How to Determine if Something Is Art or Not?
I was thinking about creating a new giant clock that would "reverse" time when touched. And that led me to ask ChatGPT – is this art or not? Here's the response I received:
This is a question that artists, philosophers, and critics have debated for centuries. There is no universal formula, but here are some practical approaches that can help you determine whether something is considered art or not:
1. Intention and Context:
Why was it created? If the creator has a clear concept, idea, or message they want to express, then the work can be considered art.
Where and how is it presented? If something is displayed in a gallery, exhibition, or art context, it is automatically positioned as art.
Does the creator call it art? If the creator themselves perceive it as a form of expression, then it can be art.
Example 1: Marcel Duchamp – "Fountain" (1917)
In 1917, Marcel Duchamp presented a porcelain urinal signed "R. Mutt" as a work of art titled "Fountain." By placing a common, everyday object in a gallery and labeling it as art, Duchamp challenged the conventional definitions of art and artist.
- Intention: Duchamp's intention was to question what art truly is and to provoke the art world to reconsider its boundaries.
- Context: Presented in an art gallery, the urinal was transformed from a functional object into a conceptual artwork.
-
Perception: The piece was controversial, sparking debate and confusion. Some viewed it as a joke, while others saw it as a profound statement about art, context, and authorship.
Example 2: Engineering Prototype of a Robot, Created for a University Project
A student designs a robotic arm for a university project. The robot is capable of precise movements, simulating human actions.
-
If the purpose is to demonstrate technical principles: The robot remains an engineering project, focusing on mechanics, sensors, and programming. It is valued for its functionality and technical innovation.
-
If the purpose is to convey a concept or idea: If the creator presents the robot as a commentary on the replacement of human labor with machines or the growing dependence on technology, it transitions into the realm of conceptual art. The focus shifts from mechanics to meaning.
For example, if the robotic arm is programmed to perform repetitive, monotonous tasks to illustrate the dehumanization of labor in factories, it becomes a powerful art piece with a message.
2. Symbolism and Concept:
- Does it convey an idea, emotion, or concept?
- an the viewer find meaning, a message, or a metaphor in what they see?
- Even an engineering device can be considered art if it carries a concept – like your clock that reverses time.
Example 1: Yoko Ono – "Cut Piece" (1964)
In 1964, Yoko Ono sat alone on a stage, dressed in a simple garment. She invited the audience members to come forward one by one and cut away a piece of her clothing with a pair of scissors.
- Symbolism: The act of allowing strangers to cut her clothes away symbolized vulnerability, social aggression, and the objectification of women. It also highlighted themes of trust, power dynamics, and the discomfort of passive endurance.
- Message: Ono's performance was a powerful commentary on violence, sexism, and the human tendency to exploit the vulnerable.
- Interpretation: The act itself – the slow and deliberate cutting – became the artwork. It wasn't about the garment or the stage but the interaction between Ono and the audience, turning a seemingly simple gesture into a profound statement.
Conclusion: This is not a physical object but a live action that conveys a strong message through symbolic gestures. The audience becomes part of the artwork, blurring the line between observer and participant.
Example 2: Reversing Time Clock
Imagine a clock that moves backward instead of forward.
- Functionality: On a technical level, it is a mechanism that reverses the usual direction of timekeeping.
- Symbolism: The concept of reversing time can serve as a powerful metaphor for nostalgia, regret, or the desire to undo past mistakes.
- Message: It could be presented as a commentary on how humans are obsessed with time, how we often wish to turn back time, or how we struggle against its unstoppable flow.
- Context: Displayed in a gallery with a plaque that reads, "Can we undo what has already been done?", the clock shifts from being a mechanical device to a conceptual art piece that invites reflection.
3. Perception and Interpretation:
- Does it provoke a reaction?
- Does the work make the viewer think, feel, or see the world differently?
- If it elicits an emotional or intellectual response, it can be considered art.
Example 1: Maurizio Cattelan – "Comedian" (2019)
In 2019, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan taped a banana to a gallery wall at Art Basel Miami and titled it "Comedian."
- Reaction: The artwork sparked outrage, laughter, confusion, and intense debate. Critics and spectators questioned, "How can a banana taped to a wall be art?"
