edition of colour ink jet prints
The idea for this work I got from Mladen Stilinovic's work/statement: An artist who does not speak English is no artist. I thought that this is so much true, and I started wondering what other requirements one has to fulfil in order to be viewed as an artist (at least an contemporary artist who plays or tries to play on international level). In this work that I’m developing, I try to give answers to this question, and to visualize them. Thinking about this, I become aware of the fact that the image and the way of work of the artists these days have changed significantly, from the longhaired artist talking about art in a bar to shorthaired (often shaved), artist with glasses discussing art on the internet.
Here are some, probably little cynical conditions for an artist, that I’ve came up with while observing the artistic practice of the artists that I’ve met, but also and maybe above all my own artistic practice:
The Artist…
… has to speak English.
… has to have a portfolio.
… has to at least appear that he has some political views.
… has to be nice to curators, museum directors, gallerists…
… has to know how to use computers, at least to check an email.
… has to be informed, at least about the other artists.
… has to appear as he is just working on a “project”.
… has to exhibit occasionally (although it is not necessary, as long as the previous condition is fulfilled).
… has to know how to write project proposals.
… has to be eloquent. “My work speaks for myself” does not work anymore.
… has to look down on something or someone, like job, money, nonartists, other artists…