The Idea Is Everything

This video is a short but informative one on what conceptual art is and how it emerged. Marcel Duchamp is the most influential artist of 20th century. Duchamp brought the notion to the art world that anything could be a work or art. Refer to video at least 90% of contemporary artists follow Duchamp's footsteps.

The reason is what Duchamp brought to the art world is the fact that

"THE IDEA is everything"

Fountain - 1917 - Marcel Duchamp

They interview two conceptual contemporary artists on how two similar works of art could be totally different because of their different ideas. 

There are two short interviews of Marcel Duchamp in this video that tell a lot about origins of the conceptual art. When Duchamp was questioned how did he feel to be blamed for death of art he said he was delighted to be blamed as he meant to do something that didn't please everybody. He then added that he was not the figure who managed to kill off the painting though he was glad to contribute into opening a totally new way of doing art.

Today, artists and critics are wondering either Duchamp opened a totally new debate on art practice that is still fresh and attractive to talk about or he unleashed the monster. Duchamp doesn't think he unleashed the monster though and at the same time he doesn't care how history would judge him.

Bicycle Wheel - 1951 - Marcel Duchamp