The Controversial Art of Martin Creed
Martin Creed has a reputation as one of the most controversial artists in the UK. People seem to either love him or hate him. He won the prestigious Turner Prize in 2001, so evidently some critics love him. But what's your opinion? I've listed some of his works below.
Work No. 227: Lights Going On and Off. He programmed the lights in an art gallery to turn on and off every five seconds.
Work No. 850: Duveen Commission. He hired athletes to sprint through the Tate Gallery every 30 seconds, all day, every day for four and a half months.
Work No. 628: Half the Air in a Given Space. He filled an art gallery with blue balloons.
Work No. 610: Sick Film. He made a video showing a series of people who walk into a white studio and vomit. (The first section of the film, below, is on youtube.)
Read more about his work here and here.
Work No. 227: Lights Going On and Off. He programmed the lights in an art gallery to turn on and off every five seconds.
Work No. 850: Duveen Commission. He hired athletes to sprint through the Tate Gallery every 30 seconds, all day, every day for four and a half months.
Work No. 628: Half the Air in a Given Space. He filled an art gallery with blue balloons.
Work No. 610: Sick Film. He made a video showing a series of people who walk into a white studio and vomit. (The first section of the film, below, is on youtube.)
Read more about his work here and here.
Comments
I think I'll stick to chocolate.
Posted by KDP on 09/19/12 at 10:41 AM
The definition of art has changed considerably. Won a prize? With what malady must one be afflicted to reward... whatever this is? I place no blame on Mr. Creed. He is laughing all the way to the bank.
Posted by Todd on 09/19/12 at 12:25 PM
I don't personally care if anyone spent $100,000 on their education, only to come out appreciating someone barfing on a stage or defecating in public. It's disgusting - and it is NOT art, no matter how you label it! Now, if this guy had only included a mescaline influence, as seen recently before here, we might have something. But, alas.
Posted by done on 09/20/12 at 12:18 AM
What isn't art? Art isn't about drawing a picture, it is about the hidden message within the picture/sculpture etc. It is also what it means to the individual; if it disgusts you, then the art has worked; a message has been conveyed. Too many people think art should be about recreating life in exact detail on canvas, but that really isn't what art is about.
Posted by dumbledoor on 09/20/12 at 05:30 AM
Sorry, DD, but I've got to disagree. I don't like most of Picasso's work but I get most of it. I think a lot of the stuff in museums is there simply because it is old (eg: Botticelli wasted a lot of eggs!). Greek Iconography is an excuse for the church to make money. And, no, art doesn't HAVE to be true representation of life but....
Crap, like what is being discussed here, is only meant to draw attention to the artist and itself! About on the level of a two year old laying on the floor, kicking his heels, and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Years ago I hung a B/W photo of the Acropolis in a show. I call the piece "The Dying Parthenon" to draw attention to the fact that the marble was, in fact, crumbling and, IMHO, not enough was being done to preserve it. Most everyone that came into the gallery either got the message or didn't say anything but one elderly gent got seriously irate! In the act of calming him down and discussing the title we had quite a crowd paying attention to my views on the subject. A hit!
On the other hand, last year I snapped a simple little shot of 2 blossoms hanging on a branch of some weed or other. Mounted and framed that simple little shot has made most women who've seen it feel a bit better. A hit!
A month ago I saw some Arte Povera at a gallery here in town. 100 bottles stuck on a piece of plywood. A butcher's knife hung from a string. And, the paste of resistance a rock in a chair that, sorely wasn't entitled "Rock In Chair" which would have, actually raised it to the level of art.
Yes, I prefer my art to represent something from real life but I'm open to suggestion. But, whatever art is it isn't what this guy is doing.
I know we're not going to agree on this but just had to get an honest 2cents worth in.
Crap, like what is being discussed here, is only meant to draw attention to the artist and itself! About on the level of a two year old laying on the floor, kicking his heels, and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Years ago I hung a B/W photo of the Acropolis in a show. I call the piece "The Dying Parthenon" to draw attention to the fact that the marble was, in fact, crumbling and, IMHO, not enough was being done to preserve it. Most everyone that came into the gallery either got the message or didn't say anything but one elderly gent got seriously irate! In the act of calming him down and discussing the title we had quite a crowd paying attention to my views on the subject. A hit!
On the other hand, last year I snapped a simple little shot of 2 blossoms hanging on a branch of some weed or other. Mounted and framed that simple little shot has made most women who've seen it feel a bit better. A hit!
A month ago I saw some Arte Povera at a gallery here in town. 100 bottles stuck on a piece of plywood. A butcher's knife hung from a string. And, the paste of resistance a rock in a chair that, sorely wasn't entitled "Rock In Chair" which would have, actually raised it to the level of art.
Yes, I prefer my art to represent something from real life but I'm open to suggestion. But, whatever art is it isn't what this guy is doing.
I know we're not going to agree on this but just had to get an honest 2cents worth in.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/20/12 at 05:58 AM
Expat - I am now seriously in awe of you. and would like to see some of your work - what is online?
Posted by done on 09/20/12 at 06:07 AM
http://www.imagesby.me is my web site. The B/Ws are from the 1st show but The Dying Parthenon was lost many years ago and I can't find the negative anywhere.
I hope you enjoy them.
I hope you enjoy them.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/20/12 at 09:16 AM
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Category: Art | Body Fluids