Participatory art has always left me curious about what I’ve just looked at (or participated in) and why the artist choose to present their idea in this way. It’s been a long time since I’ve been exposed to participatory artists, and so I appreciate learning more about Brooke Singer and Stephanie Rothenberg.
Stephanie’s The Garden of Virtual Kinship and Coming Soon! blew me away in its simplicity yet profound real-time meaning. When a plant dies in In The Garden of Virtual Kinship, it means that funding/crowdsourcing has ceased. So simple yet so mind blowing. I am still in awe! Coming Soon! is a great idea. It’s storytelling about a city’s culture and history without the commerce. Truly interactive and educational. And it’s a great way to share from memory with other people.
I’ve always wondered how an artist can do ‘tactical art.’ What does it cost in terms of time and money? What is the logistics behind tactical art and how does one then promote it? I’ve always wondered and I would love to see a behind the scenes on an installation from start to finish with an unknown artist.
Banksy is my favorite (at the moment) tactical artist. Currently he is in NYC and I’ve been following him on his site. Below are a couple of my favorite pictures. The one with the pigs in the truck was taken last week in NYC’s meatpacking district.
Jamie,
For tactical art to work, I think it has to be in-your-face enough to “shock (people) out of their complacency,” as Gere mentioned in “Digital Culture.” I’m glad you mentioned Banksy, because he’s probably the most prolific. With street art, I think everyone who views it is a participant, willing or not, because you’re forced to take notice. Whether you feel something or nothing at all, you’re still participating, and I think that’s the goal.
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your response. And I totally agree that tactical has to be in-your-face to work. How to get it ‘in front’ is what has always puzzled me, which I guess is where the true creativity lies.
I am a big Banksy fan too! I think Exit Through The Gift Shop was one of the most interesting documentaries I have ever seen, and a fascinating look into the underground art world. I wonder if we can draw some parallels between Banksy and the artists we’ve observed online this week, due to the fact that not only do their works include some form of social commentary, but also that they do not seem to be concerned with profit. During his ongoing NYC exhibition, Banksy’s works of art have a life short lived. He waits for fans to snap pictures and spread them online, but soon they’re either defaced by rival graffiti artists or taken out of the wall where they’re made and auctioned off for millions of dollars. I’m not sure if he sees that profit, considering he was selling prints of his work for $60 dollars a piece. Do you think artistic messages are better received if people know the artist doesn’t aim to profit from their work, but rather does it to make a difference or send a message?
Hi Lauren,
To answer your question, for the most part, I don’t think artistic messages are better received if people know the artist doesn’t aim to profit from their work. I think audiences generally assess the value of an artwork on how it makes them feel and rarely judge works on the values of the artist that may not be self-evident in the work itself. However, I can see how it’s possible that an artist’s values can influence whether a message is received or not. If someone has heard of an artist whose work extols the virtues of charity but instead lives a life at odds with this message, it’s possible that this person will avoid being exposed to this artist’s work. In that sense, an artist’s values can affect the effectiveness of an artistic message. But generally, I think people who see a Banksy are less affected by his motives and more by the power and skill inherent in his work.
I think that one of the reasons that Banksy has become so well known as a tactical artist is that he does not succumb to the pressures of society. On the post of the stuffed animals in the truck, He posts a picture of a tracking device below and says “If you’re the person who stuck a tracking device on the garden truck, you are now following a car service in Queens.” Many people have been after this man for his destruction of property, but would his work be so profound if he did not feel the pressures of law enforcement? Would his work carry quite the resonance if he was not willing to push boundaries and piss people off??
Yash Banksy’s influence on tactical art is undeniable, and your connection with his work, especially the snapshots from NYC’s meatpacking district, reflects the power of art in capturing the essence of a moment and sparking meaningful conversations.