Semiotica: the persuasion of text
Works from the UofL collection
Helen Christou Gallery
Curator: Emily McCormick (Museum Studies Intern)
In conceptual art the idea or 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. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art.
-Sol LeWitt
Conceptual art is unique because it does not require an image. Unlike traditional artistic practices that celebrate technique and craftsmanship, conceptual artists only need to create an idea; they do not need to show their hand in the final product. Many conceptual artists hire other people to make their work, so that the viewer can focus on the idea rather than the person who came up with the idea. One of the ways conceptual artists convey their ideas to the public is through written language. Semiotica: The Persuasion of Text highlights this characteristic by featuring five works from the University of Lethbridge Art Collection that use the aesthetic of English text.
Emily McCormick, Museum Studies Intern, Dept. of Art