Turgid Birds
Forum > ReviewsThe Ready-Made
et al at Jonathan Smart Gallery9 May 2006 - 28 May 2006
by Harold Greaves 3 Jun 2006 7:37 pm
31 Comments
Article of the Month June 2006
O'those turgid melodramatic birds; conditional surrenders in the face of apathetic follies. Eddie Clemens' British Racing Green is best described as an emotional facade. It's just the one, replicable, silk tissue fluttering in the updraft. Its white semaphore issues surrender in such a pitiful way. The subtitle, the phenomena of tissue boxes placed in rear car windows exacts a dutiful revenge, like a pliant son at the behest of some monolithic order. The work is encased in this social wrangling, this pliant valedictory condescension that it's really quite mute. It's an insolent work with its own peculiar manners.
Clemens' practice is a world away from et al.'s which has all the hysterics of modernist refutation and squeamish nationalism, but then the sense to which L.Budd deploys pantomime as an automated gesture of acquiescence, of an informed affectation isn't so far off Clemens' clean looks. Even more in common though is the way both shows seem to work out against the pitiful pretence of the cursive fictions and cultural appeasements of today's society. In British Racing Green you have the automated banality of signification with no substance whereas et al's In The National Interest deploys a saturation of content, a pantomime of assured mastery.
et al In The National Interest, mixed media installation, Jonathan Smart Gallery, 2006 et al's vitrines of blanched memorabilia are evocative capsules of displacement. The blanching, the white pour, freezes content aggressively. It relies to a large extent on a vindication, a merciless appropriation best seen in et al.'s I cannot forgive series. But this sentiment is also there in the vitrines where books are left behind, blurred open, and given over as irrefutable objects. This blanching blunts the openness of scientific enquiry in its unwavering, rationalistic certainty which always hollows even the most speculative and tentative of hypotheses. This moment is at its most acute in et al.'s prominent placement of the book title, 'can the brain ever be full', which takes its original moment of speculation as a chapter heading and turns it loose in the realms of dead weight psychoanalysis, phrenology and cyborg avatars of clear thinking rationalism played out against schizophrenia and human fallibility. This clinical obsession seems to waver over the vitrines which combine books with broken end, wrought iron, architectural ornaments and mocking, nationalistic refrains of tokenistic birdsong. Ostensibly, the wrought iron fixtures are the remainders of CJ Arthur Craig and Sons (another et al. enterprise) who cashed into that speculative moment of a cursive culture. Now pitilessly mocked through a mimicry of fashion these blanched objects offer the speculative moment of curtailment and obsolescence. These wrought iron fixtures become haunting bedfellows in a vitrine of deadweight narrative
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John Hurrell
4 Jun 2006 8:05 am
122 articles &
1507 comments since 3 Dec 2005
Gee, good opening paragraph. et al as a 'hysteric'. That is an immensely
provocative observation that should agitate her geriatic feminist friends a little.
And Clemens' 'valedictory condescension' seems more about masturbatory condensation to me, or at least about bodily secretions or perhaps hygiene. All sorts of things happen in the backseats of cars. Wonder what Artbash's local undercover agent, Master Artwanker esq. thinks about that?
provocative observation that should agitate her geriatic feminist friends a little.
And Clemens' 'valedictory condescension' seems more about masturbatory condensation to me, or at least about bodily secretions or perhaps hygiene. All sorts of things happen in the backseats of cars. Wonder what Artbash's local undercover agent, Master Artwanker esq. thinks about that?
I don't think so
et al. has studied and mused on the hysteric for many, many years. JH, your penis is showing.
et al. has studied and mused on the hysteric for many, many years. JH, your penis is showing.
You miss my point,CV. et al is not doing it deliberately as satire. There is a whole polemic
that revolves around the use of the word 'hysteria', examining the sexism of Freud and his predecessors. Call her [all right,"them"] closet expressionists [as I believe in some ways she is] and see what kind of indignant response you get. Many of the values she critiques are actually deeply embedded in the original 'Tweedie' self. 'Masculinist' gesturalism or strutting, a love of 'spontaneous' mark making, totalitarianism, kneejerk dismissiveness mixed with a 'reasoned' argument - they are all part of the Budd persona. Those complications provide fascinating resonances,
that revolves around the use of the word 'hysteria', examining the sexism of Freud and his predecessors. Call her [all right,"them"] closet expressionists [as I believe in some ways she is] and see what kind of indignant response you get. Many of the values she critiques are actually deeply embedded in the original 'Tweedie' self. 'Masculinist' gesturalism or strutting, a love of 'spontaneous' mark making, totalitarianism, kneejerk dismissiveness mixed with a 'reasoned' argument - they are all part of the Budd persona. Those complications provide fascinating resonances,
I only wish
They were genuine tissues rather than silk. Or are they? I dared not touch, although I was temped.
