WTF is Art Issue #3 – The debate continues

“What is Art?”

This age old topic has been the subject of many coffee cup conversations as well as world wide debates and yet, is never fully answered or put to rest.

Artists old and new have asked themselves “What is art?” What is it that makes things of artistic value?

Is everything I create art because I say it is?

What is it based on: skill, complexity, public acceptance? Is it monetary based? Is it for the artist, the public or a select few?

Are all mediums valid?

In 1917 Marcel Duchamp also wanted to stir up this debated when he titled a urinal “The Fountain” and submitted it to an art show as an act of provocation.

“The Fountain” was one of what he called “readymades.” The only definition of “readymade” published under the name of Marcel Duchamp (“MD” to be precise) says in André Breton and Paul Éluard’s Dictionnaire abrégé du Surréalisme: “an ordinary object elevated to the dignity of a work of art by the mere choice of an artist.”

However, André Gervais asserts that Breton wrote the definition for the Surrealist dictionary.

By submitting some of them as art to art juries, he challenged the public and his patrons on the conventional notions of what is, and what is not, art.

Some were rejected by art juries and others went unnoticed at art shows.

All this merely serves as an introduction to today’s WTF Art artist.

I have a question for the guys in my readership.

You can be honest.

Haven’t you always wanted your very own giant pink and green Orchid to pee on?

No?

How about a giant Sego Lily?

Morning glory?

Nautilus Shell?

Well if you answered yes, today is your lucky day!

Today’s Artist is Clark Sorensen

and for approximately $7500 US he will happily sell you, your very own red Hibiscus Urinal.

Where does he get his ideas you ask?

“Many have asked where the idea for these pieces came from.

Well, quite obviously from the bathroom!

I had the idea while standing over a urinal many times a day and letting the shape inspire me.”

Now maybe it’s because I’m a girl, but generally speaking, I don’t tend to get artistically inspired when I pee.

I dunno, maybe it’s just another one of those gender mysteries.

So what are his goals as an artist you ask?

“Clark hopes that his sculptures can be exhibited as art and installed as urinals in galleries and bathrooms around the world.”

I’d love to see the sign for that exhibit…

“not only can you touch this exhibit, you can pee on it!!!”

They’re going to need to charge an admission fee for the bathroom. 😛

Now don’t get me wrong.

I think the guy is talented, probably the best in the biz for that type of thing.

But it all comes back to the same old question.

Is it art?

Now I know a lot of you are going to say: “Of course it’s art. It’s gorgeous, high quality, detailed stuff.”

But remember, you pee on it!

Can something you pee on be art?

Because if it is, come winter there’s going to be a lot of guys submitting “snow sculptures” to their local gallery.

I myself am not sure on this one.

So, the debate will rage on.

(Oh and as a side note Mr. Sorensen also designs sinks and has been involved in the animation of over 20 different video games, though I couldn’t find out which ones.)

Anyway,

Just something else for us to ponder.

A