Absent Artworks as Spiritual Exercises in 20th Century Art
A 1997 article in artpress examines a significant portion of 20th-century art that relies on narrative and photographic proof rather than physical presence. These so-called 'absent' or 'secret' works are not merely dematerialized due to conceptualism but also involve deliberate distancing through copies and multiples, prioritizing dispositif over material elaboration. By analyzing paired descriptions of artistic gestures—one treated as an artistic event, the other as a mere news item—the author argues that absent artworks are actually spiritual exercises seeking resonance.
Key facts
- The article was published in artpress on January 1, 1997.
- It discusses 'absent' or 'secret' artworks that function through narrative and photographic evidence.
- These works involve deliberate distancing through copies and multiples.
- The analysis compares paired descriptions of artistic gestures: one as an artistic event, the other as a news item.
- The author concludes that absent artworks are spiritual exercises seeking resonance.
Entities
Institutions
- artpress
Sources
- artpress —