Andrew, Andreas, everyone else,
I can hardly believe I'm even commenting on this work, but I guess I can't
resist any longer since your emails have been landing in my inbox.
This ass-licking 'artwork' is as one-to-one, beating it with a stick,
hitting-it-with-a-large-hammer-in-the-most-obvious-of-terms, stupid as it
gets.
Your discourse on violence/submission/domination/consent is very valid, but
I'd also like to state, in addition, that it is a low-quality piece of work.
I'm sure I can't be alone in this opinion. Why doesn't anyone else say it?
Maybe because it's almost not worth commenting on? Maybe I'm validating it
by even writing this, but whatever, here goes:
The relation between artist and curator (artists often curate
themselves/each other, too) is complex, to say the least. This work manages
to simplify it in headline-grabbing terms - no depth. Yes, many artists feel
that they or their colleagues must lick ass to get anywhere. This is not a
newsflash. I do find it, however, extremely narrow in its view. The
curator-artist relationship is interdependent.
This work was probably a sincere expression of the aritsts' feelings, but
that still doesn't make it a good work of art. It takes more than 'my
feelings' and bravado to make a good work of art.
Another comment:
Generally speaking, does a public audience care about all of our
navel-gazing? Does it care about the artist-curator relationship? Publishing
books or writing on lists, which are specifially meant for an artworld
audience, is exchanging information within an interested audience of art
professionals.
Does anyone really think an audience, which hopefully includes non-artbiz
people, attends galleries and art events to hear about the artworld? I
seriously doubt it. Most visitors want to take in something that will enrich
their lives. Self-reflections from and for the artworld generally don't do
it for anyone but ourselves.
Rosanne
> --- Ursprüngliche Nachricht ---
> Von: Andrew Bucksbarg <[log in to unmask]>
> An: [log in to unmask]
> Betreff: Re: [NEW-MEDIA-CURATING] a comment on artistic and curatorial
> practice
> Datum: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:10:41 -0500
>
> Hello Andreas,
>
> Thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive reply. I took no offense
> >from you, your admission of heterosexuality or your forwarding this
> project- nor do I wish to censure anyone in the democracy of ass-
> licking : ) But I have a strong reaction to the project. I wonder
> if the curator on the pole had been female? Would this change anything?
>
> I am troubled by what appears to be a rape or simulated rape as a
> critical device (the fraternity prank- his friend directs him to "do
> it better"). The press release suggests the curator requested a
> "surprise intervention," and watching the video I saw actions of
> struggle and words of resistance- there was domination, submission
> and humiliation throughout this imbalance of power. I did not read
> his smile as elation, but one of uncomfortableness or embarrassment,
> although I cannot claim to know what his experience was, these were
> apparent, whether scripted I don't know... This process, I can agree
> with you, is interesting in exposing the dynamical relations in the
> social transaction of artist and curator (and even more appropriate
> for gallerist and artist), but if this were the goal, I think there
> are less problematic ways of achieving it than simulated? sexual
> assault.
>
> I thought of gay-bashing as well here, where the victim is given an
> extreme dose of what the perpetrator perceives as the victim's
> iniquity. I also think of rape in pornography, etc.
>
> Was this a crime?
>
> What if the curator had felt violated by the "surprise intervention,"
> would he be able to prosecute the artist? Would this be part of the
> piece?
>
> I agree that one should have a choice in the licking process. I was
> bothered by the curator's struggle at being bound, where he appears
> to say "no, no, come on guys, fucking hell," and his posturing and
> body language, which lead me to believe it was non-consensual or a
> simulation of such.
>
> I still insist my opinion that it was a prank in poor taste, however
> I am glad you brought the piece to the table.
>
> Best wishes,
> Ndrew
>
>
> On Mar 24, 2006, at 4:14 AM, Andreas Broeckmann wrote:
>
> > dear andrew,
> >
> > i have been wondering whether or not to respond to your message,
> > given it is difficult for a confessing hetero not to sound
> > homophobic when tackled like this. and i sincerely apologise if i
> > hurt anybody's feeling beyond the incitement of critical
> > reflections about curatorial practice. but neither is ass-licking a
> > queers-only activity, nor is the way one takes it (tied or not) in
> > itself good or bad, but a matter of personal preferences. (i agree
> > that it should be consensual which in this case, judging from the
> > photos of the slightly elated curator, i think it was. after all,
> > the guy seems to be the curator who actually organised the show...)
> >
> > what if this is not a 'fraternity prank', but the honest comment by
> > an artist on how he feels in relation to this, or any other,
> > curator? your fantasy of 'the next episode' is another interesting
> > comment on the curator-artist relationship, esp. given the recent
> > obsession of many people who feel that they are making an important
> > contribution to the world by talking about (only ever their own)
> > curatorial practice, make shows about it, fill books and conference
> > panels with it. - i thought the reference was apt on the crumb
> > list, though admittedly slightly gory.
> >
> > people should decide for themselves which side of the lick they
> > want to be on.
> >
> > regards,
> > -a
> >
> >
> > ps: i guess that what i am doing is what in german we call 'sich in
> > die Nesseln setzen', aber in harmlosen Sitauionen wie dieser ist es
> > immer schoen, wenn der Schmerz nachlaesst...
> >
> >
> >> Quoting Andrew Bucksbarg <[log in to unmask]>:
> >>
> >>> Having one's ass licked can be an intimate, pleasurable experience
> >>> when not hog-tied to a pole without apparent consent.
> >>>
> >>> I may be mistaken, but I think the next piece in this series is
> >>> "STICKIN' IT TO 'EM," where the curator forcefully ties the artist
> >>> face down to a chair and rams a broom stick up the artist's ass.
> >>>
> >>> As a queer person and trans-gender sensitized, I find this
> >>> fraternity
> >>> prank in poor taste.
> >>>
> >>> Ndrew
> >>>
> >>> On Mar 22, 2006, at 10:00 AM, Andreas Broeckmann wrote:
> >>>
> >>> > Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 11:20:18 +0100
> >>> > From: Kristofer Paetau <[log in to unmask]>
> >>> > Subject: Artists Lick Curators Ass at Higher Institute For
> >>> Fine Arts!
> >>> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> > SURPRISE PERFORMANCE: LICKING CURATORS ASS by Ondrej Brody &
> >>> > Kristofer Paetau within the experimental exhibition format
> >>> > "ExtraFeatures Series (1)", curated by Jan Van Woensel who
> >>> invited
> >>> > us to do a surprise intervention in this exhibition / decor /
> >>> > documentary project at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts,
> >>> Antwerp,
> >>> > Belgium.
> >>> >
> >>> > A web documentation to view & read:
> >>> > http://www.paetau.com/downloads/LickingCuratorsAss/
> >>> > LickingCuratorsAss.html
> >>> >
> >>> > A PDF documentation (0,3 MB) to download at:
> >>> > http://www.paetau.com/downloads/LickingCuratorsAss/
> >>> > LickingCuratorsAss.pdf
> >>> >
> >>> > View the "Licking Curators Ass" Quicktime Video (2min.52sec. DSL
> >>> > required):
> >>> > http://www.paetau.com/downloads/LickingCuratorsAss/
> >>> > LickingCuratorsAss.mov
> >>> >
> >>> >
> >>> > Best wishes, Kristofer Paetau
> >>>
> >>>
>
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