The Conspiracy of Art: A Perspective on Contemporary International Art

Author: He Qing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book presents a "non-mainstream" independent perspective, showcasing an alternative history of "international contemporary art." It aims to reveal that "international contemporary art" is neither truly "international" nor "contemporary," but rather a "American-style art" forcibly established by post-war Americans worldwide. Post-war America used its powerful cultural propaganda and art market influence to validate everyday objects and actions as art. Under the guise of "anti-art" and "anti-painting," Americans declared European classical art "outdated" while proclaiming the "Pop," "Performance," "Installation," and "Conceptual" movements originating in the 1960s as "contemporary art." In doing so, they forcibly shifted the center of the world art from Paris to New York. Americans emphasized "timeliness" to mask "American-ness," equating "American art" with "contemporary art." Simultaneously, they highlighted "worldliness" to conceal "American-ness," equating "American art" with "international art" to undermine the legitimacy of other national and ethnic cultural arts. As a result, America replaced Europe, America dominated the world, and "American-style international contemporary art" became a "global contemporary art," spreading "American-style art" worldwide—this is the "conspiracy of art."