This summer, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is featuring an installation by Doug and Mike Starn, twin brothers, on the roof. Though I have yet to see it, I understand the installation consists of many thousands of bamboo poles laced together into an organic sculpture.
What struck me as especially interesting was a quote of theirs from some time ago:
"Modernism is a very intellectual movement, and beauty's been out of fashion in the art world for quite a while; it's seen as corny," Doug Starn said, 20 years back. "We don't feel that way at all." "Irony plays no part in our art at all," added Mike….."
What a refreshing notion!
Clearly, as in most aspects of life, there is not an either/or proposition to consider, but rather a spectrum. I can't help but agree the "art spectrum" had been co-opted by the more intellectual/conceptual wing…not that there's anything wrong with that.
Nevertheless, it's encouraging to hear successful contemporary artists win one for the "casual beauty" camp…..