I'd buy one as a cover for my real tissue box. Blow my nose on the art you know.
I graduated from back seats several years ago now, but given the small DC power requirements, you could doubtless wire one into your car and actually place it behind the back seat. Perhaps if they don't sell well, Helen Calder could use one in the back of her Mini Cooper, which also happens to be British racing green (!). Even stick a price tag on it and a phone number. A mobile exhibition and advertisement.
They were genuine tissues rather than silk. Or are they? I dared not touch, although I was temped.
I'd buy one as a cover for my real tissue box. Blow my nose on the art you know.
I graduated from back seats several years ago now, but given the small DC power requirements, you could doubtless wire one into your car and actually place it behind the back seat. Perhaps if they don't sell well, Helen Calder could use one in the back of her Mini Cooper, which also happens to be British racing green (!). Even stick a price tag on it and a phone number. A mobile exhibition and advertisement.
etal
it's interesting that there has been so many different interpretations of the 'in the national interest' show on at JS. compare this review with the one in the press, and then to Populuxe's as well. Also JS has put another interpretation of the show on lunchbox. Will the real l budd please stand up?
it's interesting that there has been so many different interpretations of the 'in the national interest' show on at JS. compare this review with the one in the press, and then to Populuxe's as well. Also JS has put another interpretation of the show on lunchbox. Will the real l budd please stand up?
Ah, what artist would do something stupid
like that? Artists love it when different curators slug it out, squabbling over the 'meaning' in their work.
like that? Artists love it when different curators slug it out, squabbling over the 'meaning' in their work.
strange expressions
The vulture thanks John Hurrel for the short lecture on hysteria. So very inspiring. If it's not too much trouble, could you take some time out of your schedule to give us a few well chosen words on root vegetables? I'm sure everyone would benefit. J, call et al. an expressionist by all means (you don't need to worry about the closet bit even). I'm sure they would be delighted or, more probably, not care.
The vulture thanks John Hurrel for the short lecture on hysteria. So very inspiring. If it's not too much trouble, could you take some time out of your schedule to give us a few well chosen words on root vegetables? I'm sure everyone would benefit. J, call et al. an expressionist by all means (you don't need to worry about the closet bit even). I'm sure they would be delighted or, more probably, not care.
Ever wonder why a vulture would have a curiosity about
root vegetables?
Look at the last footnote of
root vegetables?
Look at the last footnote of
Ever wonder why..
..when JH Googles it refers him to a Creationist site. God invented Vultures, God invented vultures.... ok, ok, we believe you.
..when JH Googles it refers him to a Creationist site. God invented Vultures, God invented vultures.... ok, ok, we believe you.
Root veges, CV. Good for the eyes you know..
Even for vultures. That was how the Brits won the war.
Even for vultures. That was how the Brits won the war.
ugh
the et al collective should not be viewed in such 70s outdated victorian claptrap terms as "hysteric."
startling vitrines that refer you into white blindness, pastel text that crosses you out refer to poststructuralist ideas of the centered being. something gapped between language and meaning is not restricted to gender.
the l budd show is concerned with more than just gender issues. 'in the national interest' show has nothing to do with gender.
this show is about pantomine.
the et al collective should not be viewed in such 70s outdated victorian claptrap terms as "hysteric."
startling vitrines that refer you into white blindness, pastel text that crosses you out refer to poststructuralist ideas of the centered being. something gapped between language and meaning is not restricted to gender.
the l budd show is concerned with more than just gender issues. 'in the national interest' show has nothing to do with gender.
this show is about pantomine.
Exactly right DH, which is why I pointed that loaded term
out.
out.
Not so sure.
Wasn't there a bit of a hysteria in the rejection of modernism? Kind of a blocking out? That's what HG is getting at.
