Massive Links: “This is Why People Hate Contemporary Art” Edition

word on the street is that gawker got punked.

word on the street is that gawker got punked.

I love it when bleeding-heart, art-loving liberals get their panties in twists when they come across “controversial” artwork. But I’m overly stereotyping and easily strawmanning. Petitioning and outdoor protests, by the way, have become futile means of cultural and political resistance. Give it up.

While I don’t think this particular work by Aliza Shvarts (WAY too naive and art school) is all that interesting or socially relevant, Guillermo Vargas has really hit on a nerve. The starving dog seems way too “humane”–I find it hilarious when that word is applied to animals–compared to the work of Santiago Sierra, probably one of the biggest nerve-hitting artist of our time. Sierra totally dehumanizes participants in his work–a height and poignancy that so many other artists who deal with the dehumanizing effects of contemporary life can never reach.

I suppose that Sierra’s work is too straightforward, too literal. Vargas is more metaphorical, but I’m not sure this removal is more effective.

Just to make sure everyone is clear: Both of these cases are more than likely hoaxes.

Just to make sure everyone is clear: Both of these cases are more than likely hoaxes.

Hoaxes are–or at least can be–conceptual art projects. Our reactions are real in spite of the fact that the works of art may not. This dying dog is very real to us.

I’m not suggesting they’re not, but I do challenge that work. The fact that the dying dog “is very real to us” doesn’t mean anything. I mean, how interesting is the IDEA of starving a dog to death in gallery? Once you decide that’s what will be done, the outcome is inevitable.

I’m not suggesting they’re not, but I do challenge that work. The fact that the dying dog “is very real to us” doesn’t mean anything. I mean, how interesting is the IDEA of starving a dog to death in gallery? Once you decide that’s what will be done, the outcome is inevitable.

The idea is a metaphor for something else–I can’t give you an interpretation. The idea definitely isn’t about the plight of stray dogs in cities, nor is it about how galleries transform ordinary objects. There’s got to be something more to the artist’s gesture….

The idea is a metaphor for something else–I can’t give you an interpretation. The idea definitely isn’t about the plight of stray dogs in cities, nor is it about how galleries transform ordinary objects. There’s got to be something more to the artist’s gesture….

The idea is a metaphor for something else–I can’t give you an interpretation. The idea definitely isn’t about the plight of stray dogs in cities, nor is it about how galleries transform ordinary objects. There’s got to be something more to the artist’s gesture….

Vargas’ work isn’t new: Tom Otterness adopted a dog many years ago and shot it as part of an art piece. None of this, like Damien Hirst’s sliced animals, are anything new but rather a symptom of something gone wrong.

Vargas’ work isn’t new: Tom Otterness adopted a dog many years ago and shot it as part of an art piece. None of this, like Damien Hirst’s sliced animals, are anything new but rather a symptom of something gone wrong.

Crimelibrary.com, or a court-room murder simulation seen on the likes of Dateline NBC, is more interesting. After more thought, Vargas’ makes art look like its nothing but ludicrous navel-gazing, unfortunately. Does the art world need to pander itself away to ANYTHING?

Crimelibrary.com, or a court-room murder simulation seen on the likes of Dateline NBC, is more interesting. After more thought, Vargas’ makes art look like its nothing but ludicrous navel-gazing, unfortunately. Does the art world need to pander itself away to ANYTHING?

have you heard of wafaa bila’s “dog or iraqi”? i’ve been surprised it hasn’t gotten any attention with all of that other dog torture stuff making news. maybe because it is lame.

(actually, i’m not certain this is bilal’s project. i think his involvement might be as the iraqi who might get waterboarded)

have you heard of wafaa bila’s “dog or iraqi”? i’ve been surprised it hasn’t gotten any attention with all of that other dog torture stuff making news. maybe because it is lame.

(actually, i’m not certain this is bilal’s project. i think his involvement might be as the iraqi who might get waterboarded)

My take on the veracity of the dog piece is this: The first places I heard about it were not the news, an art blog, or anything remotely credible. I first saw it on facebook and myspace, where it circulated for a few weeks in capital letters, died for awhile, and seems to have come back to life. Who takes real news straight to MySpace?

My take on the veracity of the dog piece is this: The first places I heard about it were not the news, an art blog, or anything remotely credible. I first saw it on facebook and myspace, where it circulated for a few weeks in capital letters, died for awhile, and seems to have come back to life. Who takes real news straight to MySpace?

There was so much confusion over that dog exhibit. I refused to write about until I knew the facts. Concerning Wafaa Bilal’s “Dog or Iraqi”, I’m fairly certain that he knows people will select him going into it. At least that is what I gathered from interviewing him.

There was so much confusion over that dog exhibit. I refused to write about until I knew the facts. Concerning Wafaa Bilal’s “Dog or Iraqi”, I’m fairly certain that he knows people will select him going into it. At least that is what I gathered from interviewing him.