Rhizome supports the creation, presentation, and preservation of contemporary art that uses new technologies in significant ways. Read more about us.

Pissed Off Artists Allegedly Urinate on Kruger Art

Posted by understated.art on July 18, 2008 3:23 pm

Pissed Off Artists Allegedly Urinate on Kruger Art
Installation

A group of artist protesters calling themselves "The
Infinity Lab" were arrested Thursday after witnesses
reported acts of vandalism on the new Barbara Kruger
Installation commissioned by University of California
San Diego's Stuart Collection.

The protesters chanted, "Another formulaic Kruger",
as one of them allegedly urinated on the
installation's floor text. Campus police arrested the
3 protesters as they continued to mock the
installation.

Thursday's protest may have inspired another
disturbing act of vandalism this time reported at Los
Angeles County Museum of Art on Friday. Apparently, a
protester threw bags of fecal matter at Kruger's mural
in the Eli Broad Collection.

Due to the two acts, there is elevated security
around all of Barbara Kruger's public artworks. So
far, Kruger has not been available for comment.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/post-tag/lacma
understated.art@gmail.com

15 Comments

Comment by Judi Collins
July 26, 2008 6:32 pm
 
Comment by Rui Pedro Fonseca
July 26, 2008 8:14 pm
A protest against art that protest??

Why don´t you protest against sexism, war, enviornmental issues, politics, entertainment, etc.??

Ah, ok you just want to be "cool" and protest against an activist work.

I know, is cool to be "cool"... yaaack!
 
Comment by Joe Edit
July 26, 2008 11:34 pm
well it is interesting when a modestly talented (graphic) artist like Kruger gets the mainstream attention of museums and art institutions.
It all looks pretty suspect.
 
Comment by Rui Pedro Fonseca
July 27, 2008 12:40 am
So what sould be the criteria to get the mainstream attencion of museums and art institutions?

At least Barbara Krugger in her work deals with serious subjects that concerns people (like gender and other political issues).

In this "egocentric" artistic production I see her work as one of the exceptions.
 
Comment by Joe Edit
July 27, 2008 11:00 am
It also looks like careerism riding on the back of legitimate protest.
If these issues are real concerns to her, then she should intervene.
This is like talking at hats and getting paid for it.
 
Comment by marc garrett
July 27, 2008 11:32 am
Whether it is Kruger just paying lip service, or artists finding an easy opportunity to get themselves known - it all feels a little cheap really.
 
Comment by Rob Myers
July 27, 2008 12:22 pm
Cheap and about twenty five years late. Just as much music seems currently to be a pastiche of the worst cheese of the 1980s, so it would seem much artistic activity is

It's also sexist (why Kruger and not an equally deserving male artist?) and a bit pathetic (they could only reach the floor?).

Rather than feeding the oxygen of publicity to Kruger's picture post pastiche issue porn couldn't they just try Pissing In A River?
 
Comment by Rui Pedro Fonseca
July 27, 2008 2:40 pm
Krugger is feminist and uses her work, in form of publicity, as a protest against patriarcal imaginary. If people don´t like feminism is because they don´t acknowledge its goals, its their right. Bringing the discussion here is arguing gender equality on inequality. She has the right to express her self as a women.

There is one thing she isn´t for sure: an egocentric, self centered artist like the majority of those whose who work, or try to work, in art institutitions.

What people need is more ethical art production who makes people think about its values system, its culture. We see art production to animate and create spectactle in every galery, museum, or street corner.

But, can someone tell me why did those people protest against Krugger work?
 
Comment by marc garrett
July 27, 2008 5:36 pm
>There is one thing she isn´t for sure: an egocentric,
>self centered artist like the majority of those whose
>who work, or try to work, in art institutitions.

You seem to know her well :-)

So if one does not agree with a female 'famous' artist suddenly one becomes an anti-feminst?

Although, the issue is not whether Kruger is a feminist or not.

I actually respect some of her early work. Although, I'd value her contribution more if she explored challenging the structures that she works within - may she does, I'm always happy to be educated more.

What I really dislike is shallow idiots who presume pissing is a form of 'art' protest - it's easy and gets one in the gaze of the spectacle quicker than actually doing anything interesting.

marc
 
Comment by Judi Collins
July 28, 2008 7:05 pm
I also read that they were protesting her involvement with the Whitney's GAP T-Shirts and GAP's involvement with suing sweatshops and other human rights violations.

But I don't know if any of that is true.
 
Comment by Judi Collins
July 28, 2008 7:06 pm
sorry, USING Sweatshops
 
Comment by Judi Collins
September 24, 2008 2:22 am
They've done it again. This one is insame.

The Infinity Lab's "Piss Kruger"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t8pUQbZhhU
 
Comment by Judi Collins
October 4, 2008 12:51 pm
Alright, this time they took it one step further:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t8pUQbZhhU

The Infinity Lab has imitated Andre Serrano and done a Piss Kruger sequencer.

Information from their YouTube page:

Inspired by the media and the events following the release of the faux "urination on Barbara Kruger installation" hoopla, The Infinity Lab was forced to take it one step further.

The outcry from the public can be likened to the response Andres Serrano received after he photographed the figurine of Christ soaking in urine.

Is Barbara Kruger the Jesus Christ of the Art World? We say, YES. And we've built a shrine to her and pray to it nightly.
 
Comment by G.H. Hovagimyan
October 4, 2008 3:21 pm
And the pissing contest continues!!!

 
Comment by Judi Collins
November 15, 2008 10:17 pm
re:
>It's also sexist (why Kruger and not an equally deserving male artist?) and a bit pathetic (they could only reach the floor?).

That quote from Rob Myers is almost as ridiculous as the video they did to parody Fritz Haeg a while back.
Sexist? Because she was a female artist? That's like saying that I am sexist because I am attracted to women?

Ridiculous statement!

Fritz Haeg video:
http://theinfinitylab.com/fritz.html
 

Login

You must login with your Rhizome.org user account to post.

Register here

Posting to Rhizome

Posting to Rhizome has changed, and we no longer support posts by email. If you want to post to Rhizome, please follow the appropriate link below.

Post Formatting Guide

Text Archives

Discussions, reviews, interviews, and announcements posted to Rhizome since 1996, have been archived in our Discuss section. Members may search this valuable, historical resource on new media art with our advanced search tool.