Art Pranks and Institutional Critique: Lecture Summary

Introduction

• In May 2016, Kevin Nwin and TJ Kayatan visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
• They were unimpressed by a piece similar to Mike Kelly's work, questioning its artistic value.

The Glasses Prank

• Kevin and TJ placed a pair of glasses on the floor under a gallery label.
• Visitors gathered around the glasses, perceiving it as art.
• The prank went viral on Twitter, drawing comparisons to Marcel Duchamp's readymades.

Marcel Duchamp's Influence

• Duchamp's "Fountain" (1917): A urinal turned into art, challenging the definition of art.
• Society of Independent Artists rejected "Fountain"; Duchamp resigned in protest.
• Duchamp's work emphasized the artist’s choice in defining art.

The Nature of Art

• Art transforms ordinary materials, ennobling them beyond their original form.
• Duchamp's replicas continue to challenge viewers on what is art.
• Art pranks test cultural perceptions of art’s legitimacy.

Performance Art and Institutional Critique

• Example: Sai Yuan and Jan Juni's 2000 peeing performance on Duchamp’s "Fountain."
• Performance art often critiques and engages audiences.
• Janis Kounellis and others used everyday objects to challenge art norms.

Institutional Critique

• Concept: Critique of art systems and structures is part of art itself.
• Andrea Fraser’s 2005 article argues the art world is intertwined with societal values.
• Artists and viewers are part of the institution, shaping art’s meaning and purpose.

Art Pranks as Critique

• Kevin and TJ’s prank questions what art is and isn’t.
• Pranks reveal perceptions and expectations about art.
• Compare Duchamp’s critique to modern pranks; both reveal insights about art.

Conclusion

• The art in pranks lies in the interaction and perception between the object and the viewer.
• Encourages self-reflection on what constitutes art and what institutional values we uphold.
• The lecture ends with an acknowledgment of contributors and support for further discussion on art topics.