J. C. and Christo, Superstars: Feedback
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 03:33 PM
In the end, the only opinion of The Gates that matters is your own. Nevertheless, if you missed this morning's opinion-fest on the meaning of all that specially-woven saffron fabric, here are a few interesting takes on the meaning of it all.
Christo and jean-Claude have not made an art piece so much as he has created a performance art piece! The work is not the gates or the fabric, but in fact it is the people moving around the park.
-MD
Christo says that the work is "totally irrational, irresponsible,
useless, with no justification, with no reason to exist except that we
like it." We should take him at his word, and conclude that 'The Gates' is
not art.
-LT
Aside from The Gates, what do you think is the meaning of Jackson Pollock's work? What about those Robert Ryeman painting (enormous blank white
canvasses) that were on view at the Pace gallery a few months ago? It is the case that, in a very general way, all contemporary art involves the viewer's participation (interpretation)
-BM
Tell us what you think!
It is wierd that Christo and Jeanne-Claude claim their work is non-political, since by its very nature, public art is political. At a time when it costs $20.00 to get into the MOMA any piece of public art has a political message.
-MK
But aesthetically I do not like the choice of color. First of all, since when is “saffron” orange? And second, the cumulative effect of the orange is to make the park appear like one large construction site. I would have loved almost any other color—bright green, for example.
-MS
I am Japanese and grew up in Osaka. The Gates exhibits reminds me of Fushimi Inari shrine, which I often visited when I was kid. Fushimi inari has hundreds of orange torii's.
-IS
No message does not mean no meaning!! It's meaning for the observer is derived from the experience of it...just as in life, the meaning is derived from the living of it. Thus, art equates with life.
-IH
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