This is a piece attributed to George Maciunas, the driving force behind the Fluxus movement. He was a graphic designer and a bit of a control freak: he would seduce an artist that shared his ideals, offering housing, collaborations, and exposure. Then, he would control the artist, and if the artist got on his bad side, CAST OUT, CARREER BROKEN. Clearly, not a very nice dude. Still, it's a cool piece, and Fluxus stuff is often very fun. It's not what I think of as Fine Art, but I think Maciunas was going for more of an anti-art, mass production medium. To be honest, I think the piece is a little prosaic. Stalin, Spain, and Kublai Khan are beside the point. The Nazis are the mass murderers I care most about. But the design is very crisp, and it looks just enough like an American flag to make its point. The mass production ideal is very appropriate for political messages.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
System Artist: Fluxus Artists
This is a piece attributed to George Maciunas, the driving force behind the Fluxus movement. He was a graphic designer and a bit of a control freak: he would seduce an artist that shared his ideals, offering housing, collaborations, and exposure. Then, he would control the artist, and if the artist got on his bad side, CAST OUT, CARREER BROKEN. Clearly, not a very nice dude. Still, it's a cool piece, and Fluxus stuff is often very fun. It's not what I think of as Fine Art, but I think Maciunas was going for more of an anti-art, mass production medium. To be honest, I think the piece is a little prosaic. Stalin, Spain, and Kublai Khan are beside the point. The Nazis are the mass murderers I care most about. But the design is very crisp, and it looks just enough like an American flag to make its point. The mass production ideal is very appropriate for political messages.
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