Art Is Shit, Artist’s Shit & Shit In Art
Yes, art is shit – put your focus on this collection of articles concerning ‘shit in art’. Not sure where the obsession with excretion or excrement is coming from, but feces, especially shit, always seem to be a field of interest in art.
In May 1961 Manzoni created 90 small cans, sealed with the text Artist’s Shit (Merda d’Artista). Each 30-gram can was priced by weight based on the current value of gold (around $1.12 a gram in 1960). The contents of the cans remain a much-disputed enigma, since opening them would destroy the value of the artwork. Various theories have been proposed, including plaster. In the following years, the cans have spread to various art collections all over the world and netted large prices, far outstripping inflation. The most recent can to be auctioned, #19, sold on 26th February 2007 in the USA for $80,000.
Ofili‘s detractors often state that he “splatters” elephant dung (a substance which is used in a variety of rituals in Africa) on his pictures, this is inaccurate: he sometimes applies it directly to the canvas in the form of dried spherical lumps, and sometimes, in the same form, uses it as foot-like supports on which the paintings stand.
Cloaca is a Wim Delvoye installation that produces feces.
The first Cloaca machine was exhibited at the MuHKA (Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp) in 2000 was “fed” an exquisite meal twice a day, the feces coming out at the other end of the processing unit as a result of the “digestion” of the food.
There are several Cloaca set-ups: the original setup is that of a series of containers in glass on a long table, while the more modern ones are comparatively shorter, digesting food through what looks like a series of washing machines.
The logo and other promotional art work of the Cloaca project are a parody of the logos of Coca-Cola, Ford, Mr. Clean, and other brands. The feces produced by the Cloaca machines are sold vacuum-packed in translucent boxes.
Gelitin, a group of four artists from Vienna, Austria, created ‘The Kakabet‘
They are known for creating sensational art events in the tradition of Relational Aesthetics, often with a lively sense of humor.
Also, street artists are not immune on (ab)using shit in their works, the ‘Golden Shit Award’ by Carowa is one good proof.
Carowa Quote: ‘I dedicate this ‘Golden Shit Award’ to all the people who don’t give a fuck about their shitting dogs. We honor those who live in shit.’
‘Just leave it. We got it.’ is the Sprinkle Brigade‘s slogan.
Established in 2005, Sprinkle Brigade try to put a smile in your face, but also try to meet some ladies in the process of covering up pooch’s crushed caramello bars.
Another brilliant approach using excrements is the ‘McCain Flags‘ & ‘Greetings to Angela Merkel‘ shit flags, sending ‘subliminal’ messages during election time.
Andres Serrano’s work focuses on universal themes such as bodily fluids, religion, sex and death.
In this new series he continues his investigation of bodily functions through brightly colored photographs of excrement produced by a motley of animals. The photographs are formally constructed and demonstrate Serrano’s considerable technical skill while analyzing subject matter that might make some viewers squeamish. The artist treats the feces to his familiar bright psychedelic backgrounds and titles that demonstrate his keen sense of humour.
Last one on the list is Birdshit, 2007 by Dan Colen, an artist based in New York – not sure whether ‘real’ birdshit is used or not. At least looking realistic, though.
His work consists of painted sculptures appropriating low-cultural ephemera, graffiti-inspired paintings of text executed in paint, and installations.
This tricorder.at post was inspired by rebelart.net‘s collection on this topic:
- McCain Shitflags
- And the winner is…
- Kackabet: Zur Semiotik der Scheiße
- Schöne Scheiße – Kunst muss stinken!
- Andres Serrano: “Shit”
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