Art is the most beautiful ornament of society as it is now, and not the warning signal for society as it should be – never that.
How can the artist contest society when his art, all art, « belongs » objectively to that society ?
He believes, also, in the myth of revolutionary art.
But art is objectively reactionary.
Walter de Maria : 50m3 (1,600 Cubic feet) Level Dirt / The Land show : Pure Dirt / Pure Earth / Pure Land. Galerie Heiner Friedrich, Munich September 28 – October 12, 1968. In May 1960, de Maria wrote “Art Yard” (published in the Young MacLow Anthology, 1963). Excerpts follow :
I have been thinking about an art yard I would like to build. It would be a sort of a big hole in the ground. Actually it wouldn't be a hole to begin with. That would have to be dug. The digging of the hole would be part of the art. Luxurious stands would be made for the art lovers and spectators to sit in.
They would come to the making of the yard dressed in tuxedoes and clothes which would make them aware of the significance of the event they would see. Then in front of the stand of people a wonderful parade of steamshovels and bulldozers will pass. Pretty soon the steamshovels would start to dig. And small explosions would go off. What wonderful art will be produced. Inexperienced people like La Monte Young will run the steamshovels. From here on out what goes on can't easily be said. (it is hard to explain art.) As the yard gets deeper and its significance grows, people will run into the yard, grab shovels, do their part, dodge explosions. This might be considered the first meaningful dance. People will yell “Get that bulldozer away from my child.” Bulldozers will be making wonderful pushes of dirt all around the yard. Sounds, words, music, poetry. (Am I too specific ? Optimistic ?) …
I have just been thinking about this wonderful art, already it is being killed in my mind. Is nothing safe ? Actually I am. And if this paper should fall into the hands of someone who owns a construction company and who is interested in promoting art and my ideas, please, get in touch with me immediately. Also if someone owns an acre or so of land (preferably in some large city … for art … thrives there) do not hesitate.
From Six years : The Dematerialization of the Art Object, 1973, Lucy R. Lippard
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