sat 07/12/2024

theartsdesk Debate: But What Does It Mean? + Can Art Still Shock? | reviews, news & interviews

theartsdesk Debate: But What Does It Mean? + Can Art Still Shock?

theartsdesk Debate: But What Does It Mean? + Can Art Still Shock?

Our art critic Fisun Güner chairs a debate on art's shock value and purpose at the London Art Fair

Posing the big questions: theartsdesk debate

The latest in the live events staged by theartsdesk aims to shed light on controversies and myths about the value and purpose of contemporary visual art. Taking place at the heart of the London Art Fair, where more than 100 galleries will present work this week, this double debate, chaired by our visual arts critic Fisun Güner, is the place to come and ask the tough questions about the relationship between artist and viewer.

But What Does It Mean? considers how much we should take into account an artist’s intention. Is the viewer’s response more important than what, if anything, the artist intended to say, and do critical interpretations help or hinder an audience’s appreciation of a work of art?

Can Art Still Shock? considers whether an artwork’s power to shock creates or adds artistic value, and whether a  transgression of boundaries can always be distinguished from mere bad taste.

The panel for this double debate includes ICA executive director Gregor Muir, former Brit Artist Mat Collishaw and contemporary art critic Sarah Kent, who also writes for theartsdesk.

The talk on Friday is from 2pm in the Talks and Discussions Theatre, located on Gallery Level 2, in the Business Design Centre, Islington. The talk is free with a ticket to London Art Fair but we strongly recommend that you reserve a seat online here, or mail Matt Railton: matt@colmangetty.co.uk to secure a place. Please click here for events information (the event is listed under Friday 20 January).

It is the place to come and ask the tough questions about the relationship between artist and viewer

Share this article

Comments

Broadcaster and critic Matthew Collings, artist Matthew Stone, controversial critic and curator Julian Spalding, and Director of the ICA Ekow Eshun debated the end of taboo in a great debate called 'After Shock' at the 'Crunch Art Festival' here: http://iai.tv/video/after-shock

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters