February 13, 2002
The Horse Hospital culturejams Ivan Massow and The Guardian
elephant23 - 02:18pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (27.) | Reply
I know cultural amnesia is very much in fashion but why does the media think Ivan Massow's latest example of pedestrian self-aggrandisement remotely newsworthy? Surely everyone would expect him to side with the kind of fogeyish bleatings against Saatchi, Britart and 'the Serota tendency' that Brian Sewell has been banging on about for at least a decade.
gurmits - 02:24pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (27.1) | Reply
well said, that's what I said earlier as well, but apparently, he's just ignoring our questions, what kind of web talk is this anyway, with all this censorship and selectivity? Another smokescreen of collusio between rich grandees and self-appointed media-arbiters like the Guardian?
hometime - 02:25pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (28.) | Reply
Hi Ivan. I'm interested to know what you think of the Stuckists. (because I'm doing some research on the subject)
Even a short response would be appreciated!
Hometime
IvanMassow - 02:49pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (28.1) | Reply
The Stuckists are an art movement and I'm in favour of any art movement. In as much as I can't support the YBA's for marginalising any other form of art I want to make sure that cultureTM.com is totally democratic and open to all.
The Stuckists set out a very rigid manifesto, however, which may be the right way to go about creating a passionate movement. I also want to apportion recognition to other groups.
Yours,
Ivan
JamesThomson - 02:27pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (29.) | Reply
Dear Ivan
I agree wholeheartedly with your article in the New Statesman.
Don't you think there'e too much emphasis placed on the 'artists' themselves in all this, and not enough (by some people at least) on the finished work, which is all that matters in the long run?
Will a lot of it stand the test of time?
IvanMassow - 02:32pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (29.1) | Reply
Dear James,
Precisely. The idea has become bigger than the art and almost as if they were filling the space left behind.
Regards,
Ivan
Gill16 - 03:01pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (30.) | Reply
Ivan, The debate sparked off by your comments has been the most refreshing reading about visual arts for a long time.
Do you think the arts writers will be able to keep up the momentum and move the debate on, or will things just get back to normal?
My feeling is the problem with the art world is not what is being shown but that the focus of those who write about it is extremely narrow.
Best wishes. Gill
IvanMassow - 03:09pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (31.) | Reply
Dear Gill,
The reason I'm setting up cultureTM.com is to keep the debate going. I've already noticed that some writers have automatically started to ask the 'craftless tat' question without any reference to me, which is a good sign.
Ivan
GuardianTalk - 03:11pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (32.) | Reply
Question from David Gamble:
dear ivan, i now work in usa, having known some of the main brit pack artists, dealers and power people. do you think there are important unknown artists working in u.k who are indifferent to the showmanship and hype of some brit packs and their supporters in the institutions and that time will be the true judge....... how do you find and bring them to the publics attention...
JamesHollands - 03:22pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (32.1) Edit | Delete | Reply
Dear David, You'll find that there are a legion of superlative artists working in the UK who are unwilling or who downright refuse to be involved in self-reflexive art history and theory. We personally find that an ethical approach to curatorship means that we have built personal, trusting relationships with the artists we exhibit - I think an ethical approach to business in the 21st century is essential. If you create a space people trust, people are happy to wander within it. Yours, James Hollands
hometime - 03:15pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (33.) | Reply
Thanks for your comments about the Stuckists, Ivan.
Now, a question for my housemate, who is unfortunately unable to be here this afternoon. But if he was, I'm sure he would want to ask you if you joined the Tories with the idea of denouncing them, and if you did the same to the ICA?
Cheers, from Hometime (and her housemate who is very enamoured with you)
IvanMassow - 03:25pm Feb 13, 2002 GMT (34.) New: | Reply
Thank you all for taking the time to join me today, I would like to spend more time here but cannot do so today.
Please continue the debate and bring me in the loop at my website.
Regards Ivan Massow
posted by James on February 13, 2002 12:30 PM