7/30: Naked performance art
 

http://cellar.org/pictures/nakedart.jpg

The Austrian artist Wolfgang Flatz hangs naked from a crane with bleeding Christ-like wounds on his hands and feet in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin July 19, 2001. The scene was part of his controversial performance titled 'meat', where a dead and skinned cow was dropped 130 feet from a helicopter and exploded.

I wish we had a picture of the exploding meat instead of this. I agree that it's all art, but in my opinion it's bad art. But at least we can get some kicks out of the gruesomeness of the whole display. I guess.

I have no joke here...
 

...I just like saying "I wish we had a picture of the exploding meat instead of this."

jeff. there's your catchphrase of the week...

Why call it art? Just because someone else did or the originator did?

Would you call a protester who sets himself aflame art?

Then why should we call what this guy is doing art?

Publicity stunt, but art, no real art has widespread appeal.

Well, yes. That's what art is -- an act of creative expression. The form of that creative expression (or its tastefulness, or lack thereof) doesn't change the fact that it _is_ creative expression.

Now, the _quality_ of that creative expression is, as always, a subjective matter...

jeff. By this definition, "Freddy Got Fingered" was art. We don't have to be proud of that fact.

This artist is quite well known in germany and has done many self-mutilating and self-abusing works. During this performance, a full orchestra played while the cow was dropped.

.... I remember reading a story about it, but I have forgotten the significance or intended meaning of this particular piece.... sorry..

I believe in the Andy Warhol definiton of art: "Art is what you can get away with". He's convinced a number of people of the validity of his artisitic expression, and that's good enough for me.

An NPR piece on this presentation had two other interesting points: 1. This is relatively tame by german standards of modern art installations and performances and 2. The guy is self-funded so he answers to no-one. He's made a lot of money off of his art mostly and footed the $100K bill for this thing himself.