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Conceptual Art


The Mechanism of Meaning: The Diagrammatic Genius of Arakawa and Gins
Mentored by Marcel Duchamp, the artists Arakawa and Gins created a masterpiece of diagrammatic art: The Mechanism of Meaning. This post explores their "playful physics," a series of 80 large-scale panels that use Zen koans, philosophical puzzles, and diagrams to make us "think through the eyes."
jmfwhittle
Apr 20, 20178 min read
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The Taxonomy of Neurosis: Yves Netzhammer
Swiss artist Yves Netzhammer creates a universe of "Concave Thoughts." Using the cold, precise language of computer-generated diagrams, he explores the messy inner world of human emotion, creating an empathic link with the viewer through the archetypal gestures of his featureless, mannequin-like figures.
jmfwhittle
Dec 11, 20165 min read
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Diagrams of Geometry Part 2: A Soggy Book of Diagrams as a Wedding Present from Marcel Duchamp
Can you measure with a curved ruler? What happens when a geometry textbook is left out in the rain? This post delves into Marcel Duchamp's 'pataphysical' experiments, where he used chance, chaos, and conceptual instructions to create a witty and profound critique of scientific certainty.
jmfwhittle
Oct 20, 20168 min read
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Diagrams of Geometry - Part 1: Sol LeWitt and the Austere Poetics of Geometry
Sol LeWitt famously said, "The idea becomes a machine that makes the art." This post explores the core of his conceptual practice, from his iconic wall drawings to his Location series, where absurdly complex sentences are used to describe simple shapes, revealing the paradox of his "Romantic-Objective" approach.
jmfwhittle
Sep 1, 20166 min read
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