Life models
What role does Art play in society?This is the big question that many Artists of all disciplines agonise over.How is my work relevant? Is my work challenging enough or crazy enough?Will people understand what I am on about? Fundamentally there are many things that Artists and practitioners superficially glaze over and don't acknowledge in order to generate a bigger profit and as a result forfeit any truth or depth that would relate to the general public. The article was very interesting in discussing the complications and contradictions of Art in terms of popularity,commerce and substance.
It was an interesting angle to discuss De Lillo's protagonist' stream of consciousness as he narrates the connection between the reality and unreality of Douglas Gordon's 24hr Psycho installation.The protagonist represents an average viewer that occasionally wanders into an exhibition. De Lillo's novel discusses the departure from the departure or as he puts it making connections:'this film has the same relationship that the original movie had to real life experience'. Perhaps all Artist are silently obligated to create work that relates to the social,political and economic context of the present day. The sensibilities of the life model mirrors how an Artist would proactively find ways to connect with their intended audience so that they are able to understand the perspectives applied by viewers own life experiences.
Presumably Art is intended an accessible gift for all. To be used as a universal way of connecting and communicating thoughts and ideas and providing a platform and voice for future generations. Instead it seems that Art is an elitist ego boosting platform that refuses to reinforce the stars quo and is instead riddled with contradictions.Literary theorist Viktor Shkiovsky concludes that Art is a aesthetic experience designed to alienate people.He says Art 'makes objects "unfamiliar", it makes forms difficult and increases the difficulty and length of perception'.Interestingly, Damien Hirst is reported to be the wealthiest living Artist his approach to Art-making is a cynical one that indulges in appealing to Art Sellers,Collectors,Buyers and Curators. It seems that 'the gallery has become a global franchise and the Artist a luxury goods provider'.
The use of De Lillo's protagonist is further referenced in the article in order to explain that Art work can connect and have a place in society if the viewers own personal experiences are evoked therefore building a relationship or interchange between the work and the viewer. Furthermore, Art works are social subjects in this way not simply aesthetic objects creating a meaningful relationship to a wider network of beliefs,practices,economies and exchanges. So how is Art truly perceived in society is it the current or the fixture?
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