Sunday, February 5, 2012

Damien Hirst at Gagosian the complete spot paintings 1986-2011

         Massive studio practices that employ artists are good regardless of external intuitional ethics or subject matter.   For many even those that are well educated art is merely decorative and a place to escape for a Saturday moment.  It seems though people understand when they enter a contemporary art environment like Chelsea there will be a prevalence to a post modern sensibility, where technical precision is not always the defining characteristic of a master work. However people need to be able to relate on some level to what they experience even if it’s a superficial connection.  There needs be something to justify relevance in the contemporary moment in order to validate arts historical significance and this is where individual subjectivity comes to play.  Hirst and Gagosian offer a point of entrance into the a world that often alienates those that wonder a bit without the proper pedigree or background while giving those in the know something to snicker at and critique.
Formally the shows at the two Chelsea spaces are hung impeccably. Trying to comprehend the massive undertaking of such a show with its 11 coinciding global exhibitions warrants a slow clap at least, personally knowing the difficulty of producing small art events.  The work is what it is and arguments can be made for it in any directing you wish to take, I have my particular stance, which is neither right or wrong or conclusive. I will say though the shows are worth seeing.
Large Studios make works and so do individual artist and originations with the intended function of the art sometimes being very differently. Having a massive studio and gallery team both that employees many that genuinely care about art in some ways justifies the works value as they are all working to sell a product in a system they did not create.  I believe some of Hirsts work to be very theoretically sound and also simply functioning in a way many people need art too. Not all works should be socially engaged.  My only real critique is The Gagosian gallery is the only gallery in Chelsea that asked me to leave my ice coffee at the door.




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