"Criticizing Art" Chapter 4: pg. 96-120

Jenny Holzer, part of a projection at the ICA in Boston, MA, 2010

The second half of this chapter continues to discuss how to interpret works of art by looking at the work of Jenny Holzer and Elizabeth Murray, and concluding with a list of principles of interpretation.  In looking at Jenny Holzer's work, the author shows that there can be multiple interpretations of an artist's work that do not agree at all.  Some consider Holzer's work to be an important reflection of America (she was chosen as the United States representative for the 44th Venice Biennale--a prestigious international art exhibition).  While others consider her work to have little merit in that they feel there is little to interpret.  Some question whether her work is really art because it is primarily word based.  A lot of her work involves projections (seen in the above right photograph) as well as the creation of signs and clothing with her phrases or essays printed on them.  

Elizabeth Murray is a painter who works mainly through oddly shaped, layered canvases.  Her work is somewhat surrealistic but often has a basis in everyday home life.  Incorporating pieces of furniture, interiors, and objects such as food and dishes, her work is often considered a unique woman's perspective, but not to the point of being feminist.  Murray's work is pretty much universally appreciated and applauded.  In looking at this artist, the author shows how there can be many different positive interpretations of an artist's work.  One particular one he focuses in on is one critic's sexual interpretation of some of Murray's pieces.    

Elizabeth Murray, Open Drawer, 1998

 

Elizabeth Murray, Bowtie, 2000

Here are some of the principles of interpretation discussed at the end of the chapter that I found particularly insightful/helpful:

- Arworks have "aboutness" and demand interpretation

- Interpretations are persuasive arguments

- Some interpretations are better than others

- Good interpretations of art tell more about the artwork than they tell about the critic

- An artwork is not necessarily about what the artist wanted it to be about

- Interpretations are not so much absolutely right, but more or less reasonable, convincing, enlightening and informative