Panel Statement
Panel: DON’T HATE THE BUSINESS: BECOME THE BUSINESS!
What does the capitalisation of art mean? Joseph Beuys declared that “the silence of Marcel Duchamp is overrated.” It is up to us to put value on this silence. How can you make art out of the convergence of the aesthetic field (and aesthetic judgement) with that of political economy? In the history of art, artists have often addressed this relationship both speculatively and critically. Andy Warhol went shopping. At the same time, the Beatles made their own record label to assume full control of the production process (and almost went bankrupt). What seems to be the case is that not only affirmation but also critique of the relationship between art and business develops new kinds of businesses. After all, where would design be without avant-garde (and Bauhaus)? Where would fashion be without punk? Artists often critically interfere and play with the convergence and transaction between aesthetic capital and financial capital. The paper will present key examples of this (from Marcel Duchamp to Christophe Bruno), and argue that the best critical artists also potentially propose the best and most innovative business models.
- Christian Ulrik Andersen, PhD, is Associate Professor and chair of Digital Aesthetics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark. He researches within digital aesthetics, software cities and computer games. Together with Søren Pold he is the editor of a new book Interface Criticism – Aesthetics Beyond Buttons (2011). He is also a researcher in Centre for Digital Urban Living, Aarhus University. darc.imv.au.dk
- Søren Bro Pold, PhD, is Associate Professor of digital aesthetics at IMV, University of Aarhus, Denmark, part of DUL and founding member of DARC (Digital Aesthetics Research Center). He has published in Danish and English on digital and media aesthetics – from the 19th c. panorama to the interface, e.g. on electronic literature, net art, software art, creative software, urban interfaces and digital culture. Together with Christian Ulrik Andersen he edited the anthology Interface Criticism – Aesthetics Beyond Buttons (2011). digitalurbanliving.dk
Full text (PDF) p. 1949-1954 [title somewhat different]