In July, Australian artist Matthew Griffin had his work Pickle(《酸黄瓜》)exhibited at a New Zealand gallery. The work is merely a pickle taken from a McDonald’s burger, stuck onto the gallery’s ceiling with ketchup(番茄酱)on it. With a price tag of NZ$10,000 (about 42,200 yuan), it started an ongoing debate: Is this art?
In fact, this is not the only strange artwork people have seen in recent years. In 2019, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s work Comedian featured a store-bought banana with duct tape(强力胶). Far before that, Artist Rogier van der Zwang used 3D animation instead of painting materials to make visual rainbow. These trends bring us back to the classic discussion on how to understand art.
As British art historian Ernst Gombrich famously put it, “There really is no such thing as art. There are only artists.” Art is a personal expression; ultimately its agency is created by the artist. As each era cultivates its unique artists, the private message an artwork conveys can connect with every individual across time. Great artists from the past to the present all enjoy both fame and criticism. The way they appeal to certain audiences and encourage a wide range of debates and interpretations is exactly the charm of art.
Opponents may hold that despite the artist’s right to create, it is not up to the artist to determine if a piece of work is considered art. It is true that we see only the leftover of a cheeseburger. There is no real technique in Griffin’s Pickle. However, this is also where it is open to interpretation: For some, the pickle seems meaningless and artificial; for some, the pickle can be a commercial and cultural symbol. There is undoubtedly an innovation of “form”. It shows the artist’s exploration of the vehicle of art. The slice of pickle can be seen as a symbol. The ketchup plays an influence on the colors, with the surrounding white wall being another vehicle for expression.
After all, art welcomes various responses, which explains why viewing art is such an engaging experience.
In a word, we should always keep an open mind toward any embodiment(化身)of art.
【小题1】What do we know about the work Pickle?| A．It’s made on the gallery’s ceiling. |
| B．It is as simple as the banana work. |
| C．People’s opinions vary on the work. |
| D．People think it’s not worth the money. |
| A．Art can connect with people easily. |
| B．Artists are always admired by people. |
| C．The interpretation of art is critical. |
| D．The understanding of art is subjective. |
| A．Objective | B．Opposed | C．Favorable | D．Indifferent |
| A．connective but unreal | B．charming but untouchable |
| C．abstract but engaging | D．appealing but controversial |
