ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

The Mychkine Century: A History of Idiotic Art

opinion-review · 2026-04-23

The article argues that modernity coincides with the invention of a specific laughter, which remains the most accomplished form of truly happy and subversive art, resisting both the moral preachings of new conservatisms and the dogmas of avant-gardes. It proposes a history of idiocy in art, encompassing both hilarious propositions and, conversely, the forms that convention teaches us not to laugh at.

Key facts

  • Modernity coincides with the invention of a laughter.
  • Laughter is presented as the most accomplished form of happy and subversive art.
  • This laughter resists moral preachings of new conservatisms.
  • It also resists dogmas of avant-gardes.
  • The article proposes a history of idiocy in art.
  • This history includes hilarious propositions.
  • It also includes forms that convention teaches us not to laugh at.
  • The article was published in artpress in September 1996.

Entities

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources