Gawker Dubious About Bravo’s Work of Art

by Art Fag City on April 9, 2010 · 42 comments Events

POST BY PADDY JOHNSON
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Gawker’s Brian Moylan offers a few reasons why he’s less than interested in Bravo’s Work of Art. His points would have a little more merit if he’d either seen the show or even read a review, but then that media outlet’s not even known for thorough commentary these days.

Regardless of these failures, Moylan manages to turn out an amusing indictment of the art world, massive holes and all.

A Picture and a Thousand Words: The art world is a fraud and so is the art it creates. It is no longer about creating aesthetically pleasing works or things that are objectively beautiful. It is about telling good stories. No work is complete without the narrative of how it was made. Like Jackson Pollock, “Oh, he was a horrible alcoholic who just threw paint around. Sure, they all look alike, but he peed on this one. Look, he put a cigarette out on this one.” Obviously performance art is the worst offender of this, but it has infiltrated its way into all other disciplines. It’s either about the materials, the process the artist went through to make it, or the concept behind it. We don’t care if it’s a column made out of turds from the field where the artists abandoned his puppy as a young boy. It’s still a pile of shit, and no matter how much someone paid for it or how much we’re supposed to like it, it still stinks.

Haha and all that but even acknowledging the Pollock slight to be misplaced, Moylan’s rant begs the question: If 90% of everything sucks why are the art world’s shortcomings so much more significant than those in the entertainment industry. Surely Julian Opie and the sitcom Reba are equally bad in their own ways.

Revealingly Moylan mentions the cost of the object as a false point of merit. Indeed this is the case but I suspect there’s a little less hostility directed at other fields because at least everyone can afford to consume them. In other words what makes the general public angry isn't that some art sucks, but that even when it's so bad we wouldn't want to own it, we can't.

{ 42 comments }

Mores April 9, 2010 at 10:12 pm

Did anyone notice that that is Nao Bustamante who says “I’m not responsible for your experience of my work”? Is she a contestant or a guest judge? This promo makes her look like a contestant which is very strange unless she is assuming the identity of a “contestant” to turn her role on the show into a performance. She did it in “Rosa Does Joan”.

Mores April 9, 2010 at 6:12 pm

Did anyone notice that that is Nao Bustamante who says “I’m not responsible for your experience of my work”? Is she a contestant or a guest judge? This promo makes her look like a contestant which is very strange unless she is assuming the identity of a “contestant” to turn her role on the show into a performance. She did it in “Rosa Does Joan”.

Art Fag City April 9, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Art Fag City April 9, 2010 at 6:24 pm
LL Kool k April 10, 2010 at 4:13 am

No one questions Reba because most people do not need a specialized education to understand how to understand the storylines . While most might agree that Reba is bad we can all agree what it’s creators are trying to acomplish. This is not the case with Julian Opie.

LL Kool k April 10, 2010 at 12:13 am

No one questions Reba because most people do not need a specialized education to understand how to understand the storylines . While most might agree that Reba is bad we can all agree what it’s creators are trying to acomplish. This is not the case with Julian Opie.

Art Fag City April 10, 2010 at 4:16 am

Do you really think specialized knowledge is required to understand Julian Opie? I just don’t believe that’s true.

Also, technically speaking one needs “specialized knowledge” to get high fashion too. And yet, there’s this show, Project Runway, that was a wild success a while back…

Art Fag City April 10, 2010 at 12:16 am

Do you really think specialized knowledge is required to understand Julian Opie? I just don’t believe that’s true.

Also, technically speaking one needs “specialized knowledge” to get high fashion too. And yet, there’s this show, Project Runway, that was a wild success a while back…

t.whid April 10, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Love it (by ‘love’ I mean ‘hate’) when people use Pollock as an example of horrible art… do these people’s eyeballs even attach to their brains?

t.whid April 10, 2010 at 9:48 am

Love it (by ‘love’ I mean ‘hate’) when people use Pollock as an example of horrible art… do these people’s eyeballs even attach to their brains?

dan April 10, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Yes art is a lie, but it can reveal to a thinking viewer, a profound truth. Behind the physical (Pollock’s drips for instance ) lie the spiritual (everyman’s struggle ). The ability to receive this emotional spark is a works “reason” for being. Now the viewer has transcended paint on a canvas.

dan April 10, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Yes art is a lie, but it can reveal to a thinking viewer, a profound truth. Behind the physical (Pollock’s drips for instance ) lie the spiritual (everyman’s struggle ). The ability to receive this emotional spark is a works “reason” for being. Now the viewer has transcended paint on a canvas.

dan April 10, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Yes art is a lie, but it can reveal to a thinking viewer, a profound truth. Behind the physical (Pollock’s drips for instance ) lie the spiritual (everyman’s struggle ). The ability to receive this emotional spark is a works “reason” for being. Now the viewer has transcended paint on a canvas.

