“Putting a shovel in a gallery or museum signified “this shovel has become art.” And it actually was. The action itself is art, because the artist projects himself in choosing the shovel, and especially in placing it out of context. It is art in the sense that the imprint of a hand in a cave is art, the Mona Lisa is art, a happening is art, etc. It is a problem that touches on the ethics and function of the artist: he assumes the right to have this supra-human calling that allows him to say to others, “everything that I touch with my hand is transformed into art.” The artist imposes his anguish, his vision of the world, and himself on others. The artist emasculates the observer. Maybe he thinks that the latter deserves no better… The artist assumes the right to show you what you can see for yourself, what you could obviously see much more clearly without his intervention. I contest this right.”

—  Daniel Buren

Source: Art is no longer justifiable or setting the record straight, 2000, p. 66-67

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Putting a shovel in a gallery or museum signified “this shovel has become art.” And it actually was. The action itself …" by Daniel Buren?
Daniel Buren photo
Daniel Buren 11
sculptor from France 1938

Related quotes

Daniel Buren photo
Joseph Kosuth photo
Daniel Buren photo
Sören Kierkegaard photo

“If the genius is an artist, then he accomplishes his work as art, but neither he nor his work of art has a telos outside him.”

Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism

Source: 1840s, Two Ethical-Religious Minor Essays (1849), P. 108

Kurt Schwitters photo
Jeff Koons photo

Related topics