Discussion held at the London Art Fair, 20 January 2011

"But What Does It Mean? + Can Art Still Shock?"

The Arts Desk's visual art critic Fisun Güner chairs a debate on art's shock value and purpose.

w/ panelists

Sarah Kent (critic), Mat Collishaw (artist), Gregor Muir (ICA Director), Fisun Guner (critic)

Part of the talks programme at London Art Fair 2011, the latest in the live events staged by theartsdesk aims to shed light on controversies and myths about the value and purpose of contemporary visual art. Taking place at the heart of the London Art Fair, where more than 100 galleries will present work this week, this double debate, chaired by The Arts Desks visual arts critic Fisun Güner, tackles the tough questions about the relationship between artist and viewer.

"But What Does It Mean?" considers how much we should take into account an artist’s intention. Is the viewer’s response more important than what, if anything, the artist intended to say, and do critical interpretations help or hinder an audience’s appreciation of a work of art?

"Can Art Still Shock?" considers whether an artwork’s power to shock creates or adds artistic value, and whether a  transgression of boundaries can always be distinguished from mere bad taste.

The panel for this double debate includes ICA executive director Gregor Muir, former Brit Artist Mat Collishaw and contemporary art critic Sarah Kent, who also writes for theartsdesk.

http://www.londonartfair.co.uk

http://www.theartsdesk.com

LondonArtFair