Failure Whitechapel Documents Of Contemporary Art
Failure Whitechapel Documents Of Contemporary Art
Introduction
Failure is an inevitable and unavoidable aspect of human existence. We all experience failure at some point in our lives, whether it is personal, professional, or artistic. But what does failure mean and how do we cope with it? Is failure always negative and undesirable, or can it also be positive and productive? How does failure affect our sense of identity, agency, and creativity?
In this article, I will explore these questions through the lens of contemporary art. I will use the book Failure, edited by Lisa Le Feuvre, as a guide and reference. This book is part of the Whitechapel Documents of Contemporary Art series, which aims to provide critical and thematic surveys of key topics in contemporary art through a selection of writings by artists, critics, curators, and theorists. The book Failure collects over sixty texts that examine the theme of failure from various perspectives and disciplines, covering a range of artistic practices and contexts from the 1960s to the present.
I will argue that failure is not only a common and inevitable phenomenon in contemporary art, but also a vital and valuable one. I will show how failure can be used as a creative strategy, a critique of society and culture, and a mode of resistance and empowerment. I will also discuss some of the challenges and risks that failure entails for artists and audiences alike.
Main body
Failure as a creative strategy
One way to approach failure in contemporary art is to see it as a creative strategy. Rather than avoiding or concealing failure, some artists deliberately seek it out or incorporate it into their work. They use failure as a source of inspiration and innovation, as a way of challenging the norms and expectations of art production and reception.
Examples of artists who use failure as a source of inspiration and innovation
One example is Bas Jan Ader, a Dutch artist who disappeared at sea in 1975 while attempting to sail across the Atlantic Ocean as part of his project In Search of the Miraculous. His work often involved staged or real situations where he exposed himself to physical danger or emotional vulnerability, such as falling from a roof or crying in front of a camera. His work can be seen as an exploration of the limits and possibilities of human existence, as well as a critique of the heroic and rationalist ideals of modern art.
Another example is John Baldessari, an American conceptual artist who famously burned all his paintings from 1953 to 1966 in an act he called Cremation Project. He then used the ashes to make cookies and an urn, which he exhibited along with a certificate stating that he would not make any more boring art. His work can be seen as a rejection of the conventional and formalist notions of art, as well as a playful and ironic gesture of self-reinvention.
How failure challenges the norms and expectations of art production and reception
By using failure as a creative strategy, these artists challenge the norms and expectations of art production and reception. They question the criteria and standards of artistic success and value, such as originality, skill, beauty, and meaning. They also challenge the role and authority of the artist, the institution, and the audience, by creating situations where the outcome is uncertain, unpredictable, or uncontrollable. They invite us to reconsider what art is and what it can do, and to embrace uncertainty, ambiguity, and risk as part of the artistic experience.
Failure as a critique of society and culture
Another way to approach failure in contemporary art is to see it as a critique of society and culture. Rather than accepting or ignoring failure, some artists expose and confront it in their work. They use failure to reveal and challenge the failures of modernity, capitalism, and globalization, such as alienation, exploitation, oppression, violence, and environmental degradation. They also use failure to reveal the contradictions and injustices of dominant ideologies and systems, such as nationalism, colonialism, racism, sexism, and heteronormativity.
Examples of artists who expose and confront the failures of modernity, capitalism, and globalization
One example is Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist and activist who is known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government and its human rights violations. His work often involves collecting and transforming objects that bear witness to the social and political realities of contemporary China, such as bicycles, backpacks, sunflower seeds, or porcelain crabs. His work can be seen as a way of exposing and resisting the failures of authoritarianism, censorship, corruption, and repression.
Another example is Theaster Gates, an American artist and urban planner who is known for his projects that revitalize abandoned or neglected spaces in his hometown of Chicago. His work often involves salvaging and repurposing materials from demolished buildings or discarded objects, such as bricks, books, records, or fire hoses. His work can be seen as a way of addressing and transforming the failures of urban decay, poverty, segregation, and violence.
How failure reveals the contradictions and injustices of dominant ideologies and systems
By exposing and confronting failure in their work, these artists reveal the contradictions and injustices of dominant ideologies and systems. They show how failure is not only a personal or artistic phenomenon, but also a social and political one. They show how failure is not only a result of individual actions or choices, but also a product of structural conditions and forces. They show how failure is not only a matter of objective facts or measures, but also a matter of subjective perceptions and interpretations. They invite us to rethink what failure means and how it affects us in different ways depending on our positionality and context.
