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12.05.23
Résidence artistique
IS THIS ART - Performance by John Herman
Performance by John Herman in Kufa's Courtyard
10th May 2023
Duration: 12:00 hrs
In the framework of SQUATFABRIK #1
"What is art?” is the most basic question in the philosophy of aesthetics, which really means, “How do we determine what is defined as art?". Today, an army of art critics, gallery owners, museums and art academies claim to decide what is art and what is not art. Often their definitions are to be understood as guiding narratives that assess the nominal value of a work to make them manageable on the art market.
But art tends not to have such a clear target. It’s hard to say what art is for or against; its value often lies in providing us perspective and new ways to envision our world. Its effect is often subtle and hard to measure, and confusing or contradictory messages can be layered into the work. Good art always contains a surplus of meaning. Something we can’t quite describe or put our finger on, but moves us nonetheless. Its goal is to stimulate a feeling, move us emotionally, or alter our perception. Art is an expression that generates Affect.
With his twelve-hour performative intervention as a living sculpture, performance artist John Herman explores the creation of this effect. Herby, he used time, space, camouflage, physically reductive movement sequences and interactive resonance from passers-by as materials. In so doing, John Herman invites us to reflect on the significance of art as one of the most important lifelines of a society.
IS THIS ART - BY JOHN HERMAN - time lapse from John Herman on Vimeo.
