Kris Martin's 'Idiot' Copy of Dostoevsky Novel Inspires Personal Reflection on Art's Transformative Power
In May 2008, a critic visited Kris Martin's exhibition at Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAMeC) in Bergamo, Italy. During this event, Martin shared that he had hand-copied Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1874 novel 'The Idiot' (2005), substituting the name Prince Myshkin with 'Martin' across 1,494 A4 pages. This experience, along with Martin's attitude, left a significant impression on the critic, who later bought and read the book, leading to a personal change. Currently, 'Idiot' is exhibited at S.M.A.K. in Ghent, but the pages are not accessible to the public. The critic considers art as 'creative misprision' and mentions Martin's 2010 piece 'I Am Not an Idiot,' referencing artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto and Agnes Martin, suggesting art can provide a momentary redirection.
Key facts
- Kris Martin created 'Idiot' in 2005 by hand-copying Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1874 novel 'The Idiot'.
- Martin replaced every mention of Prince Myshkin with 'Martin' across 1,494 A4 pages.
- The work was discussed during a private view at GAMeC in Bergamo, Italy, in May 2008.
- 'Idiot' is currently on view at S.M.A.K. in Ghent.
- The critic purchased and read 'The Idiot' after the encounter, experiencing a temporary personal change.
- Martin made another work titled 'I Am Not an Idiot' in 2010 using found pebbles.
- Harold Bloom's concept of 'creative misprision' is referenced as misinterpretation that becomes productive.
- Artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto, Robert Irwin, Tom Friedman, and Agnes Martin are noted for transformative practices.
Entities
Artists
- Kris Martin
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Hiroshi Sugimoto
- Robert Irwin
- Tom Friedman
- Agnes Martin
- Le Corbusier
- Harold Bloom
- Lawrence Weschler
Institutions
- Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAMeC)
- S.M.A.K.
Locations
- Bergamo
- Italy
- Ghent
- Europe
- Piazza Vecchia