The Art and Craft Divide – on the Exigency of Margins
Journal Title: Art Inquiry. Recherches sur les arts - Year 2014, Vol 0, Issue
Abstract
The subject of the art/craft distinction continues to occupy a marginalized position in the history of modern and contemporary art and remains almost invisible as an object of critical inquiry. The marginalization of craft will be pointed out here, yet the article does not aim at a unilateral defense of craft as art, since reversing the hierarchy of art and craft or dismissing it outright seems to be a mistake. Rather, it will focus on the changing dynamics of the hierarchy of art and craft and will present the marginalization of craft as an illuminating example of power and authority at work in the art world. The article aims to show how craft – typically marginalized or even invisible as a force shaping the art scene under modernism – was implicitly central to modernism’s constitution and has explicitly become one of the most prolific spheres of artistic activity today. The article primarily aims to present the moment of the emergence and perpetuation of the historical distinction between art and craft. Then, it goes on to shed some critical light on one particular medium that was traditionally associated with craft, namely fiber and the way this material was showcased in American art in the 1960s and 1970s. The article demonstrates how three different groups of artists negotiated the boundaries between art and craft. Finally, it goes on to present how contemporary artists embrace craft and how craft continues to act as a touchstone of what is designated as art, aesthetics, their centers and margins.
Authors and Affiliations
Agnieszka Ługowska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP166399
- DOI -
- Views 105
- Downloads 0
Scenography studies – on the margin of art history and theater studies
Scenography as a domain of artistic activity has always been a liminal art, placed between the visual arts and theater, with the latter being treated as a chiefly literary domain. The history of scenography to date has r...
Interwar works by Izrael Lejzerowicz in the context of the “new art” milieu’s accomplishments in Łódź
The article attempts to demonstrate associations between works by Izrael Lejzerowicz and avant-garde artists working in Łódź during the interwar period. Lejzerowicz's painting is sometimes connected with a trend called J...
Philosophical and Aesthetic Contexts of the Phenomenon of Marginalization in Late Modernity
In the postmodern period we are dealing with many manifestations of marginalization, the understanding of which requires the use of a different language and different categories than those employed during the high phase...
Interactive Art in the Culture of Participation
This paper highlights the concept of participation from two perspectives, that is cultural engagement, which shall serve as an initial and conceptual background, and the proper analysis drawing on the phenomenon of parti...
The Art of Women – form the Margin to the Mainstream
Confronting the second wave of feminism with postfeminism allows us to show the change in the perception of art and the position of women in the art world. The activists of the 1970s aroused extreme emotions in the publi...