Understanding Art with Marcel Duchamp

The more I learn about Marcel Duchamp the more I think he is one of the great pioneers of modern thinking not only in art but in culture in general. One could easily draw comparisons between Duchamp's redefining of what 'art is' and comedian Andy Kauffman's redefining of what 'comedy is'. One of the main themes in the work of both cases being (to me anyways) that the thought behind the art as well as the result is together the work of art. Both men were not afraid to get booed or receive criticism for their controversial and conceptual art.

"What I have in mind is that art may be bad, good or indifferent, but, whatever adjective is used, we must call it art, and bad art is still art in the same way that a bad emotion is still an emotion."

-Marcel Duchamp (from The Creative Act)

In the Duchamp quote above he speaks of the perception of a work of art. A lot of people might make their perception of an art piece based partially on (what I'll call the 'academic technique') of a work of art. But Duchamp reminds us that this is not necessarily the most dominant factor in a piece of art, if it plays a role at all. Click on The Creative Act link above, (in the quote credit) it's an essay Duchamp presented in 1957, and is quite fascinating.

The Legacy of Dada

This quote ties in with the ideals of the Dada art movement, of which Duchamp was a prime participant. Their philosophy was one of anti-art; an attack on bourgeois and traditional art ideals, and also anti-war. (In response to World War I.)

"I don't believe in art. I believe in artists."

-Marcel Duchamp (1887 - 1968)

Laying waste to the idea of what art is and can be is a legacy that is directly linked to modern art as a whole. In some senses, Dada empowered the artist and not the art, freeing oneself to make their art a political and philosophical statement or anything; instead of only a representation of life in traditional means. A revolution in thinking that modern culture still has not fully grasped Dada was truly an exciting movement of any time, let alone the early 20th century.

Art is Non-Objective in Nature

I find this quote interesting because it helps me understand a passage from French philosopher Henri Bergson that I have posted here: Henri Bergson quote. Art, especially abstract art is a completely subjective experience.

"Art has absolutely no existence as veracity, as truth."

-Marcel Duchamp

Concrete truth only pertains to it in the sense that it is hopefully, an honest expression from the artist. And regardless of the objectivity or subjectivity of the art, it has the power to invoke powerful responses, or awaken new trains of thought. Artists are like the light on a spelunker's hat, lighting the way into the unknown darkness.

Art and Language

One has to appreciate Marcel Duchamp, one of the forefathers of the Dada art movement of the early 20th century. That the process of creating is more important than the art, and the disregarding of traditional art methods and ideas; are some of the main ideas behind Dada. Let's look at a quote from Mr. Duchamp:

"As soon as we start putting our thoughts into words and sentences everything gets distorted, language is just no damn good--I use it because I have to, but I don't put any trust in it. We never understand each other."

-Marcel Duchamp, quoted in: Art & Physics by Leonard Shlain, p. 204

Me, personally, I like to write and have always been interested in prose, poetry, words and word play. Some things though are only expressible in visual terms, ...emotion, intuition, the subconscious, ...which is why I thank Duchamp for helping to allow artists to break away from the traditional role of merely recreating reality. These ideas that became Dada are still only beginning to become widely integrated into modern culture in my opinion.