William Kentridge: art is not what it is
Remarkable snippet I found in a Dutch newspaper (NRC) in April (22).
William Kentridge (WK) is a famous South-African graphic artist. He is a 55-yr old man. A show opened in Johannesburg under his name, entitled America Made in China. At the opening, WK turned up as a 24-yr old woman. She was born as Roelien Brink, but changed her name in 2008 officially to William Kentridge. She found WK a genius and wanted to employ his branding. She compared herself to him, and her work. That is conceptual and harder to digest than his accessible work, she stated, so was at a disadvantage. Since "the name is more important than the art" and "art is investment", she decided to make his name hers, which would elevate her work in more than one way. Now we know her too. Apparently WK did not mind, although he did not issue official comment. The fact that he did not is remarkable in itself. Perhaps they both benefit from this little storm of publicity.
How wonderful art is.
To me the point is this. Art is not simply what it is. The value is determined by the context. Modern art especially. It may be all context, just a title, for example. Art for art's sake. Tracy Emin's unmade bed is just an unmade bed, just like yours and mine. It only becomes art because it has been placed in a museum by someone who is called or calls herself an artist. In Titian's and Rembrandt's times this was different. One was a pupil to a Master craftsman and became a Master yourself after delivering a Masterpiece. I am not saying all this was an purely objective process, but judging technique at least had an element of objectivity. This has been lost. Roeline Brink's work is elevated by the WK brand. A meaningful discussion can be held about this. If I were capable of producing a Vermeer, however, it would only be hailed until it became clear it was made by myself, regardless of how much a 'Vermeer' it is. Consider the famous Han van Meegeren's 'Vermeer's Emmausgangers'. That was a very well made fake, a beautiful piece but was blasted when it was not by the Master.
Art is not what it is.
For an English language article, click here.
William Kentridge (WK) is a famous South-African graphic artist. He is a 55-yr old man. A show opened in Johannesburg under his name, entitled America Made in China. At the opening, WK turned up as a 24-yr old woman. She was born as Roelien Brink, but changed her name in 2008 officially to William Kentridge. She found WK a genius and wanted to employ his branding. She compared herself to him, and her work. That is conceptual and harder to digest than his accessible work, she stated, so was at a disadvantage. Since "the name is more important than the art" and "art is investment", she decided to make his name hers, which would elevate her work in more than one way. Now we know her too. Apparently WK did not mind, although he did not issue official comment. The fact that he did not is remarkable in itself. Perhaps they both benefit from this little storm of publicity.
How wonderful art is.
To me the point is this. Art is not simply what it is. The value is determined by the context. Modern art especially. It may be all context, just a title, for example. Art for art's sake. Tracy Emin's unmade bed is just an unmade bed, just like yours and mine. It only becomes art because it has been placed in a museum by someone who is called or calls herself an artist. In Titian's and Rembrandt's times this was different. One was a pupil to a Master craftsman and became a Master yourself after delivering a Masterpiece. I am not saying all this was an purely objective process, but judging technique at least had an element of objectivity. This has been lost. Roeline Brink's work is elevated by the WK brand. A meaningful discussion can be held about this. If I were capable of producing a Vermeer, however, it would only be hailed until it became clear it was made by myself, regardless of how much a 'Vermeer' it is. Consider the famous Han van Meegeren's 'Vermeer's Emmausgangers'. That was a very well made fake, a beautiful piece but was blasted when it was not by the Master.
Art is not what it is.
For an English language article, click here.
Labels: modern art, William Kentridge
posted by Vanna Vechian | 4:27 AM
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