Conceptual Framework
Question 6
Explain how particular artworks and/or exhibitions of art have caused changes in the art world.
As an anti-artist, Duchamp,was ignored by traditional art circles & society & ignored by the
public for the greater part of his life. Only avant-garde groups as the Surrealists claimed that
he was important. In the 1950's & 60's American artists like John's realized that Duchamp
had found answers for many of their problems with traditional approaches to art making
and were inspired by Duchamp's 'The Fountain'1917 & L.H.O.O.Q. 1919 to allow chance and
the use of readymade objects and everyday objects in their art practice. Later in the 90's
Orlan would be inspired to use her body as a readymade canvas to create' The
reincarnation of Saint Orlan’ 1999 which paved the way for artists like Hunter Cole to use
live bacteria to create living paintings.
John's was one of the 1st American artists to focus on the everyday object & 'Flag'
1954' & 'Target' 1955 paved/prepared the way for Pop art by using readymade
symbols. Pop artists would focus on popular culture e.g advertisements, TV & comic
books. So the art audience widened to include the 'average person'
By the 1950's-60's commercial materialism encouraged the everyday person to
become a consumer of manufactured goods (consumerism) Popular culture
embraced 'low art' everday objects instead of 'high art' e.g Mona Lisa
Coles works with biotechnologies & DNA to create living artworks & , has
used her own DNA. Coles 'Living Drawings'2005-2017 & 'Ascension of
the Souls', 2017, are examples of artworks causing change in the
artworlds understanding of what can be used to create art by forcing
artists & audiences to rethink their understanding of what constitutes
'art materials' as well as their relationship to these materials. (living
tissue)