Every generation and every artist has blinkers firmly in place. That denial of the past is kind of hysterical. ;-)
Wasn't there a bit of a hysteria in the rejection of modernism? Kind of a blocking out? That's what HG is getting at.
Every generation and every artist has blinkers firmly in place. That denial of the past is kind of hysterical. ;-)
Good observation indeed, Artbasher.
HG writes that hysteria links a rejection of modernism, et al and NZ nationalism. Or does it link et al, modernism's refutation of its own past, and a hesitant nationalism?
A bit ambiguous perhaps. What is doing the refuting? What is nationalism squeamish of? My comment was about HG's point about et al's practice 'having all the hysterics etc.' Maybe I was trying too hard to stir the pot, but I think my observation was worth saying.
A lot of things writers can say now that couldn't be stated twenty years ago.
HG writes that hysteria links a rejection of modernism, et al and NZ nationalism. Or does it link et al, modernism's refutation of its own past, and a hesitant nationalism?
A bit ambiguous perhaps. What is doing the refuting? What is nationalism squeamish of? My comment was about HG's point about et al's practice 'having all the hysterics etc.' Maybe I was trying too hard to stir the pot, but I think my observation was worth saying.
A lot of things writers can say now that couldn't be stated twenty years ago.
these are the fragments i have shored
the et al collective does not try and refute the past. l budd and b readymade in this show gathers up fragments from previous work and discusses the instablity of modern truths in a time of doubt and discord.
if anything, mark kramer is right when he discusses the collective's work as a broker in shadows, semi opaque work that fulfills the longing for a secret melancholy that finds it's answer in the shallowest of grief. et al is about human players, it is not limited to the feminine mystique.
the et al collective does not try and refute the past. l budd and b readymade in this show gathers up fragments from previous work and discusses the instablity of modern truths in a time of doubt and discord.
if anything, mark kramer is right when he discusses the collective's work as a broker in shadows, semi opaque work that fulfills the longing for a secret melancholy that finds it's answer in the shallowest of grief. et al is about human players, it is not limited to the feminine mystique.
Question for dolly...
Are you part of The Collective now, or just their PR agent? - which is what The Collective needed for Venice...
Oh god no! it's spreading!
Are you part of The Collective now, or just their PR agent? - which is what The Collective needed for Venice...
Oh god no! it's spreading!
PR
art needs PR like a fish needs a bicycle
art needs PR like a fish needs a bicycle
Speaking of PR...
Perhaps I should start a new thread for this, but I got an email last week from, yes, an art PR agent! He wanted to pass off advertising as news on Artbash. I have disdain for such an approach and told him so (politely). I've posted links to the McNews below. His emails were pretty funny. I could post them too if anyone's interested.
Press Release The First (regarding an artist who sells all her work online)
Press Release The Second (I didn't bother to read it really)
Just imagine if et al died, and there was an et al foundation that approved official works and stuff.
I'm mocking too many things at once to be at all healthy. Please, don't take it to heart anyone.
Perhaps I should start a new thread for this, but I got an email last week from, yes, an art PR agent! He wanted to pass off advertising as news on Artbash. I have disdain for such an approach and told him so (politely). I've posted links to the McNews below. His emails were pretty funny. I could post them too if anyone's interested.
Press Release The First (regarding an artist who sells all her work online)
Press Release The Second (I didn't bother to read it really)
Just imagine if et al died, and there was an et al foundation that approved official works and stuff.
I'm mocking too many things at once to be at all healthy. Please, don't take it to heart anyone.
We are et al,
lower your vitrines and surrender your white cubes.
Your aesthetic and persona will be added to our own.
Your practice and bric-a-brac will service us.
Resistance is futile.
You will be assimilated.
Out of curiosity though, why was none of this discussed when I reviewed the show? - or do you all really hate me that much? (sulk).
Hysteria? Goodness no - et al is one of the most logical, analytical and clinical subverters of that kind of nonsense practicing anywhere in the world.
lower your vitrines and surrender your white cubes.
Your aesthetic and persona will be added to our own.
Your practice and bric-a-brac will service us.
Resistance is futile.
You will be assimilated.
Out of curiosity though, why was none of this discussed when I reviewed the show? - or do you all really hate me that much? (sulk).
Hysteria? Goodness no - et al is one of the most logical, analytical and clinical subverters of that kind of nonsense practicing anywhere in the world.
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