Coming Full Circle

"Good artists borrow, great artists steal." -Pablo Picasso

Today I found this quote, which is quite pertinent given the ongoing originality conversation I've been having through my blog.

I'm almost certain that this quote has been taken out of context, as seems to happen with so many quotes, but if in fact Picasso meant what he said literally, than there is no doubt that he would have loved the 3-d remake of Guernica, which you can watch below.

The quote comes from a description of an exhibition being held at the Rubell Family Collection in Miami, which I was introduced to by Richie and Amy, and has given me yet another reason to look forward to my upcoming trip there in just 16 days! The Rubell Collection is currently holding an exhibition called "Beg Borrow and Steal," a title that is a real attention grabber, and therefore great in and of itself. The show is based on the premise that, "While the question of artistic influence may not be new, what artists choose to borrow or steal, and from whom, is distinct in that it becomes a reflection of their own time." I'd never thought of reappropriation in such a way, but I do like that idea. (Ironically, or perhaps not, the exhibition was born from a conversation with artist Kelly Walker, who told NYMag back in 2005 that he doesn't like the term appropriation.)

Come to think of it, the idea that compiling borrowed/stolen images creates a "unique" time piece, so to speak, reminds me of an artwork called Tormented Self-Portrait (Susie at Arles) (1987-8) by Ashley Bickerton. The work is comprised of a metal frame that encapsulates what are essentially advertisements that were paid for by their respective companies. Bickerton saw that surfboarders and racecar drivers, and athletes of all sorts for that matter, were being sponsered and through this work he asks the question, why can’t art(ists) be sponsored too? Bickerton is discussing the colonization of the world (and art) through advertising, and thus begging us to reflect upon how much of our own identities are influenced by consumerism. This may be a "self-portrait," but is there actually a self here?

The curators of "Beg Borrow and Steal" would probably answer yes because these advertisements, or sponsorship logos, reflect the products that Bickerton uses, and thus the things that matter to him. On the other hand, the work is completely emotionless, and arguable also void of any aesthetic sensibility, and aren't those qualities a large part of what it means to be human?

Back to Picasso's quote for one second: who did he ever steal, or even borrow from for that matter? At the top of this post you can see my new favorite painting, Picasso's Night Fishing at Antibes (1939), (which I believe was at one time owned by Peggy, but is owned by the MoMA - so MoMA, if you're out there please show this piece soon!) This painting was clearly influenced by Matisse, and possibly Cezanne as well, but I certainly would not call this stealing! Hm, looks like we might have ourselves another case of the language barrier...

1. Pablo Picasso, Nightfishing at Antibes, 1939. Oil on canvas. MoMA, New York.
2. Ashley Bickerton, Tormented Self-Portrait (Susie at Arles), 1987-88. Synthetic polymer paint, bronze powder and lacquer on wood, anodized aluminum, rubber, plastic, formica, leather, chrome-plated steel, and canvas. MoMA, New York.