OK, art is a big word. It’s different things to different people.
I can cope with that. Usually.
If art wasn’t a huge thing, we’d have seen it all by now and, thankfully, there are still surprises to be had. So - beware of ever saying that something purporting to be art isn’t . I might not like it. It might be bad art. But who am I to say it’s not art?
Well, the stuff I had the misfortune to experience in Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries in the name of Art Sheffield 08: Yes, No & Other Options is a triumph of non-art.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the utter shite on offer.
- Man with holes in socks does vacuum cleaner impression on video.
- Two poorly composed photos of a man marking out a tennis court. (Very long title including the word anti-happening…)
- 7 hour long videos of teenagers jigging to music.
- Un-remarkable photos of scruffy bloke (sorry, artist) balancing between bollards.
- Video of Park Hill by night (illuminated for this event) - nothing much moves.
- About five or six random grey blocks. Surprisingly enough, entitled Untitled.
- Quite a lot of random white blocks. I couldn’t bear to look if this one had a title.
- Pithy phrases in neon - advertisers managed that one a while back.
Actually, one of the neon phrases is apposite:
LET’S PRETEND NONE OF THIS EVER HAPPENED
Although I knew photography would be frowned on I decided I had to capture this auto-critique to be sure I remembered the phrase later. I didn’t manage to - I was rugby-tackled to the ground by an art-minder. (Well, I wasn’t but I almost wish I had been - it could have been art.) I guess they’re under instruction that it shouldn’t get out what a waste of somebody’s (no doubt) grant funding this very poor show is.
On reflection, though, maybe the clever thing about this exhibition (and perhaps the whole event…?) is that it’s an anti-happening? It includes so much non-art so as to shock us into never again being had by arse masquerading as art?
Aha! That’s it! I can now feel superior and part of the in crowd again. Phew.
hey
I have just read ur blog laughing out loud at times- I’m an art student at Hallam Uni and since Art Sheff 08 was such a major local event, I have spent a lot of time deliberating over it. I just had one question-how is something non-art? I’ve thought similar things about the festival- my main problem with it was that the works generally illustrated Verwoert’s text rather than that being the ‘thing’ at work in them (sorry for the arty talk). Cheers!
I’m pleased this made you laugh. Thanks for commenting.
Re - “non-art”: I suppose I was thinking that non-art has nothing to offer aesthetically or in terms of meaning or message. To me the irony of this particular non-art is that it has made us think so arguably redeems itself? I doubt this was the curatorial intent but I could be wrong. :)
Interesting and positive review of the event here.