree with you. Debating what is or not art is a circular argument with out end. Pointless.

Answer 3

Whilst in art college in the late 80s it was suggested that "artists" would need to be or produce controversal works in order to gain media attention.Modern art seems to be almost anything since duchamps urinal installation.picasso used to sign blank paper and give it to students to use,bit of a rebel him. (wish i was there then) Henry moore set up a trust for artists, good for him....etc etc.....There really is no definative answer to this question....fashions come and go and come round again....it really is an Enigma when you ask What is ART at any point in history/time....I was at the tate modern with my college to see a retrospective of American art and ended my visit with these words to my college tutor.....Im the boy whos telling you that the emperor isnt wearing any clothes and im off home.I have never regretted that statement because there is one hell of a lot of people who just go along with anothers view and there are a lot of vested interests in art as an investment. Unmade beds,inside out concrete houses,green cats,five legged drawn and painted out of focus elephants(by an alchy artist who died of liver failure) sawn in half animals in chemicals,human autopsys live,on and on ive seen lots of these works and appreciate differing aspects of them all...but i really do prefer an honest effort whether modern or traditional,installation or an old obscure masters assistant to some Aholes idea of an investment! Bit of a rant is good for the soul,thanks for instigating that. Cant get the spell check to work,so please do not inform me that i miss pelt anyfing ko!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

It appears that once you have become a recognized artist, then you can produce any junk and call it art. I have said it before and I will say it again: if something is rubbish then it is rubbish, it doesn't matter who it's made by.

Answer 5

not one to usually like modern art, i do find tracey emins work appealing-its all about her-she leaves herself open in such an obvious way that its hard to not be impressed and more than courious (aka noisey) about whats gone on in hwer life and give some kind of judgement-its human nature-i like her tent-everyone ive ever slept with better-but generally modern art to me is a load of bull at the mo, a matchbox stuck to a piece of wood is not art-art has to be personal and something joe bloggs couldnt do themselves!

Answer 6

In the same way that America has its Shock, Jock Howard Stern, Britain seems to have its Shock Art.

And that is what is winning awards.