Art Fag City April 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Is this a joke? I can hear Moylan from here yelling “I told you so”.

Art Fag City April 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Is this a joke? I can hear Moylan from here yelling “I told you so”.

Art Fag City April 10, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Is this a joke? I can hear Moylan from here yelling “I told you so”.

sebastian April 10, 2010 at 9:54 pm

The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths

sebastian April 10, 2010 at 9:54 pm

The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths

sebastian April 10, 2010 at 5:54 pm

The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths

brilliant April 10, 2010 at 10:29 pm

I think like a lot of people I was sort of dubious about this show, until the moment I saw this preview and saw the contestants revealed. I am now very excited about this show as several of the contestants are artists who genuinely make interesting work, and as bonus they happen to have tv ready personalities, like john parot and judith braun. This show I hope will provide a similar experience for art that project runway provided for working fashion designers. I think this is going to be an all round positive experience as past shows like this have proven it is actually the judges and celeberity guests who benefit the most. and i for one am fine if people like jerry saltz, de peury and company become like the tim gunn’s or the chef colichio of the artworld. I know very little about high end food prep but enjoyed every minute of top chef and imagine that people who have never seen an artist working will get the same sort of enjoyment from this show. In the end it will make for some good tv and maybe lay the seeds for an even crazier season 2.

brilliant April 10, 2010 at 6:29 pm

I think like a lot of people I was sort of dubious about this show, until the moment I saw this preview and saw the contestants revealed. I am now very excited about this show as several of the contestants are artists who genuinely make interesting work, and as bonus they happen to have tv ready personalities, like john parot and judith braun. This show I hope will provide a similar experience for art that project runway provided for working fashion designers. I think this is going to be an all round positive experience as past shows like this have proven it is actually the judges and celeberity guests who benefit the most. and i for one am fine if people like jerry saltz, de peury and company become like the tim gunn’s or the chef colichio of the artworld. I know very little about high end food prep but enjoyed every minute of top chef and imagine that people who have never seen an artist working will get the same sort of enjoyment from this show. In the end it will make for some good tv and maybe lay the seeds for an even crazier season 2.

Sarah Baker April 11, 2010 at 2:56 pm

I find it already problematic that the contestants are only named by their first names and not their complete names, especially when many of them have already made a name for themselves. http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/bios This is totally reflective of TV contest shows like X Factor, American Idol but it should be treated differently for art.

Sarah Baker April 11, 2010 at 2:56 pm

I find it already problematic that the contestants are only named by their first names and not their complete names, especially when many of them have already made a name for themselves. http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/bios This is totally reflective of TV contest shows like X Factor, American Idol but it should be treated differently for art.

Sarah Baker April 11, 2010 at 10:56 am

I find it already problematic that the contestants are only named by their first names and not their complete names, especially when many of them have already made a name for themselves. http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/bios This is totally reflective of TV contest shows like X Factor, American Idol but it should be treated differently for art.

dan April 11, 2010 at 5:30 pm

I guess I’m too dull to find Moylan’s massive holes negative, but maybe that’s the point.

dan April 11, 2010 at 5:30 pm

I guess I’m too dull to find Moylan’s massive holes negative, but maybe that’s the point.

dan April 11, 2010 at 1:30 pm

I guess I’m too dull to find Moylan’s massive holes negative, but maybe that’s the point.

Matthew April 13, 2010 at 5:10 am

“It is no longer about creating aesthetically pleasing works or things that are objectively beautiful.” Thank God for that.

Matthew April 13, 2010 at 5:10 am

“It is no longer about creating aesthetically pleasing works or things that are objectively beautiful.” Thank God for that.

Matthew April 13, 2010 at 1:10 am

“It is no longer about creating aesthetically pleasing works or things that are objectively beautiful.” Thank God for that.

lili May 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm

i wish more people had a better sense of humor regarding art. does everything have to be so serious?

i am looking forward to watching the show and i think it is going to be interesting and entertaining. i think the fact that a reality tv show is going to crown “the next great artist” is kind of hilarious… and a form of art in itself. pop culture is art, people!

oh, and i love the possibility of a contestant using their role on the show as an ongoing performance of sorts.

lili May 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm

i wish more people had a better sense of humor regarding art. does everything have to be so serious?

i am looking forward to watching the show and i think it is going to be interesting and entertaining. i think the fact that a reality tv show is going to crown “the next great artist” is kind of hilarious… and a form of art in itself. pop culture is art, people!

oh, and i love the possibility of a contestant using their role on the show as an ongoing performance of sorts.

lili May 20, 2010 at 1:11 pm

i wish more people had a better sense of humor regarding art. does everything have to be so serious?

i am looking forward to watching the show and i think it is going to be interesting and entertaining. i think the fact that a reality tv show is going to crown “the next great artist” is kind of hilarious… and a form of art in itself. pop culture is art, people!

oh, and i love the possibility of a contestant using their role on the show as an ongoing performance of sorts.

