In 2005, a sculpture by Damien Hirst depicting a pregnant woman with half of her body dissected was exhibited. In general, a lesson in anatomy for all comers, however, not everyone was ready to accept such art, although many people had heard about this sculpture and discussed it, but not always in a positive way.
Damien Hirst. Virgin Mother
And according to the author's idea, this sculpture was about the joy of motherhood, but not about war or any violence, as one might think, looking at it. But have notions changed so much that sculptors now show the beautiful and good through gross anatomy? Had he created something like this before the XX century, the artist would have been stigmatized, or even recognized as crazy or possessed by the devil and sent to the appropriate institution.
It is better to talk about beautiful things through beautiful images, as Sandro Botticelli did. His Madonnas are beautiful and do not cause any rejection - that is true art and the triumph of aesthetics.
Sandro Botticelli. Madonna with a baby and a book.
But the problem is modern perception and the modern viewer. If Hirst had created an ordinary sculpture or painting, we would not have paid any attention to it, it would have disappeared among hundreds of similar ones, made with no less skill. The problem is that if we wish, we can familiarize ourselves with many excellent classical works of art on the Internet, or even in museums, and at some point they cease to evoke any special feelings and emotions. There is too much monotonous beauty, which is getting boring. It is in an attempt to reach the viewer that artists are forced to create shocking and provocative sculptures.
Damien Hirst. The physical impossibility of death in the mind of the living.
It is not a fact that many people will like them, but they will definitely notice them, the main thing is to have a fresh idea, which in the current world is becoming the main value.
One of the real masters of fresh and unconventional ideas is street artist Banksy. His trick with a shredder, which destroyed the drawing "Girl with a Balloon" sold for 1.4 million pounds, is worth it.
Banksy. Girl with a balloon. 2006
In 2018, the bidding at Sotheby's auction was quietly going along, right up until the moment the Banksy drawing was sold. After the last blow of the auctioneer's hammer, the shredder inserted into the frame started working, and the painting turned out to be cut into many small strips. In general, a real accident, which disturbed all the auctioneers and the audience in the hall.
It turned out that Banksy had thought of everything in advance. The drawing itself he drew in 2006 and inserted it into a luxurious frame, suitable more for a classic oil painting of some academician. Of course, there was a shredder hidden in the frame, which was remotely activated at the right moment. Banksy, or his accomplice in the audience, just had to wait for the right moment.
Banksy. Girl with a balloon. 2002. London.
Even though the drawing was cut, but what a noticeable performance, and that's what Banksy wanted. Everyone benefited - Banksy expressed his idea, and his popularity has increased significantly, the owner of the drawing became an unwitting participant in the famous performance - by the way, the drawing was cut by shredder only to half and now it is material evidence of an excellent creative idea and is worth much more expensive. About this performance at the auction Sotheby's talked all the press, and this is in the hands of auctioneers. In general, just that rare case when everyone is good and no one left offended.
Perhaps the point of Banksy's performance is that in the modern world an interesting and innovative idea in the field of art is much more important than the material embodiment of any painting or sculpture, especially if they do not bring anything new.
And how do you think he is right, and whether such modern art has the right to exist at all - write in the comments.
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