7/30: Naked performance art

[Undertoad]

The Austrian artist Wolfgang Flatz hangs naked from a crane with bleeding Christ-like wounds on his hands and feet in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin July 19, 2001. The scene was part of his controversial performance titled 'meat', where a dead and skinned cow was dropped 130 feet from a helicopter and exploded.

I wish we had a picture of the exploding meat instead of this. I agree that it's all art, but in my opinion it's bad art. But at least we can get some kicks out of the gruesomeness of the whole display. I guess.

[vsp]

...I just like saying "I wish we had a picture of the exploding meat instead of this."

jeff. there's your catchphrase of the week...

[Shivetya]

Why call it art? Just because someone else did or the originator did?

Would you call a protester who sets himself aflame art?

Then why should we call what this guy is doing art?

Publicity stunt, but art, no real art has widespread appeal.

[vsp]

Originally posted by Shivetya
Why call it art? Just because someone else did or the originator did?

Well, yes. That's what art is -- an act of creative expression. The form of that creative expression (or its tastefulness, or lack thereof) doesn't change the fact that it _is_ creative expression.

Now, the _quality_ of that creative expression is, as always, a subjective matter...

jeff. By this definition, "Freddy Got Fingered" was art. We don't have to be proud of that fact.

[ndetroit]

This artist is quite well known in germany and has done many self-mutilating and self-abusing works. During this performance, a full orchestra played while the cow was dropped.

.... I remember reading a story about it, but I have forgotten the significance or intended meaning of this particular piece.... sorry..

[kisrael]

I believe in the Andy Warhol definiton of art: "Art is what you can get away with". He's convinced a number of people of the validity of his artisitic expression, and that's good enough for me.

An NPR piece on this presentation had two other interesting points: 1. This is relatively tame by german standards of modern art installations and performances and 2. The guy is self-funded so he answers to no-one. He's made a lot of money off of his art mostly and footed the $100K bill for this thing himself.