What Kind of Art Are You For?

September 30th, 2004 · 2 Comments · Artists


Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
Photo by Lothar Wolleh (1930-79)

“I am for an art that takes its form from the lines of life itself, that twists and extends and accumulates and spits and drips, and is heavy and coarse and blunt and sweet and stupid as life itself.

I am an artist who vanishes, turning up in a white cap painting signs or hallways.

I am for art that comes out of a chimney like black hair and scatters in the sky.

I am for art that spills out of an old man’s purse when he is bounced off a passing fender.

I am for the art out of a doggy’s mouth, falling five stories from the roof.

I am for the art that a kid licks, after peeling away the wrapper.”

-Claus Oldenburg, b.1929, from Documents from The Store

Read the whole thing here.

What kind of art are YOU for?

Category: Artists

2 Comments so far ↓

  • Micah

    I am for art that reminds me how strange a thing it is to not only exist but to be aware of that fact.

  • Zanne

    I am for art I don’t understand until about three years after I saw/heard/experienced it. That means it did something to you, something permanent.
    “Last Year at Marienbad” is the type of art (well, film) that I like. When I first watched it I thought “Oh bollocks, whats all this then” and when it was over, I was impressed. Now three years later I am consumed with a need to own this movie and force everyone around me to watch it with me.
    (tiny voice) and when I can afford the $122.00 that it is on Amazon for the DVD, I’ll do just that.(/tiny voice)

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