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News & ArtsThursday, January 7, 2010
Visual Art Getting Tired of the Do-Ho Suh Dog Tag Jacket at SAM, Too?
Posted by Jen Graves on Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 4:55 PM
A description of what it looked like in its original incarnation, before it was "Jesus Christed," from somebody who was there. Good stuff.
In its early incarnation at SAM, I seem to recall, it was also different. For instance, people could take the dog tags with them, and walk all over it. That's how the artist wanted it; that's not how the museum, which now owns the work, wanted it.
1
Am I the only person who is disappointed that there are no real names on those dog tags, only gobbledigook?
2
Isn't the artist's intention just as much a part of the work as anything tangible it's made of? It seems like "owning" a work of art should be contingent upon the artist's rules. Otherwise, its only value is the materials it's made of - unless the same intention that created the physical object is respected as integral to the work as well.
3
You are mistaken about people being allowed to take the dog tags when the exhbit was first up. It was not permitted. It is true that people could walk on it at first, but the piece suffered tremendously and SAM had to change the rules.
6
@ 3 is correct, patrons were never allowed to take dog-tags but they could walk on the sculpture.
It's unfortunate that the SAM chose to stop people from walking on the sculpture. As I remember it the artist intended for patrons to leave part of themselves, their foot prints, scuffs, dirt from their shoes, rubber from the soles, etc., on the sculpture and that leaving behind added to the idea that the entirety of society, in Korea, was involved in the military.
The SAM could have found a better way to preserve the sculpture. It is unfortunate that they have betrayed the artist's intent for the piece.
It's unfortunate that the SAM chose to stop people from walking on the sculpture. As I remember it the artist intended for patrons to leave part of themselves, their foot prints, scuffs, dirt from their shoes, rubber from the soles, etc., on the sculpture and that leaving behind added to the idea that the entirety of society, in Korea, was involved in the military.
The SAM could have found a better way to preserve the sculpture. It is unfortunate that they have betrayed the artist's intent for the piece.
7
Compromises must be made when trying to preserve any piece of "installation" art. I would love to have this piece competely fill a small constructed room at SAM, with tags flowing out the door as a carpet, and allow people to walk on the tags and "discover" the coat effect, but this does not seem practical to me - too much damage. I still like this piece alot. To put it into context, I would have a nearby video that shows a looped film of the original installation....
8
No my vote is it should stay.
I think no one should expect the kind of sacrifice our soldiers provide to our country and its leaders. So as long as we are at war I feel Seattle should be deeply honored to have a piece of such extreme quality and timely relevance.
When I told Do-Ho Suh " No one has the right to expect that kind of sacrifice." he chuckled and thanked me.
Reda Carr
I think no one should expect the kind of sacrifice our soldiers provide to our country and its leaders. So as long as we are at war I feel Seattle should be deeply honored to have a piece of such extreme quality and timely relevance.
When I told Do-Ho Suh " No one has the right to expect that kind of sacrifice." he chuckled and thanked me.
Reda Carr
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