Andres Serrano's new show

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 4:24pm

Andres Serrano is the artist who became infamous with his photograph "Piss Christ", which also afforded him a fabulous apt. on Union Square.

I'm reading today's Post, and it seems Serrano isn't happy being a virtual unknown, 20 years later.

So, his new show, titled "SH*T*, An Investigation."

Yeah, it's pictures of feces. Disgusting but I can't help laughing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/29/08 at 5:13pm

Here's his Piss Christ. I remember seeing it in person and thinking it was beautiful. Prints of it now sell at over $150,000.

The new show is going to present photos of animal feces as well as a few BM's of people Serrano knows personally.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 1:25pm

No comments at all? Not even from artists?

[Juliash]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 1:44pm

The only thing I had to say was that I don't like his stuff at all, so I figured I wouldn't say that.

Except I just did. But I figured I'd respond.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 2:02pm

"Corn? When did I eat CORN?"

That is the title of the Carol Channing turd.
I think he has some samples of his work..


HERE!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 2:09pm

I saw some of his photographs a few years ago at Saint John the Divine. There was a bit of controversy over those also. They were extreme close ups of dead people, from infants to the elderly. A hand, an ear, a closed eye, etc. They were disturbing yet quite beautiful. Not sure how this series of photos will go over but will have to wait and see.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 2:26pm

I'm reading today's Post, and it seems Serrano isn't happy being a virtual unknown, 20 years later.

So, his new show, titled "SH*T*, An Investigation."


So his motivation for this show is to become "known" again because he is a virtual "unknown" now? That is a great incentive to create. And if his message is that creating art for selfish promotion creates crap, well, he will probably succeed on that. Did he use a grant for this, too?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 3:09pm

SNAFU, I saw that same show,of the dead. I could see they were beautiful photographs, but since I have a problem with looking at a preserved dead body, I didn't appreciate the show.

Sueleen, I agree. He probably thought he'd do something sensational, anything, to get back into the public eye and cause controversy. Perhaps he thinks the doody photos will fetch big money as a result of proposed controversy.

Juliash, thanks for the reply. I figured there wasn't much to say about feces and that's why no one bothered.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 3:41pm

Sueleen, I will NEVER forgive you for that link! I was eating cashews, for Christ's sake!


Jane, I like what he does. The contrast between beautiful image and shocking materials he uses. It brings out an important idea, I think, of the power of our connection to things. Things on their own are just benign things. Our connection to them is what creates their power. You know, like a pile of **** in the middle of an empty room is nothing until we walk in and look at it. Then it becomes all that **** is to us.

The same with the concept that words are just words; it's the significance we attach to them that makes them sweet or vulgar.

I think it's interesting that it's been 20 years since Piss Christ and, I feel, that this notion still carries a reason to be pushed out there.

Updated On: 8/30/08 at 03:41 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 3:55pm

The thing was Jane, I looked at the photographs before realizing they were dead bodies. Once I was made aware of it, my perception changed a bit. I have to say it was an interesting show with some stunning photos!

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 4:11pm

Scallion, you are so right in your perception. The Piss Christ, for example was beautiful to me because I viewed it purely for its aesthetic value. The colors and especially the light are gorgeous.

Taking it further, I also thought the image of jesus, who looked to be emanating light, made the religious aspect of it more beautiful than if you just showed me a statue of Jesus.

Now on the other hand, those who were up in arms about it thought it was awful because of the materials used juxtaposed with their god. It was sinful.

So, as you said, it's what you attach to an object that can determine how it looks to you.

The few photos I saw in the Post of manure, though, didn't look so nice!

SNAFU-I know! When you first entered the gallery, you did NOT know you were looking at dead bodies. And that's what's so eerie about them.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 4:32pm

Exactly, Jane. And when you think about it, if you believe in God, you probably believe that God created piss as a natural part of our beautiful process of being. I wouldn't think that God would attach such horrific repulsions to piss. It's us that does that. I mean it's just a liquid product of our bodies. We generally don't think our bodies are intrinsically gross. Why is this natural product of our bodies then viewed with such repulsion? We don't view blood or tears or even snot in this way. I really think it's fascinating and speaks to things far beyond piss and God.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 4:43pm

Agreed, but how are we going to explain the beauty in piles of SH*Te?

Maybe Serrano has accomplished that feat. I guess I'll have to check the show out. It opens in Chelsea this week, I think.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 4:46pm

I can't find pics anywhere. I'm afraid to search too much online! We'll have to wait and see.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 5:00pm

Oh, they were in Thursdays Post. I didn't save them but they did NOT look good.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 5:11pm

Just found some...

http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/view/133704/1



They are apparently blown up to a height of 8 feet.


While I do find it difficult to separate my attachments to what I know it is, particularly in some of the more identifiable ones, I'm drawn to exploring what that means. I don't know if I'm expressing that well. But what I mean is that while I find some of them really difficult to look at. The knowledge that I find it hard to look at them makes me want to try to explore that feeling and keep looking in an attempt to try and seperate from that feeling...probably to find the beauty that I know probably lies beyond the power of everything my mind attaches to poo.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 7:11pm

I get what you're saying, scallion. I feel somewhat the same way except I'm having a hard time with the beauty part. Referring to what we said before, about what we bring to the art, having the feces blown up so large is making me examine what the stuff is made up of, and it's gross to me instead of beautiful.

And invariably I think of the smell, which Serrano complained about in the article.

I"m not sure I'll go to this show.

I apologize to anyone who is grossed out from my post.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 10:27pm

It is interesting. When does the revulsion enter our lives? When we are children, we are fascinated by our body's by-products. Most small children will explore and investigate their feces with interest. "This is mine! I made it!".
Some of the photographs shown in the Voice slide show are quite interesting and oddly beautiful. I am sure that being as large as they are they become even more abstract and removed.
I love the fact that with Serrano's work we are oddly attracted, intrigued, in some cases awed by their beauty and at the same time appalled and repelled while they assault our sensibilities.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 10:38pm

Well said, SNAFU. I've enjoyed the conversation you, scallion and I had. I guess I really should go to see this show.