HUA290
Prof. Michael Rodriguez
Shin woo Kim (Jackie)
Ready Mades of Marcel Duchamp
(1913-1917)
The word “Choose” and “Reproduction” are the representative word for
explaining the “Ready made” of Marcel Duchamps. The only definition of “Ready
made” published under the name of Marcel Duchamps. The “Ready made” of Marcel
Duchamps is ordinary manufactured objects that he selected then sometimes modified
and deemed art. By choosing the object, giving it a title and signing it, the object
became a work of art. In addition, he chose it. He took an ordinary article of life,
placed it so that its useful significance disappeared under a new title and point of
view. He created a new thought for the object. He wanted use ‘mind’ instead of
‘eyes’ for art. It is not important to look a work of art by eye. He wanted to think the
meaning of objects he gave it. He selected the pieces on the basis of “visual
indifference”, and the selections reflect his sense of irony, humor and ambiguity.
An industrial products and any other natural article can’t be a work of art by
themselves. They are just objects to be drawn and painted by artists. However, after
Duchamp exhibited “Fountain”, every object became a work of art by itself. The
important characteristic of “Ready made” is the extension of range of art and even if
an artist doesn’t make his work by himself, if there are distinctive meanings or
intention, it becomes his work of art.
“It is a form of denying the possibility of defining art” “point that I want very
much to establish is that the choice of these "Ready mades" was never dictated by
aesthetic delectation. The choice was based on a reaction of visual indifference with at
the same time a total absence of good or bad taste ... in fact a complete anaesthesia.
One important characteristic was the short sentence that I occasionally inscribed on
the "Readymade." That sentence instead of describing the object like a title was meant
to carry the mind of the spectator towards other regions more verbal.” Marcel
Duchamp explained about his “Ready made”. Marcel Duchamp tried to break artistic
tradition and make a new style of art.
Most of the original “Ready mades” have been lost or discarded.
* The Ready mades
Bicycle Wheel (1913)
The first ready made,
Though he initiated the ideas two years later.
L.H.O.O.Q. (1919)
Reproduction of “Mona Lisa”
with a goatee and moustaches
“She’s got a hot ass”
Fountain (1917)
Porcelain urinal inscribed
“ R. Mutt 1917”
Why not sneeze Rrose Selavy?
Marble cubes in the shape of sugar lumps
with thermometer and cuttle bones in
a small bird case.
* I am really proud of that I am studying to be an artist while I was doing this
assignment. I didn’t know about “Ready made” so I thought this assignment would be
hard and boring. However, as I read some articles about ‘Ready made’, I became very
interested in his mind of art. I really agree with his mind. Seeing by eye is not
important in art. Understanding and feeling the artist’s mind what he is trying to say is
the most important. I became his fan. I will keep trying to understand his work of art
and I won’t forget his mind of art.