Idea Art

by Gregory Battcock

Analyzes the nature and origins of Conceptual Art as well as the theory underlying this unusual art form. Bibliogs

Genres: Art

203 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 1973

Reviews

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essays of Joseph Kosuth, Lucy Lippard, and Jack Burnham are just a few of the gems to be found in this mini-time capsule of early 70’s conceptual concerns and practices. The lineage of art as propaganda of the bourgeoisie is met with a grappling intensity here. How do artists take back control of their messaging? If the role of the artist is to reflect back and challenge the way a society would like to view itself, and if artists are highly sensitive, perceptually focused individuals, why isn’t our goal for everyone to be an artist? What would it be like to give up the platform that allegiance with the affluent commodity sector provides and make art for the maximum impact of the disenfranchised lower class, as well as revolutionary causes? The ineffectuality of conceptualists, which does deny the art object as commodity but requires significant intellectual capacity and art-related education to absorb and understand, is a really big problem in meeting these goals. There was no clear answer then as there is none now, and I am left with the feeling that the art world never really progressed past this point from that era. As a new genre of artists are again taking up the inquiry of how art can be political, provide a platform for change, and give voice to injustices of the world, this has been a meaty read and a point of reference for how much further we need to go in this process.