I just wonder if it is truly possible to create non conceptual art, as wouldn’t the making of such art itself involve the very concept of what is “art”? Furthermore wouldn’t non conceptual itself be a concept since it is in opposition to something else?
It just came across my mind in a Buddhist magazine about an exercise in taking photos without conceptualizing things, yet I can’t help but wonder if it is possible. I mean what moves you to take such a photo is likely some idea right? Would that make inspiration conceptual then?
Well I guess what I mean is taking a photo without analyzing it or trying to form some kind of idea about it all. But when you take a photo you usually have an idea of what you’re taking a photo of and therefor I wouldn’t call it non conceptual
My humble definition of conceptual art is that it is PRIMARILY about an idea.
As opposed to “a picture of a thing/person/place.” I said primarily. A picture/photo/sculpture of my house can also be about the idea of “home,” but it is *primarily *a picture of my house.
I get that much, but when I try to get at what they mean by non conceptual art it’s just a bit on eastern religion. Though if you look at examples of the art there is clearly a theme and I wouldn’t call it non conceptual
Seems to me like you need to begin by figuring out what the heck are you trying to say. It’s difficult to say what you mean when you don’t know what is it you mean.
A concept is an idea, a thought. There’s a thought behind everything:
Hey, I think I’ll buy this Buddhist magazine.
Oh, this looks intriguing; I think I’ll read this article.
Some good ideas here…
I think I’ll dig out that old camera.
I think I’ll take a walk.
Oh, I think I’ll put on pants first…
Now I think I’ll take a picture.
No, that’s too Western of a thought…
I think I’ll just point the camera.
No, not zen enough;
I’ll randomly let the camera point at…
(ooh, this is such a Buddhist-y idea)
At what? At the park, ok, good thought.
I think I’ll just click the shutter.
Ooh, I’ve got an idea:
I’ll click the shutter without looking through the viewfinder.
Now THAT’S a great idea.
See, it’s concepts all the way down.
(Trust me, I teach a college class on Concepting. We touch on Buddhist thinking and Libertarianism. And how they can lead to mental gymnastics without a lot of enlightenment)
I feel bad that I made you go “Eww”. Concepting is big right now. A huge part of Animation/Video Game Development, as well as Graphic Design. My class is called Concept Development, and it’s the first step to any project, whether it’s a humble logo or world-building for a game or film. Brainstorming or Thumbnailing is “Concepting”… and according to the industry leaders who asked us to include the course, it’s crucial.
I just thought it was funny that I was arguing about everything having a concept, and I teach that class. (Kind of like “You should listen to my opinion on Fawlty Towers. I teach a class on Cleese!”)
You kind of mirrored my initial suspicions when I heard that. Taking a picture has an aim or idea even if you don’t think so. At some level below your awareness there was something about that which elicited the art. Which makes me highly doubt when they say non conceptual art. They might believe they are doing such art, but it doesn’t appear so. Even if you believe you aren’t thinking there is the subconscious to consider. So you still are, you just aren’t aware of it.
Sorry. the buzzword trend of verbing any perfectly innocent nouns that happen to stroll by (that already have perfectly adequate verb forms) triggers my gag reflexes. I work in I.T., I’m all too familiar with the idea
What was wrong with “conceptualising” ? Perfectly cromulent word.
