Page 115 - David Bermant Foundation

SHOPPING CENTERSWhy ArT In A ShoPPIng cenTer?By David Bermant, February 1970Contemporary art (or more simply, the art being done today) has many facets and trends, most of them bewildering. Pop Art, Op Art, Minimal Art, Abstract Expressionism, Anti-Art, Earth Art—you name it and someone’s doing it. It would be impossible even to list all these directions in the space allotted for this commentary. For Long Ridge Mall, I have selected the trend that interests me most, which might be called “Technological Art.”To put it as simply as possible, Technological Art is the application of today’s scientific discoveries—be they materials, relationships, or principles—to produce objects of art. For example, the television screen of Nam June Paik is used as a canvas was by earlier artists; instead of paints, palette knife or brush, Paik uses colors and forms produced electronically on a television screen. As in much of this art, however, the end result is influenced by the actions of the viewer— in Paik’s case by sounds—projected by the viewer into microphones attached to the set.Many technological artists are engineers, scientists, or professors of art versed in electronic mechanics or skilled craftsmen with various aptitudes, but all share one goal: the production of a thing of beauty. Although the materials—plexiglass, strobe lights,aluminum, polarized glass, polyethylene, electronic sounds and devices, light images, etc.—may differ, and the scientific principles—optics, relativity, kinetics, cybernetics, etc.—may vary, the objective remains the same. Beauty, it has been said, is in the eye of the beholder. You may well differ with me as to the end result, but the means and the effort should nevertheless be of interest to you.I believe that the workday human environment can stand some beautification. Why should the beauty of art be limited to special trips to a museum or art gallery, or to the fortunate few who can afford private collections in their homes? The primary function of Long Ridge Mall is of course to serve your shopping needs, but the presence of contemporary artworks of high quality cannot fail to enhance your daily life.There may be no great works of art in this collection— no El Grecos, Rembrandts, or Picassos to move your spirit or religious sense. Yet there should be some that will bring a smile to your lips, a “wow” to your throat, or simply a feeling of pleasure at an idea well realized. The test of an artwork, for me, is simply that it makes me feel good. If you respond to any of these in the same way, that is sufficient.114LONG RIDGE MALL