Rogue concept art and dubious advertising slogans

[venta]

On the way to work today, on the Playhatch/Sonning roundabout, was a door. A large, red, front door, standing upright in its frame. Through its letterbox protruded a newspaper, on its doorstep was a bottle of milk.

Just sitting there, on the edge of the roundabout. I don't know who put it there or why, but I approve.

I've just been to have my tea and evil-on-toast, and it seems work's kitchen is currently stocked with rather nice multigrain bread. County Pride, it is (thanks to beckyl for pointing out that I can't read - Country Pride just seemed much more likely), and in a nice dark blue bag.

Which says, in neat script "bread of the moment".

I feel so much more fashionable after my breakfast. You won't catch me eating it next week, though.

Comments

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

It was there last week, too. Can't remember what day it appeared.

I was wondering whether it would be artistically valid to dump three free newspapers and half a ton of assorted flyers on the "inside".

[venta.livejournal.com]

Please say "Friday", otherwise there's a risk that I've passed it at least once before without noticing.

And yes. Definitely.

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Could have been. I'm only not sure because I don't always have my eyes open on the way to work. This morning, for instance, I was asleep at that roundabout.

And I've changed my mind already for something more subtle. I want to switch the milk bottle for an empty one. Every day, if it gets switched back.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I can offer you a proper glass doorstep bottle if you like, instead of a plastic one :)

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

I was wondering whether it would be artistically valid...

I don't know, but it would put you in the same category as the guy who poured ink into Damien Hirst's pickled sheep tank.

So you might or might not be an artist, but you would certainly be a very sad man indeed. (And would be risking the public approval of Damien Hirst !)

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Steady on. At least I'm making a reversible change. I'm not dictating any aesthetic, merely contributing in a more active than usual way to the dialog between the work (and thereby indirectly the artist) and the viewer.

And that's honestly how it all happened, your honour.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

An interesting question this - see also A Kiss with String Attached. Most of my class loved it. Personally I think it's very bad manners to interfere with someone else's artwork in any way, unless the artist invited interference, which some do, or where an intrinsic part of the art is its ephemeral nature. But then I'm hyper protective of anything I make, to the point of telling classmates to keep their imagined fingers out of my imagined golden syrup sculpture.

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Interesting, because I think that if an artist's work invades a public space (whether it's a graffito, a sculpture, or an advertising billboard), then he should to some extent be prepared for impromptu responses from members of the public. I wouldn't generally advocate damaging such a work of art, especially if it was unique, but other than that I'm well in favour of subversive stunts like grass mohicans on Churchill's statue or defacement of billboards.

I wouldn't have been half so tempted to interfere with the door if it was on private property - I think the fact that it is (well was, it's gone now anyway so I've missed my chance) on what amounts to commons makes a big difference to the way I view it, even apart from the fact that its a lot more absurd on a roundabout than it would be in someone's garden.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Yeah. What he said.

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

Pizza flyers can be art.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

I can't stand Sarah Lucas. She's everything I most dislike in contemporary art.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Explain ?

Some of us aren't as well-up in contemporary art as you :)

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Well basically Sarah Lucas is one of those people who confuses provocatively challenging people's worldviews with just being crass and irritating. She has a particular talent for the latter.

Doesn't fruit look funny in a gallery?

[venta.livejournal.com]

Ah. I'd always assumed it was just my lack of artistic judgement that made these provocative-challenge-style artworks pointless. I was hoping better educated people could give me a bit more of an explanation of why. Just in general.

:)

Re: Doesn't fruit look funny in a gallery?

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

I'd transcribed most of 'Death of Sarah Lucas' before I noticed your title quoted it...

Re: Doesn't fruit look funny in a gallery?

[venta.livejournal.com]

And, incidentally, don't think I didn't notice that awful pun in one of your subject lines this evening :)