In the Art world, luvvies, kitsch is a form of art. Not a good form, but it does have history.
Back in the Industrial Revolution objects d’arts were mass produced for the first time. More people could afford art but it became more vulgar producing the likes of the cross-eyed Jesus. These objects became sentimental with no attachment to the artist or the history. Art became tacky decor!!!
Now a quick run around Art History.
Modernism involved the break from tradition in art and society. Some arty folk say it started with Durer way back in the 1500s when the Industrial Revolution powered up. Others align it with the Luddites smashing up factory machines in the early 1800s. So far so good. Modernism sought the truth. If it were a song it would be called ‘What’s it all about Alfie’.
Post Modernism began , maybe, in the 1960s. Sex, drugs and post-Modernism. Sounds right. If post-modernism was a song it would be ‘Whatever!’ sung or maybe not sung, performed, vomited, hummed, inferred, referenced, hyper-sung or whatever. You get the idea.
Now we have the likes of Jeff Koons who has turned kitsch into art or to be precise he has a factory that turns kitsch objects into art including the balloon puppy, the balloon rabbit and Michael Jackson and Chimp (below).
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In an ironic twist, that only the modern world could muster these kitsch objects manufactured as Jeff Koons Art are then recycled through the gift shop and reinstated as kitsch objects. Maybe, my lovelies, your head should explode about now.
In a further twist, Jeff Coons, who has copy others work for his own purposes is suing a San Francisco boutique for selling Balloon Dog bookends. For more fascinating reading see The New York Times article, What Can the Jeff Koons Lawsuit Teach Us About Copyright Law? 17 Feb, 2011
So, in honour of Jeff Koons, my little pets, we’ll have THE JEFFRIES or Post Modern Balloon Dog Crap Awards for cheap and nasty, unutterably ugly, mass-produced kitsch in any genre house, garden, art gallery or street.
The Jefferies
Post Modern Balloon Dog Crap Awards:
the blue period
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