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Conceptual Art

July 12, 2004

Some weeks ago I met Jeremy and Morten for supervision. We discussed a number of topics one of them being conceptual art. Jeremy’s recapitulation of the issue very much resembled the ArtLex article on the topic. Conceptual Art first emerged as part of the Fluxus movement but later was to take on a different meaning when used by Kosuth and the Art &amp Language group. As conceptual art gained a new interest in Norway in the nineties the emphasis was on the conceptual art in line with the Art &amp language group. To Jeremy that always seemed less interesting than the more open and process-oriented conceptual art works of the sixties.

I was reminded of this discussion as I read about conceptual sound in Noise Water Meat in particular the tape pieces by Yoko Ono:

TAPE PIECE I

Stone Piece

Take the sound of the stone aging.


TAPE PIECE II

Room Piece

Take the sound of the room breathing.

1) at dawn
2) in the morning
3) in the afternoon
4) in the evening
5) before dawn

Bottle the smell of the room of that particular hour as well.


TAPE PIECE III

Snow Piece

Take a tape of the sound of the snow falling.
This should be done in the evening.
Do not listen to the tape.
Cut it and use it as strings to tie gifts with.
Make a gift wrapper if you wish using the same process with a phonosheet.


TAPE PIECE IV
Moving Piece

Take a tape of the sound of tha stars moving.
Do not listen to the tape.
Cut it and give it out to people on the street.
Or you may sell it for a moderate price.
TAPE PIECE V

Comb Piece (a)

Take a tape of your wife combing every day.
Keep it.
Bury it with her when she dies.


Comb Piece (b)

Take a tape of your husband combing every day.
Keep it.
Play it after he dies.


Comb Piece ©

Take a tape of your child combing.
Let her listen to it when she is sick in bed.

Yoko Ono 1963 autumn