Flip. I could hardly watch this. But as you say Victoria, you can't look away! It made me think of a book I'm reading about WWII spies and how they were summarily executed by the Nazis if they were caught.
For me, it's the still frame of the moment before the shooting that got me. It connects with photographic records of executions, which often looking like 'snapshots' (!) taken casually or surreptitiously. Plus Burden's movement after the instant he was shot; plus the mix of caring and legalism of a report having to be made.
In general classic performance artists of these years put their bodies or parts of their bodies 'in harm's way' and there were often real consequences as we see in Burden's piece. In this sense, performance of this type were 'heroic' if we define heroism as putting oneself in harms way for some extraneous reason, (such as making an art piece). One could say perhaps that they are in the tradition of 'mock-heroic' even. See also Stuart Brisley, Maria Abramovitch, etc
Thanks for this Martin, I think you're right. And I definitely think that Burden was brave for making this. There's a Marina Abramovic show at Modern Art Oxford at the moment that I'm going to see soon. She did that video piece about the artist as hero back in 2001 which she revived earlier this year for Piccadilly Circus -- I wrote a post on it back in the summer. Need to think on this idea of the hero more.
I’m surprised he didn’t swear when he got shot! I think performance art really stretches my concept of ‘art’ - it’s a great example of something that does invoke a reaction, and violence desensitisation is such a big old topic to react to.
Well... it’s shifting that’s for sure. If you’d asked me a few years ago I’d have said ‘paintings, drawings and sculptures!’ Performance and installations were outside of my concept of art (read: comfort zone). I think something shifted when you introduced Christo’s work last year in terms of installations, I can really engage with the movement and grand scale of those pieces, and the lasting impressions.
I guess this piece has left a lasting impression for you, but is it art or a video of someone who thought it would be provoking to get shot?
Martins comment about hero has made me think though, am I just looking at this thinking it’s some guy with an ego and privilege making an excessive point about violence in a violent way? It doesn’t feel /move me like other art forms.
What a great conversation! Been through the whole thread and come to the conclusion that I'm in Leila's camp - it's a fascinating video, unsettling and thought provoking but... as art... too much of a leap for me. Talk me round Victoria 🤓
I would say it's definitely art because Chris Burden was an artist and he made this intentionally as a performance artwork. How the viewer values it is another thing. I do think it's a really interesting artwork both in concept and the many ways in which it can be interpreted, including how you have read it.
Flip. I could hardly watch this. But as you say Victoria, you can't look away! It made me think of a book I'm reading about WWII spies and how they were summarily executed by the Nazis if they were caught.
For me, it's the still frame of the moment before the shooting that got me. It connects with photographic records of executions, which often looking like 'snapshots' (!) taken casually or surreptitiously. Plus Burden's movement after the instant he was shot; plus the mix of caring and legalism of a report having to be made.
In general classic performance artists of these years put their bodies or parts of their bodies 'in harm's way' and there were often real consequences as we see in Burden's piece. In this sense, performance of this type were 'heroic' if we define heroism as putting oneself in harms way for some extraneous reason, (such as making an art piece). One could say perhaps that they are in the tradition of 'mock-heroic' even. See also Stuart Brisley, Maria Abramovitch, etc
Thanks for this Martin, I think you're right. And I definitely think that Burden was brave for making this. There's a Marina Abramovic show at Modern Art Oxford at the moment that I'm going to see soon. She did that video piece about the artist as hero back in 2001 which she revived earlier this year for Piccadilly Circus -- I wrote a post on it back in the summer. Need to think on this idea of the hero more.
Hi Victoria
I think the counterpart idea of 'mock-heroic' is just as relevent.
Martin
Tell me more what you mean
I’m surprised he didn’t swear when he got shot! I think performance art really stretches my concept of ‘art’ - it’s a great example of something that does invoke a reaction, and violence desensitisation is such a big old topic to react to.
Interesting that it stretches your concept of art. It begs the question Leila and you know I'm going to ask it...what is your concept of art?
Well... it’s shifting that’s for sure. If you’d asked me a few years ago I’d have said ‘paintings, drawings and sculptures!’ Performance and installations were outside of my concept of art (read: comfort zone). I think something shifted when you introduced Christo’s work last year in terms of installations, I can really engage with the movement and grand scale of those pieces, and the lasting impressions.
I guess this piece has left a lasting impression for you, but is it art or a video of someone who thought it would be provoking to get shot?
Martins comment about hero has made me think though, am I just looking at this thinking it’s some guy with an ego and privilege making an excessive point about violence in a violent way? It doesn’t feel /move me like other art forms.
What a great conversation! Been through the whole thread and come to the conclusion that I'm in Leila's camp - it's a fascinating video, unsettling and thought provoking but... as art... too much of a leap for me. Talk me round Victoria 🤓
It's not beautiful but art isn't always pretty. And it's not a demonstration of skill in making an artefact, but conceptual art isn't that.
But if one of the purposes of art is to make you think about the world we live in, our experiences of life, it has done its work Jen.
I would say it's definitely art because Chris Burden was an artist and he made this intentionally as a performance artwork. How the viewer values it is another thing. I do think it's a really interesting artwork both in concept and the many ways in which it can be interpreted, including how you have read it.
It has made me curious to see more of his work to see what he’s all about.