> there is nothing in Cory's work that hasn't been
> > done a million times.
> > On the other hand, to say that is to totally miss the point.
> ...but surely if one is going to dicuss the work under the banner
> 'conceptual art' (as this was what was being used to describe cory's
> work) the 'originality' or 'strength' of the concept should come into
it...?
Just wanted to sit on the fence, I feel most comfortable there :-=)
And throw in a couple of easy one liners ...
Well, I have this view of art, that its like science.
There are a lot of 'scientists' (artists) in the world. Most of them engage
in humdrum science (art). They work in labs (studios) and do whatever it is
that their employers (funders/patrons) ask them to do to further the
science/business (art/business) nexus.
Then there are scientists (artists) who fly to the edge of knowledge and
jump off into the darkness with only a hunch to guide them. Generally, what
they bring back is not understood or recognised because there is nothing to
relate it to. Often they are considered mad or bad or dangerous. But in
time, the world will get round to praising (and selling) them, though still
not having a clue what it was they did. In time, many others will refine
their work, thinking maybe that they are still engaged in the leap into the
dark, but really just regurgitating the same old same old.
Well, this reassures me in the darker moments (I have another view of art,
that it is like an addiction, and I am a junkie ...).
So where is Cory in the above schema? Has he jumped into the darkness or is
he a lab artist working for an art corporation (Turbulence???).
My analogy allows me a lot of goodwill to artists. Most have to start out
somewhere, and you do have to learn your trade along the way. So Cory
certainly hasn't jumped off the edge this week, but he might do it next
week. I think he's engaged with a starting point that has tons of potential
(do computers dream of electric sheep), but he hasn't the courage or the
knowledge to push it where it needs to go, so he ends up with a somewhat
banal (though I love it) set of graphics which allows us to perform the
favourite trick of the philistine, comparing this work to that work, been
there, done that ...
Crikey, its freezing in my space today and my fingers are seizing up.
Cheers,
Ivan
--
Ivan Pope
ivan@ivanpope.comwww.ivanpope.comwww.tochki-inc.com"Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death"
Hunter S. Thompson