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Fantôme

  • AV Installation
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Fantôme
Digital video, 2007. 4 min, 22 secs.

In 1917 the presentation of Fountain by Marcel Duchamp became a defining moment, gesture and artwork destined to be one of the most controversial and talked about actions in modern art history. In December 2004 Fountain was named ‘the most influential modern art work of all time’, in a survey of 500 art specialists – dealers, critics, curators. The survey was conducted by the Tate Gallery, London, (the organisers of the Turner Prize).
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4059997.stm

Continuing this exhaustive list of homages/tributes to Duchamp and his famous readymade, steve hines has produced this short video that records a similar, mischievous action. The artist signed a urinal with ‘R.Mutt 2007’ in the Mens toilet of a major London art gallery. The action acknowledges Duchamps challenge to the art institution, its regulations and presents the idea that the `ghost’ of Duchamp is very much alive and active. There is a surreal element to the work with the feeling that something is not quite right…

NOTES FOR CURATORS/SELECTORS – NOT FOR PUBLICATION

The main content of the action in the video is seen in reverse – i.e. the sound and the image is played backwards. The opening shot/still of the signed, ‘finished’, urinal is actually the end of the action. It then appears as if the artist is walking into the scene ready to begin, but the ‘action’ of signing has already been executed. In the same way, the artist is seen leaving the urinal in a normal manner. These two effects were achieved by the artist actually walking on and off the scene backwards, so that when the footage was reversed during editing it appears ‘normal’.

The final scene of the exterior of the institution/gallery is a sandwich of two clips of film – the artist entering the building and leaving it - at the same time. The image further enhances the idea of phantom.

By using these visual devices the artist makes reference to a surreal, confusing and humorous approach, often adopted by Duchamp through his œuvre.

Part of the concept for this work was to create it in a major art gallery, (Tate Britain), in a location where the original artwork could be shown, (albeit in a different area of the gallery). It was also important that the artist carried out this action secretly and without gaining permission to engender an element of subversion. It is highly unlikely that permission would have been granted to an unknown artist from an institution as this. There are reasons for not revealing the location by name but previous visitors will recognise the gallery from the footage in the video. That is sufficient for the artist. The title of the work was very nearly ‘Made in Britain’

Duration (minutes)

4

What is needed

Video/data projector or large screen TV/monitor
DVD player

  • AV Installation

Authors

steve hines
steve hines

United Kingdom London