A Bench, A Naked Bloke And A Flame – Is That Art?

// February 17th, 2011 // b-scene // b-uncut

Oh art – What is going on with you lately? When I see a show like Roger Hiorns latest effort, it really does make me wonder…

Without trying to be too offensive to the guy, Mr Hiorns – a Turner Prize nominee no less – has created a piece of art that will make anyone and everyone out there think they too can make it in the art world. This really is art of the lowest quality – a metal bench, a naked bloke and a flame – how genius….or maybe not.

Hiorns has drafted in three art school students to sit nude in the installation on the South Bank. When I see this kind of show it makes me think the world has gone mad, and in this case, makes me want to get a fire extinguisher and end the show early.

As I already mentioned, Hiorns is a Turner Prize nominee – although that prize goes down further in my estimations by the day -  and his ‘piece of art’ will be shown at the British Art Show. The show describes itself as a ‘snapshot of contemporary culture’ and runs every five years, opening at the Hayward Gallery tomorrow.

That element of contemporary culture must have passed me by – thankfully.

Mr Hiorns vaguely described the piece as “a collaboration of choreography and objects“. Now, art is no stranger to naked figures, but generally they make some kind of sense – where is the context in this piece?  I’m sure I won’t be the only person out there that doesn’t get this piece – no matter how ‘profound’ it will be billed as.

I hope art sorts itself out soon – I can’t take many more pieces like this one! What do you think of Mr Hiorns work? Let us know your thoughts…