Donald Judd’s seminal essay, “Specific Object” still reads like a comment on contemporary practice “A few of the more general aspects may persist, such as the work’s being like an object or being specific, but other characteristics are bound to develop. Since its range is so wide, three-dimensional work will probably divide into a number of forms. At any rate, it will be larger than painting and much larger than sculpture, which, compared to painting, is fairly particular, much nearer to what is usually called a form, having a certain kind of form. Because the nature of three dimensions isn’t set, given beforehand, something credible can be made, almost anything.” – Donald Judd Thoughts written in the 60s,.
Angelique Campens writes in 2011: “a lot of work has in common the return to the use of handicraft, do-it-yourself and authorship. These tendencies have now been going on for some years and are perhaps reaching their apogee. The 3-dimensional works move away from the machine-like, industrially produced and outsourced objects with sleek finishing. The interest in handicraft and crafts is omnipresent in society today, going back to the know-how of professions, instilling resistance to mass production and mass choice, and doing away with excess consumer choice. Furthermore, they exhibit a low-consumption, eco-friendly lifestyle. Finally, and most important, they bring the focus back to a recognition of authorship.”
My thoughts:
Interesting points here on contemporary practice, particularly from Angelique who sees a movement away from the fabricated to pieces with more authorial recognition.. I think this relates in some ways to my own thoughts about some of the artists whose work I find inspirational, and whilst I think there is space in my own practice for elements of my pieces to be pre-fabricated, they are combined with things I have also made.
Quite where her comments leave work that uses the readymade object I’m not sure they are excluded.. because its not the same as getting something made to order.. and my interest in the found, especially, the abject object is consistent with her thoughts.
gregoryhaymanartist 