Arty Words
From the New York Times Art Candy
Mel Bochner’s Blah, Blah Blah (maroon) 2008
Courtesy of Peter Freeman, Inc
Words show up in the most unexpected places and in the most unusual ways. While walking through New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art in the spring of 2004, discovering what the latest and greatest trends were in the American art world, I saw words in a new way.
I’m looking for a magic moment…maybe an epiphany, but actually feel just a little overwhelmed. Then, I turn a corner and am delighted to find words among this sea of images. (Don’t get me wrong, I like to see the world through artists’ eyes, and images can transport me to new levels, but the Whitney Biennial is a lot to take in, particularly in one speedy trip.) Now I’m able to find focus in the five word paintings of accomplished and veteran conceptual artist Mel Bochner.
Each painting begins with one word in the upper left corner and then begins a journey through a thesaurus. The word “nothing” leads to “negation,” “goose egg,” etc. The other four words in the paintings include: “indifference,” “stupid, “meaningless,” and “mistake.” “Mistake” leads him to words such as “botch,” “boner,” “fumble,” “fluff,” “gaffe,” and “snafu.” All the words are painted in bright, candy colors and I was forced to really look at the words and contemplate their meanings.
I don’t think the words are chosen for any uplifting nature and I don’t even begin to try to interpret the message, if any, from the artist. I merely experience the paintings at face value and find them surprisingly powerful. But, words can do that.
For some, I imagine, the experience could be boring. Minimalist, conceptual art isn’t for everyone. But, I would suggest following John Cage’s advice: “If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring then eight. Then 16. Then 32. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.”
I enjoy conceptual art. Perhaps it’s because conceptual artists use language as a tool in their art. Words are their brushes. Their ideas are the artwork.
As I experience these words in a new environment and new way, I feel the power of art to slow down time. My senses are sharpened and putting any preconceived notions away and resisting the urge of my own ego to intellectualize the experience, I merely stand in front of the five paintings and contemplate the orange, blue, and red words: “Nothing,” “Indifference,” “Stupid,” “Meaningless,” and “Mistake.”
Find out more about the Whitney Biennial at whitney.org.
