Artists working for other artists is all about knowing, learning, unlearning, initiating long-term artistic dialogues, making connections, creating covens, and getting temporary shelter from the storm.
Jerry SaltzRead
'Untitled' is a time machine that can transport you to 1992, an edgy moment when the art world was crumbling, money was scarce, and artists like Tiravanija were in the nascent stages of combining Happenings, performance art, John Cage, Joseph Beuys, and the do-it-yourself ethos of punk. Meanwhile, a new art world was coming into being.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on a transformative period in the art world during the early 1990s, highlighting the clash between conventional and innovative artistic practices.
Jerry Saltz's quote encapsulates a pivotal moment in art history, specifically 1992, when the traditional art world faced significant upheaval. It describes how artists like Tiravanija were beginning to merge performance art and punk's DIY spirit with influences from avant-garde figures, creating a space where new artistic expressions could thrive amidst a backdrop of economic scarcity. This era marked the transition from established norms to experimental practices, reshaping the landscape of contemporary art.
Themes
Art1992PerformanceCreativityInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on contemporary art, this quote can illustrate the shift in artistic practices.
More from Jerry Saltz
All quotes →I have a soft spot for art that, in terms of subject matter and material, is in bad taste.
Jerry SaltzRead
The giant white cube is now impeding rather than enhancing the rhythms of art. It preprograms a viewer's journey, shifts the emphasis from process to product, and lacks individuality and openness. It's not that art should be seen only in rutty bombed-out environments, but it should seem alive.
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In art, scandal is a false narrative, a smoke screen that camouflages rather than reveals. When we don't know what we're seeing, we overreact.
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I don't often go to curator or artist walk-throughs of exhibitions. For a critic, it feels like cheating. I want to see shows with my own eyes, making my own mistakes, viewing exhibitions the way most of their audience sees them.
Jerry SaltzRead
Don’t go to a museum with a destination. Museums are wormholes to other worlds. There are ecstasy machines. Follow your eyes to wherever they lead you, stop, get very quiet, and the world should begin to change for you. And if you see me, say something! We can talk about it together.
Jerry SaltzRead
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