KITSCH BIENNIAL 2010 Palazzo Cini at San Vio, Venice, Italy 17/09-15/10 2010  |
| Odd Nerdrum - Running Bride , oil on canvas, 46x56 cm. |
Why “kitsch”?
The painters invited to exhibit at The Kitsch Biennale 2010 in Venice have been chosen from their ability to create life on canvas – an idea deeply rooted in European Humanism that presupposes insight into anatomy and human psychology, a mind for pathos and a sense for the archetypical narrative.
Yet, these values are rootless in contemporary art, which generally disregards skill and aims to reflect the time. They were not included in the modern concept of art (originally “fine art”), which was born about 250 years ago. Rejecting handcraft and sincerity, art represents a break with the values of the Renaissance and Baroque and not a continuation of them.
Because of this situation an alternative to art is needed, and The Kitsch Biennale seeks to present it. But why use the word “kitsch”?
The term is about 150 years old, and has commonly been used in a negative and disparaging sense. It denotes sentimentality and pathos in music, sculpture and painting.
From the 20th century on, ”kitsch” started to be used more theoretically and afterwards as the negative opposite of art. Painters who still wanted to make paint look like living skin, were considered old-fashioned and labelled with this term. According to Hermann Broch: «In art the evil is represented by kitsch». Thus, kitsch is not even ”bad art”, but forms a system of its own.
In 1996, however, Odd Nerdrum discovered the positive potential in the term. He started to claim “kitsch” as a positive superstructure for figurative, non-ironic and narrative painting to which the concept of “kitsch” fits better than “art”.
Consequently, a growing number of figurative painters are now calling themselves “kitsch painters”.
According to the positive view of kitsch:
• The eternal perspective is preferable to a contemporary, limited horizon.
• A “sentimental” or “pathetic” image is no cause of shame (Unless badly painted ...).
• Quality is more important Than Originality.
With this exhibition and catalog, we welcome you into a living discipline.
Helene Knoop & Jan-Ove Tuv
WorldWideKitsch
Why "kitsch"?
The artists invited to exhibit at the Kitsch Biennale 2010 in Venice have been chosen for their ability to create life on the canvas - an idea deeply rooted European humanism, which requires understanding of anatomy and human psyche, and attention to pathos and sense of narrative archetypes.
Yet these values \u200b\u200bare rooted in contemporary art, which generally disdain the technical skills and aims primarily to represent their time. These values \u200b\u200bwere not included in the modern concept of art (originally "fine art") when she was born about 250 years ago. Rejecting the craftsmanship and sincerity, art represents a break with the values \u200b\u200bof the Renaissance and Baroque periods and not a continuation.
In this situation, an alternative art is necessary and the Kitsch Biennale tries to offer it. But why use the word "kitsch"?
This term dates back some 150 years ago and has a negative connotation and usually derogatory. In music, sculpture and painting shows sentimentality and pathos.
Since the twentieth century the "kitsch" has begun to be used in a theoretical sense, then art as opposed to negative. The painters who insisted on wanting to make it look like real skin painted were considered obsolete and labeled with this term. According to Hermann Broch, "evil is represented in art from kitsch." So the "kitsch" is not simply "bad art" but form a system in itself.
However, in 1996 Odd Nerdrum to discover its positive potential. He begins like to support the "kitsch" as a superstructure for figurative painting positive, non-ironic narrative in which the concept of "kitsch" is best suited to that of "art."
Consequently an increasing number of figurative painters began to speak of himself as a "painter-kitsch."
Therefore, in agreement with a positive vision of kitsch:
• The perspective of eternity is preferable to a contemporary, limited horizon. • An image
"sentimental" or "pathetic" is not ashamed of (unless it is badly painted ...).
• Quality is more important than originality.
With this exhibition, catalog, and we welcome you in a living discipline.
Helene Knoop & Jan-Ove Tuv
WorldWideKitsch
