Paragraphs on Conceptual Art

Bahareh Karamifar

When an artist uses a conceptual art the idea of concept is the most important aspect of the work. 

When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. ?? Can it be vise versa?


It is usually free from the dependence on the skill of the artist as a craftsman. It is objective of the artist who is concerned with conceptual art


This kind of art is not theoretical or illustrative of theories; it is intuitive, it is involved with all types of mental processes and it is purposeless. It doesn’t have any purpose? Intuition vs. mind??? If it does not involve mind as much it would not be conceptual?


Conceptual art is usually mentally interesting to the spectator, and therefore usually emotionally dry.

Some artists like Bas Jan Ader, who is considered as a conceptual artist whose work deals with emotions, tragedy and romanticism with a cool aesthetic. What do you guys consider as conceptual art?  What are the boundaries between conceptual and ,for example, expressionist pieces or well crafted art? Can both intersect? How you define the boundaries? Any work, which engages emotions rather than mind, would or would not be considered as conceptual?

Broken Fall ( organic ) by Bas Jan Ader

http://www.basjanader.com







Conceptual art is not necessarily logical. Logic may be used to camouflage the real intent of the artist, to lull the viewer into the belief that understands the work, or too infer a paradoxical situation.         

Most ideas that are successful are ludicrously simple.


Art that is meant for the sensation of the eye primarily would be called perceptual rather than conceptual. This would include most optical, kinetic, light and color art.

Do you consider work of James Turrel who has worked with light a lot perceptual or conceptual? and heightened perception artworks?

These days most art should have a concept. Does the necessity of having a concept make a piece of art conceptual?



 Sometimes what is initially thought to be awkward will eventually be visually pleasing.



 If the artist carries through his idea and makes it into visible form, then all the steps in the process are of importance. The idea itself, even if not made visual, is as much a work of art as any finished product. Those that show the thought process of artist are sometimes more interesting than the final product.

Visually interesting and well crafted vs. conceptual??


When the viewer is dwarfed by the large sixe of a piece this domination emphasizes the physical and emotive power of the form at the expense of losing the idea of the piece.


Conceptual art is made to engage the mind of the viewer rather than his eye or emotions. Color, surface, texture, and shape only emphasize the physical aspects of the work. Conceptual art should be stated with the most economy of means.

Have conceptual art definition has changed over time or still has the same definition as Lewitt has defined it?

“In many important respects, conceptual art sits very uncomfortably with other, often more traditional art forms and artworks, and this tension highlights a pressing issue for anyone interested in the possibility of a universal theory of art, the role of the artist, and artistic experience. For if there is to be one rule for conceptual art and another for all other kinds of art, are there still good grounds for thinking of conceptual art as a kind of art? Moreover, could not every particular kind of art form or artwork demand a separate theory of art, artist and artistic experience?”