Nana June 9, 2010 at 1:04 am

By hoping it has a similar impact on the artists as Project Runway has had on its designers do you mean that you hope they get inflated egos from being on TV that are crushed when they aren't adored by the art or fashion worlds or do you hope that the lucky ones end up selling sloppy seconds on QVC?

Nana June 9, 2010 at 1:04 am

By hoping it has a similar impact on the artists as Project Runway has had on its designers do you mean that you hope they get inflated egos from being on TV that are crushed when they aren't adored by the art or fashion worlds or do you hope that the lucky ones end up selling sloppy seconds on QVC?

Nana June 8, 2010 at 9:04 pm

By hoping it has a similar impact on the artists as Project Runway has had on its designers do you mean that you hope they get inflated egos from being on TV that are crushed when they aren't adored by the art or fashion worlds or do you hope that the lucky ones end up selling sloppy seconds on QVC?

Bobbie June 20, 2010 at 3:51 am

Very interesting and challenging show to view.

Bobbie June 20, 2010 at 3:51 am

Very interesting and challenging show to view.

Bobbie June 19, 2010 at 11:51 pm

Very interesting and challenging show to view.

just jeff July 16, 2010 at 1:42 am

i have found this show beyond frustrating….especially the judges and their inane judging methods…creating ‘conceptual’ crap is still crap (as i just read earlier, shit still smells like shit)….the judges themselves (guest artist judges included) are so hung up on themselves and their inflated ideas of superiority due to their special little niches in their own art worlds everyone that has their heads planted right up their asses that they fail to judge on the one thing that a show like this should be based upon…the art itself….aesthetically and technically….too bad that is a subjective slide rule

the only way this show would work (besides being a frustratingly repetitive ‘reality’ show like all Bravos other wonderful programs – real housewives and shit – didn’t Bravo have actors studio and show indie films as well as interesting art shows at some point?) is if they turned in art with no names and the judges scored them based on whatever criteria they felt necessary…theme, aesthetics and process…and only after they each were scored let the artist ‘defend’ or argue their ‘concept’

i keep my mouth shut when people are looking at my artwork so as not to disturb their own involvement with it…why should i butt my stupid head into their own entertainment….just fucking enjoy it for what it is

just jeff July 16, 2010 at 1:42 am

i have found this show beyond frustrating….especially the judges and their inane judging methods…creating ‘conceptual’ crap is still crap (as i just read earlier, shit still smells like shit)….the judges themselves (guest artist judges included) are so hung up on themselves and their inflated ideas of superiority due to their special little niches in their own art worlds everyone that has their heads planted right up their asses that they fail to judge on the one thing that a show like this should be based upon…the art itself….aesthetically and technically….too bad that is a subjective slide rule

the only way this show would work (besides being a frustratingly repetitive ‘reality’ show like all Bravos other wonderful programs – real housewives and shit – didn’t Bravo have actors studio and show indie films as well as interesting art shows at some point?) is if they turned in art with no names and the judges scored them based on whatever criteria they felt necessary…theme, aesthetics and process…and only after they each were scored let the artist ‘defend’ or argue their ‘concept’

i keep my mouth shut when people are looking at my artwork so as not to disturb their own involvement with it…why should i butt my stupid head into their own entertainment….just fucking enjoy it for what it is

just jeff July 15, 2010 at 9:42 pm

i have found this show beyond frustrating….especially the judges and their inane judging methods…creating ‘conceptual’ crap is still crap (as i just read earlier, shit still smells like shit)….the judges themselves (guest artist judges included) are so hung up on themselves and their inflated ideas of superiority due to their special little niches in their own art worlds everyone that has their heads planted right up their asses that they fail to judge on the one thing that a show like this should be based upon…the art itself….aesthetically and technically….too bad that is a subjective slide rule

the only way this show would work (besides being a frustratingly repetitive ‘reality’ show like all Bravos other wonderful programs – real housewives and shit – didn’t Bravo have actors studio and show indie films as well as interesting art shows at some point?) is if they turned in art with no names and the judges scored them based on whatever criteria they felt necessary…theme, aesthetics and process…and only after they each were scored let the artist ‘defend’ or argue their ‘concept’

i keep my mouth shut when people are looking at my artwork so as not to disturb their own involvement with it…why should i butt my stupid head into their own entertainment….just fucking enjoy it for what it is

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