Article - Conceptual Art

1. Why is the viewer an important part of conceptual art?

-Because the viewer is required to take on a more active role in which response is required/demanded. Some argue that conceptual art can exist solely in the mind of the viewer.

2. Why was it so difficult for people to accept the "Fountain" by Duchamp, as art?

-Everything that was considered art prior to the "Fountain" was assumed to be a painting or sculpture and set within the context of the art museum. The art museum itself was still being percieved as the only place to house such "sacred" items and the "Fountain" was clearly blasphemy in the eyes of many art critics.

3. What question did Duchamp pose with his "readymades"? Explain with examples.

-"Could this be artwork?"

4. Why is is difficult to categorize Conceptual art in the context of traditional art? Explain using examples.

-Conceptual art is difficult to categorize because it cannot be defined in terms of medium or style. A good example was Kosath's "One and Three Chairs", which had to be destroyed just to store it in the museum. There was no "Conceptual art" department, so each piece (the chair, the photo of the chair, and the definition of the chair) had to go to separate departments.

5. Choose a quote from the article that you find interesting and explain. Be sure to cite the page number.

"Conceptual art was made, it seems, in times of crisis, when authority - both political and artistic - came into question."

The thing I love about this is that it seems, most often, that it takes some degree of failure and struggle to take the next stride of progress. Conceptual art was born in a time where there was much struggling, much like the economic boom after the great depression. People hate conflict, struggle and pain, but I truly think these are gifts (yes I said it... GIFTS) that open our minds and allow is to grow beyond what we thought was previously possible.