2) Fluxus- Is this art?

Duchamp's Fountain

What is this? Well, it is an urinal... with someone's name written on it.

How is this art? To be honest, the first time I saw this piece of "art," I was very skeptical; because let's face it, it is a urinal and there is absolutely nothing special about it. HOWEVER, this urinal has been considered the most influential piece of art in the 20th century.

Once again, returning to the question of "how?" And the answer simply is: because it is not the work itself that stole the attention of the world (because it is really just an urinal), but the idea that French artist, Marcel Duchamp had of placing it into an artistic space. By placing this everyday object into such a space, he was able to recontextualise this device, turning it into a sculpture... it has become Duchamp's famous "Fountain."

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This new method of communicating and experiencing art in everyday life was what the FLUXUS artists of the 1950's and 60's had the intention of doing. Stemming from the Dada movement of the 1920's, claiming that the artwork made doesn't exist unless interpreted by an audience, Fluxus "was a groundbreaking and idiosyncratic imaginative avant-garde"(Andreas Huyssen (1995), Twilight Memories: Marking Time in a Culture of Amnesia, pp. 191) 

When discussing Fluxus art amongst fellow Creative Art students, the quote "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way"  said by Charles Bukowski, entered conversation. Divulging into this statement a bit further, some concluded with the opinion, that was very eloquently put by student Elizabeth Sly: "Dadaists are intellectual wankers." Whether I agree or not with this assertion, I'm not sure, as both Dada and Fluxus are complex concepts that challenge the individuals first assumption to what "art" actually is. Does this make Fluxus actually an intellectual activity than an artistic one? We could take this pondering further, however that would enter a more philosophical discussion, but I now have a better appreciation for their works.

Do you think this is art?

Total Art Match-Box, Ben Vautier (1966)










       Flux-Smile-Machine, George Maciunas (1970)

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In contrast, there's the idea of the SELF PORTRAIT.  During the 20th century, the establishment of 'performative' styled self-portraits "open[ed] up an entirely new way of thinking" (Amelia Jones, "The "Eternal return": Self-Portrait Photography as a technology of embodiment," 2002, pp 949), which is similar to the concept of Fluxus. With the invention of the camera in the late 19th century, this device- being readily available for people- not only captures a moment, but also captures art. Amelia Jones concludes in her paper that "photographic self-portrait is like history or the memory that forms it," which is true. This can be said about all art forms, hence why the Duchamp's 'Fountain' is still a recognised piece of 'art.'  

1) St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2014

On the 1st February this year, Melbourne hosted the St Jerome's Laneway Festival, where an array of musicians performed at the Footscray Community Arts Centre and along the river. This typically Melbournian setting provided an atmospheric day full of an eclectic mismatch of different genres.

Artists included the universally acclaimed singer, Lorde (a seventeen year old from New Zealand), along with other international names, like Drenge, Kurt Vile and Daughter, while also being the stage for popular Australian bands, for example The Jezabels and solo artist Vance Joy.

Amongst these performers, lies a heterogeneous mix of sounds. As it is impossible to acknowledge each individual act, I have decided to comment on two musical ensembles that demonstrate the diverse selection of this fabulous day:

Vance Joy is most famous for the no. 1 hit on Triple J's Hottest 100 in 2013, 'Riptide.' He is a solo artist from Melbourne, whose music conforms to the alternative rock genre. The acoustic sound that he produces contrasts greatly with Drenge, a post-grunge brothers duo. [Post-grunge is inspired by the hardcore punk and heavy metal that was widely popular in the 1970's and 80's] 

Like that of a collage, this music festival had acts that were so varied, which allowed for everyone who attended to enjoy what the day had to offer. Using the phrasing of the official website  (http://melbourne.lanewayfestival.com) the Laneway Festival is "about leading new and revered seminal music" for music enthusiasts to celebrate.
Throughout the day, the blaring music made hearts beat in time with the drums, and as the burning sun began to set, the light effects on the stage allowed for another dimension of the songs to come alive. Although my emphasis has been on the music, what made the day unique was the audience themselves; with their ability to transform these Footscray streets into an incredible atmosphere of vitality. While each individual had their own agenda, in the crowds of thousands, we were united together by the same joy,  love and passion for music. And it was this which made the 1st of February really stand out.