The fact that art has become a self-referential system is now only a self-admiring pursuit, it is not a new theme but nevertheless, in our western civilisation it is still regarded as being totally up to-the-minute, and for a number of decades now, has been the hobby of many art agents, critics and artists. We regard ourselves as being confronted with the questions:
-
- as to whether art can still only be identified in a "negative presence", in
the form of debates, talks, texts and performances which have this for a
subject.
- as to whether art today still only exists as its anticipated criticism/reception, resulting in "works of art" only in the form of substitutes (fakes).
- as to whether the current works of art are now only the presentation of art or its absence and as to whether this means that there is really no "art" any more, or, is this a new meta-art.
- as to whether art criticism has come to an end or has reached an impasse, driven into this by itself with its linear thinking?
