KC Hill
Dexter
Cibbuano
Paladin
Craig Hill
Oracle of DelphiBankers and Modern Art cont.
May 2nd 2006 06:13
Anyway, after thinking about why modern abstract art always fills skyscrapers and other corporate buildings, I came up with the idea that this type of art is part of a wider aesthetic that contemporary culture, and especially the corporate world, perpetuates.
This aesthetic has as its bedrock impenetrable surfaces, whether these surfaces are corporeal, architectural or artistic. Let me give you a couple of examples.
Firstly, the modern obsession with (i) the gym/personal maintenance and (ii) cosmetic surgery seek to create a look that renders the surface of the body as close to impenetrable as possible. The current vogue for hair removal (the 'back, sack and crack' job, 'brazilian' etc) works to create the illusion of porelessness. Also, when you think about the cosmetic procedures that people have done, they often focus on reducing possible bodily 'entrances'. The ubiquitous 'nose job' is the prime example here, a procedure that usually ends up reducing the size of the patient's nostrils. Microdermabrasion works in the same way, attempting to create the impression of a seemless, impervious skin.
Along with cosmetic procedures people's obsession with the gym attempts to construct the same look. The elimination (attempted that is) of cellulite via 'toning up', accompanied by the obligatory 'fake' tan, produces a look to the human body that approximates pvc plastic.
Contemporary architecture illustrates the same 'porelessness'. Corporate skyscrapers' glass exteriors deny scrutiny of their interiors, reflecting the city back at the viewer. And more than this, like the human body, entrances to these buildings are minimised - often provided by revolving doors - a kind of circumscribed orifice.
So contemporary body and architectural aesthetics are similar - both seeking to project seemless, impenetrable surfaces.
The deployment of abstract modern art in these corporate glass towers should be expected in such an aesthetic environment. What one finds is a another world of surfaces that, like the building itself, seek to deny any sense of interiority. Modern art is one such surface - to the lay observer an inscrutable surface that confounds any attempt at interpretation - existing therefore, as nothing but surface.
The people who inhabit these buildings exhibit the same superficiality - receptionists plastered under 'masks' of makeup and men whose unformity of dress and style gives them a generic feel - mass produced humanity - superficial facsimiles devoid of individuality.
The interior design of these buildings exhibits the same superficialty -often aping a pastiche of design styles(usually a combination of retro/minimalism/orientalism and establishment) top produce a design environment that is 'cool' and 'chic' but signifies nothing other than its superficial 'coolness' (and probably wealth).
I don't know why this 'look' has developed maybe someone can give me some help - I recommend the film American Psycho if anyone's interested in thinking about these kind of issues.
reflections on a glass skscraper
This aesthetic has as its bedrock impenetrable surfaces, whether these surfaces are corporeal, architectural or artistic. Let me give you a couple of examples.
Firstly, the modern obsession with (i) the gym/personal maintenance and (ii) cosmetic surgery seek to create a look that renders the surface of the body as close to impenetrable as possible. The current vogue for hair removal (the 'back, sack and crack' job, 'brazilian' etc) works to create the illusion of porelessness. Also, when you think about the cosmetic procedures that people have done, they often focus on reducing possible bodily 'entrances'. The ubiquitous 'nose job' is the prime example here, a procedure that usually ends up reducing the size of the patient's nostrils. Microdermabrasion works in the same way, attempting to create the impression of a seemless, impervious skin.
Along with cosmetic procedures people's obsession with the gym attempts to construct the same look. The elimination (attempted that is) of cellulite via 'toning up', accompanied by the obligatory 'fake' tan, produces a look to the human body that approximates pvc plastic.
before microdermabrasion
after microdermabrasion
Contemporary architecture illustrates the same 'porelessness'. Corporate skyscrapers' glass exteriors deny scrutiny of their interiors, reflecting the city back at the viewer. And more than this, like the human body, entrances to these buildings are minimised - often provided by revolving doors - a kind of circumscribed orifice.
So contemporary body and architectural aesthetics are similar - both seeking to project seemless, impenetrable surfaces.
The deployment of abstract modern art in these corporate glass towers should be expected in such an aesthetic environment. What one finds is a another world of surfaces that, like the building itself, seek to deny any sense of interiority. Modern art is one such surface - to the lay observer an inscrutable surface that confounds any attempt at interpretation - existing therefore, as nothing but surface.
The people who inhabit these buildings exhibit the same superficiality - receptionists plastered under 'masks' of makeup and men whose unformity of dress and style gives them a generic feel - mass produced humanity - superficial facsimiles devoid of individuality.
The interior design of these buildings exhibits the same superficialty -often aping a pastiche of design styles(usually a combination of retro/minimalism/orientalism and establishment) top produce a design environment that is 'cool' and 'chic' but signifies nothing other than its superficial 'coolness' (and probably wealth).
I don't know why this 'look' has developed maybe someone can give me some help - I recommend the film American Psycho if anyone's interested in thinking about these kind of issues.
Patrick Bateman:case in point?
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Comment by amy
Vulnerability is corporate death?
As for conformity, its the essence of hegemony - the corporate power structures are a bit unpredictable, we're all so desperate to be accepted and pulled up the ranks, so we try to minimise waves.
A friend of mine is about to get rid of a very tasteful nose piercing she just got and really likes (AND that she COULD justify on cultural grounds if she wanted to) for her new corporate 2 days a week job. It's sad.
Comment by Cibbuano
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man, Christian Bale was cut in American Psycho... I'm sure girls would think he was dreamy if he wasn't a serial killer in that film...