Even a Toilet or a Box of Detergent Can Become Art Worth Hundreds of Millions of Yen!? Contemporary Art as a 'Game Changer' That Continues to Question Common Sense and Pose New Inquiries
Contemporary art, starting with Duchamp's 'Fountain,' is an intellectual game that questions common sense and the very definition of art.Summary
Contemporary art can be described as a 'lesson in thinking' that overturns the values we consider self-evident. This contrasts sharply with the linear history of artistic evolution seen up until the early 20th century. The turning point was Marcel Duchamp, often called the 'father of contemporary art,' and his 1917 work, 'Fountain.' This piece was merely a readymade—a mass-produced urinal signed under a pseudonym—which fundamentally subverted the traditional view of art as something created through the genius and inner spirit of the artist. Duchamp rewrote the rules, suggesting that art is not about 'making' but about 'selecting' and 'posing questions,' thereby opening the door to contemporary art as an intellectual game. This article explores the nature of this game, tracing its lineage from Duchamp through Pop Art master Andy Warhol to modern NFT art.
(Source：東洋経済オンライン)