#concrete comedy

[westernpole]

Gwendolyn Zabicki for Western Pole

[alannarisse]

An unfunny video about Concrete Comedy.

[moca]

Maurizio Cattelan practices a varied, at times unnerving, but always humorous type of art. Drawing inspiration from historical figures, the art world, his own body, and domesticated animals, Cattelan constructs frequently controversial sculptures that hint at common issues and perspectives.

The 2003 MOCA exhibition titled Maurizio Cattelan was the presentation of a new work, Charlie (2003). The artist's first mechanized sculpture, Charlie takes the form of a life-sized child riding a tricycle. The exhibition, organized by Alma Ruiz, consisted of the sculpture being driven by remote control through the permanent collection exhibition, Mid-Century Masterworks from the Collection.

Artist and critic David Robbins identifies Cattelan's work as concrete comedy.

[moca]

"On April 4, 1992... I went shopping in Rome for silk handkerchiefs, and I ordered a double espresso coffee. I then returned to the Vatican and stood in St. Peter's Square, at the base of the obelisk. In an attempt to recreate the process in which the original Veronica's Veil was created, I splashes the espresso on my face and methodically pressed the handkerchiefs to my skin to make artworks, each of which I call a Self-Portrait Sudarium. After my terse performance, I slipped into the teeming crowds of St. Peter's."

Jeffrey Vallance Relics from Two Vatican Performances 1992 Espresso coffee on Italian silk, paper document

David Robbins - Concrete Comedy - Art + Comedy - MOCAtv

[moca]

As defined by artist and critic David Robbins, concrete comedy is the comedy of doing rather than saying. Unlike mainstream comedy, which is verbal, narrative and illusionistic, concrete comedy communicates via objects and actions which are real and physical. It taps the power of the actual, which will always pack a greater existential wallop than pretending, and delivers concepts instead of stories.

In this video, Robbins unpacks concrete comedy and traces its history in twentieth century comedy, beginning with the "comedy taken material form" work of Karl Valentin, and discusses its modern practitioners in the fields of visual art, entertainment, music, fashion, and architecture. 

David Robbins - Concrete Comedy - Art + Comedy - MOCAtv

[moca]

Martin Kersels Raindrum, Bat Flap, Breather 1999 Wood, aluminum screen, aluminum, felt, rice, brass tacks, beans, steel, cloth, plastic, rubber and cord

[moca]

David Robbins Ice Cream Social 1993-2011 Courtesy Greene Naftali

Robbins discusses his project, which explores the theater of the small-town gathering and the artistic ecosystem that has sprouted from performance, with Alex Israel at ForYourArt.

[moca]

Artist and writer David Robbins identifies Marcel Duchamp's readymade as a crucial moment in an alternative history of twentieth century comedy, an "essentially performative... prop on which perceptual change turned." 

Tomorrow Robbins' new video account of that alternative history debuts on MOCAtv.