- Interpretation: Cattelan's work provoked a conversation about the absurdity of the contemporary art market, where simple objects can be transformed into high-value commodities simply through context and presentation.
- Message: By selling the banana for $120,000, Cattelan exposed the ridiculousness of art as a market-driven phenomenon, forcing viewers to confront their own perceptions of value and meaning in art.
Conclusion: The work itself was ephemeral – the banana would rot, the duct tape would lose its stickiness – but the concept and the reaction it provoked became the true artwork.
Example 2: Interactive Lamp That Reacts to Touch and Emits a Childlike Laughter
Imagine a lamp that lights up when touched and also emits a sound resembling a child's laughter.
If it is just a playful trick:
- The lamp remains a technical gadget or interactive device, focusing on its engineering and sensory response.
If it has a deeper concept:
- If the creator connects the sound to a childhood memory, the lamp becomes a metaphor for nostalgia or lost innocence.
- If the lamp is part of a series exploring the connection between sensory experiences (light and sound) and human emotions, it takes on a conceptual layer, inviting viewers to reflect on how technology can evoke memory or emotion.
Example Concept:
The lamp could be titled "Echoes of Childhood", representing how fleeting moments from our past linger in our minds like distant echoes. Each touch triggers a light and a laugh, symbolizing how memories are often triggered by random sensations – a touch, a sound, a scent.
Conclusion: The lamp is no longer just an interactive gadget but a poetic exploration of memory, sensory perception, and the fragility of time.
4. Context and Framing:
In what context is it placed?
- If you build a Lego robot and place it on your desk, it’s a toy.
- If you place it on a white pedestal in a gallery with a conceptual description, it becomes an art installation.
Example 1: Chris Burden – "Transit Module" (1971)
In 1971, artist Chris Burden confined himself to a small wooden box inside a gallery for five days.
Context at Home: If he did this at home, it would be seen as bizarre or self-destructive behavior.
Context in a Gallery: Presented in a gallery as a performance, it became a conceptual artwork that explored isolation, endurance, and human suffering.
Message: Burden's confinement was a powerful statement about vulnerability and human limitations, transforming an act of self-imposed isolation into a profound commentary on the human condition.
Example 2: Your Reversing Time Clock
Imagine your clock that moves backward instead of forward.
On Your Desk: As a working prototype, it’s a fascinating mechanical object, showcasing engineering skill and technical creativity.
On a White Pedestal with a Conceptual Text: If placed in a gallery, accompanied by a text that reads:
"Time cannot be reversed, yet we often wish it could. This clock is a metaphor for moments lost, opportunities missed, and the relentless passage of time."
Now, the clock is no longer just a mechanical device. It becomes a conceptual installation that invites viewers to reflect on time, memory, and the impossibility of undoing the past.
Conclusion: Context can completely alter the perception of a work. By framing an object or action within a conceptual narrative and presenting it in a specific setting (like a gallery or exhibition), a mundane object can be elevated to the status of art.
5. Audience Perception:
How do viewers perceive it?
If people engage with it emotionally or intellectually and consider it art, that perception can validate it as art.
Example 1: Jean-Michel Basquiat – Untitled (1982)
Basquiat started as a street artist, painting graffiti on walls in New York. Initially, his work was seen as vandalism, not art.
However, as he gained recognition in the art world, critics and collectors began to view his work differently – as a powerful expression of identity, race, and social issues.
Today, his graffiti-inspired paintings sell for millions and are considered masterpieces of contemporary art.
Conclusion: Audience perception can completely shift how a creation is interpreted. What was once dismissed as street graffiti is now celebrated as high art because of the change in context, narrative, and recognition by influential voices in the art world.
Example 2: Lego Robot Drawing Abstract Forms
Imagine you create a Lego robot programmed to draw random, abstract patterns on a canvas.
- If it is shown in a tech fair, it is seen as a technical demonstration – a display of robotics and programming.
- If it is presented in a gallery with a concept like:
- "A machine expressing randomness in a world driven by control – what is art without the human touch?"
- Now, the robot’s actions can be interpreted as art, and its output becomes a visual expression of chance and order.
Conclusion: When a work provokes thought, evokes emotion, or sparks dialogue, the audience’s perception can elevate it from mere object or mechanism to art.
