Vine video sells as art, Duchamp turns in grave

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      Can I be the first to say, that Tits on Tits on Couch (2013) by feminist video game artist Angela Washko signals a lowering of the bar of what our society considers art? Actually, I hope to god I’m not the first person who’s said it, because if I am, that means that the world really is that brainwashed.

      Remember that old saying about the masses having art fed to them with a spoon? I know this ain’t Warhol and it only sold for $200, but now the floodgates have been opened, so what’s next? Text-collage? Even that would take more effort than holding a laptop for six seconds while sitting on an ugly couch. I haven't been able to find any artist's statement about it, so I can only guess judging by Washko's other projects that she is making a very convoluted feminist statement? That's the thing that disturbs me, there doesn't seem to be a point to it.  

      Don’t get me wrong, I’m down with avante-gardism, and I'm down with questioning what art is, blah, blah, blah. But, they’re calling it absurdist and doesn’t that seem a bit, I don’t know, grand? Absurdism; we’re talking Dada, we’re talking Duchamp, we’re talking Arp. These people were radicals, rebelling against the concept of art and society itself, and they were the first ones to do it. All over the world. In the 1920s. 

      Sorry Washko, it’s been done, a lot. We did that already, and really, really well. This is just fucking lazy. Will we really accept anything as art, now? Society is supposed to be moving forward, not backward. 

      All this being said, it was sold, and to an art curator, which is the scariest part. That’s the art biz.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Angela Washko

      Mar 14, 2013 at 3:04pm

      Thanks for writing about the work. I wanted to correct the title it's "Tits on Tits on Ikea"

      To give the work a bit of context: I think it's important to also mention that I submitted it to Marina Galperina and Kyle Chayka's "SVAES" (Shortest Video Art Ever Sold) an experimental project for the Moving Image Art Fair. Being put into context with 15 other works using the same 6 second, square format I think help explains the concept a bit more. Each of the pieces were offered for 200$ each. Taking branded technology + hacking it a bit to be able to download the piece without releasing it publicly and then giving the collector the opportunity to "release it" was a pretty clever idea that Marina and Kyle came up with. I can't take responsibility for that.

      I'd be happy to elaborate on the content of the piece as you expressed some frustration with being unable to track that down. It is a single edition, and I don't own it anymore - but I am happy to explain a bit. For me it was interesting to incorporate a longer form video (the balloon breasts at the sitter's breast height) into an otherwise very restrictive time limit. I am also interested in the fact that Vine has been so flooded with homemade porn-related video-imagery, so this piece was a satirical reaction to the homemade Vine-porn so prevalent.

      I understand if you don't like the work - I just thought that perhaps giving the context a little consideration might help you understand it's intent and content as well as the curators' influence and intention. Also it is very flattering to be placed in an article citing Dada and Duchamp. Whether you are pointing out my inferiority to them or not! Thanks!

      As for already-been-done syndrome, ranting about artwork already-being-done has been done, a lot. And that's "just fucking lazy"(your words). You couldn't even manage to write the title correctly. You couldn't even mention the context from which it came. You also incorrectly stated the position of the buyer who is not only a curator, but an art consultant and a collector. She's also supported my work before and that is clearly part of this gesture. $200 isn't much, but it will help me with more ambitious, longer-form projects. I never expected this response to my 6 sec. gesture. I have been humbled by + learning a lot from this experience. (Also straight.com?)

      Jess

      Mar 14, 2013 at 3:23pm

      Why does any of this even matter. People such a fuss about bad art, and this is just one more example of that fact.

      Alexandra Seigné

      Mar 14, 2013 at 3:27pm

      The piece **is** vapid, ms. Washko. As the conceit of the little experiment there. It's just a gimmick, same as Vine itself. We've all been able to make 6 second videos since forever, but slap a convenient bit of branding on it and all of it sudden it's something 'new'. And why should anyone pay to "release" what was free in the first place. It's you all who decided to commodify it in order to give the privilege of liberating it. It was liberated in the first place. The whole thing is just trite and goofy and smacks of opportunism in lieu of real ideas.