Failure as a mode of resistance and empowerment
A third way to approach failure in contemporary art is to see it as a mode of resistance and empowerment. Rather than fearing or regretting failure, some artists embrace it or celebrate it in their work. They use failure as a way of subverting or transforming power relations, such as those between the artist and the institution, the center and the margin, the normative and the deviant. They also use failure to foster alternative values and possibilities for artistic expression and social change.
Examples of artists who embrace failure as a way of subverting or transforming power relations
One example is Yoko Ono, a Japanese-American artist who is known for her experimental and participatory works that challenge the boundaries between art and life. Her work often involves inviting the audience to perform simple actions or tasks that may result in failure or frustration, such as cutting her clothes with scissors or mending broken cups with gold. Her work can be seen as a way of subverting or transforming power relations between the artist and the audience, by creating situations where the roles are reversed or shared.
Another example is Kara Walker, an African-American artist who is known for her large-scale cut-paper silhouettes that depict scenes of slavery, violence, and sexuality in antebellum America. Her work often involves exaggerating or distorting the features or actions of her characters, creating grotesque or absurd images that may provoke laughter or discomfort. Her work can be seen as a way of subverting or transforming power relations between the center and the margin, by creating images that challenge the stereotypes and narratives of racism, sexism, and history.
How failure fosters alternative values and possibilities for artistic expression and social change
failure as a mode of resistance and empowerment, these artists foster alternative values and possibilities for artistic expression and social change. They show how failure can be a source of humor, joy, and beauty, rather than shame, sadness, and ugliness. They show how failure can be a catalyst for learning, growth, and innovation, rather than stagnation, decline, and repetition. They show how failure can be a tool for collaboration, solidarity, and diversity, rather than isolation, competition, and homogeneity. They invite us to reimagine what success means and how it can be achieved in different ways.
Conclusion
In conclusion, failure is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has a significant impact on contemporary art and beyond. Failure can be seen as a creative strategy, a critique of society and culture, and a mode of resistance and empowerment. Failure can challenge the norms and expectations of art production and reception, reveal the contradictions and injustices of dominant ideologies and systems, and foster alternative values and possibilities for artistic expression and social change. Failure can also entail challenges and risks for artists and audiences alike, such as ethical dilemmas, emotional distress, or physical harm.
Therefore, failure is not something to be avoided or concealed, but rather something to be explored and embraced. Failure is not something to be feared or regretted, but rather something to be celebrated and appreciated. Failure is not something to be fixed or solved, but rather something to be learned from and built upon. Failure is not the end of the story, but rather the beginning of a new one.
Recommendations for further reading and exploration
If you are interested in learning more about failure in contemporary art, I recommend the following sources:
The book Failure, edited by Lisa Le Feuvre, which is the main source of this article. It contains over sixty texts that explore the theme of failure from various perspectives and disciplines.
The book The Queer Art of Failure, by Jack Halberstam, which examines how failure can be a productive and subversive force in queer culture and politics.
The book Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture, by Aaron Rose and Christian Strike, which showcases the work of artists who emerged from the underground scenes of skateboarding, graffiti, punk rock, and hip hop.
The website Learning from Failure, which features interviews with artists who share their stories and insights on failure.
The podcast Failure, which explores how failure shapes our lives and identities through personal stories and conversations.
FAQs
What is failure?
Failure is an inevitable and unavoidable aspect of human existence. It can be defined as the lack or loss of success in achieving a desired goal or outcome.
Why is failure important in contemporary art?
Failure is important in contemporary art because it can be used as a creative strategy, a critique of society and culture, and a mode of resistance and empowerment. Failure can challenge the norms and expectations of art production and reception, reveal the contradictions and injustices of dominant ideologies and systems, and foster alternative values and possibilities for artistic expression and social change.
Who are some examples of artists who use failure in their work?
Some examples of artists who use failure in their work are Bas Jan Ader, John Baldessari, Ai Weiwei, Theaster Gates, Yoko Ono, and Kara Walker.
What are some of the challenges and risks that failure entails for artists and audiences alike?
Some of the challenges and risks that failure entails for artists and audiences alike are ethical dilemmas, emotional distress, or physical harm.
How can we learn from and cope with failure?
We can learn from and cope with failure by exploring and embracing it, rather than avoiding or concealing it. We can celebrate and appreciate it, rather than fearing or regretting it. We can learn from and build upon it, rather than fixing or solving it.