Distress Cruft (my fellow americans)
Visitors to the Empire State Building are required to have their photo taken. This security photo is cleverly disguised as a tourist friendly service with a beautiful night view of the Empire State in the background. You and your party then have the ability to purchase this photo as you leave the building. (When I tried to opt out of the photo, I was specifically told I could not for security reasons.) This cruft process downloads one of these photos and creates a composite image with an American Flag.
Section 8a. of the Flag Code states: "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."
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September 9th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Rob,
I wanted to respond to your interview specifically, but, since that is not an option on the site, I’ll use this post as a springboard, as it seems like a perfect illustration of my thoughts.
First of all, any assertions that Crufts are not art are ridiculous, and your agreement with these sentiments is even more ridiculous, but I’m sure you are aware of this, which makes the whole thing absurdly ridiculous, but, ironically, it also might solidify the entire process as art.
Said process reminds me very much of Warhol (we can all agree he was an artist, right?). From the re-purposing of pop / political culture (showing “everyday” images removed from “everyday” context and thereby elevating its impact and questioning its meaning) to the automated processes (proving that the value in contemporary art is in ideas, revelation, and provocation — not technical skill), all the way to the denial of the work as art (further challenging the viewer to reconcile their understanding of what it is, then). Art is no longer about the image, but the perception of the image.
Additionally, despite your denial, you clearly have political viewpoints that you express in your work. This particular Cruft is the most overtly confrontational, but there is a clear statement being made in every Cruft you program. If they weren’t supposed to be political, there would be no reason to take images from CNN or especially Al Jazeera, or Whitehous.gov (or porn sites); you could just mine Google Images or Flickr or something. These are clearly not “chance” decisions.
Perhaps these are all obvious points, but you seem to deny them so vigorously. Why?
September 19th, 2007 at 8:58 am
> and your agreement with these sentiments is even more
> ridiculous, but I’m sure you are aware of this, which makes the
> whole thing absurdly ridiculous, but, ironically, it also
> might solidify the entire process as art.
I agree the whole thing is ridiculous.
> agree he was an artist, right?).
An artist is anybody who does something well, like if you cook
well. I think Andy Warhol is terrific.
> “everyday” images removed from “everyday” context and
> thereby elevating its impact and questioning its meaning)
> to the automated processes (proving that the value in
> contemporary art is in ideas, revelation, and provocation -
> not technical skill), all the way to the denial of the work
> as art (further challenging the viewer to reconcile their
> understanding of what it is, then). Art is no longer
> about the image, but the perception of the image.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
> political viewpoints that you express in your work. This
> particular Cruft is the most overtly confrontational, but
> there is a clear statement being made in every Cruft you
> program. If they weren’t supposed to be political, there
> would be no reason to take images from CNN or especially
> Al Jazeera, or Whitehous.gov (or porn sites); you could
> just mine Google Images or Flickr or something. These are
> clearly not “chance” decisions.
We don’t get to choose which images are on the Internet and
television. They are all terrific, and everyday there are new ones.
It can be hard picking one image over another.
> them so vigorously. Why?
(Laughs) I don’t know. I like this idea that you can say the opposite.
September 19th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Whew! I think I’m getting dizzy. I’m enjoying it nonetheless.