Here's something interesting - Cardus - Library
(This artist happens to be my wife's sister, the talented Abby Christensen). I think the concept of "Library" addresses some of what we talked about yesterday. The artist unsettles the meaning of the sign 'book' (or maybe 'library books on a shelf') by removing the expectation that the reader/viewer will read the book, and by placing the piece in a gallery - a physical space that encourages or demands that signs be read a certain way (I think of Joshua's museum fire extinguisher). The meaning is also confused by the fact that the books aren't actually books; they resemble real books, but it's clear that they are sculpted.
It's interesting how the gallery setting impacts modality. When something is termed "art," and displayed as such, how does meaning change? A Campbell's soup can in the grocery store vs. a Campbell's soup can in gallery...
Thoughts?
Our discussion of location impacting meaning was interesting. I kept thinking of Banksy...
I agree, Alex. The artist plays with the relationship between signifier and signified, and that's what makes the work provocative (not in every case, of course, but in this one). And re: Banksy. Have you seen Exit Through the Gift Shop? I think he's playing with signification at a whole new level in that film. There's always an unsteadiness of meaning that is compelling and hard to achieve. It's cool to think of all the different ways meaning is transmitted.
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