An object without a proper name, yet.

Choosing a name for an art object can be quite challenging actually. Maybe that’s the reason for so many “untitled” art works out there, it can be also that many artists who name their artworks Untitled just don’t give a F@&k about names after all. I didn’t think too much about it until I had to name an object I created, and I give a F@&k actually, and that’s what this story is about, theorizing about the names and not names of objects. At the end, I leave you with the challenge to help me out, with the art piece above.

Although I am positive that the name of an art work doesn’t make it an better art piece, I do think it’s important. Picture yourself, wondering through a contemporary art gallery, imagine you know nothing about formal Art (at least you didn’t study it), you stand in front of what seems to be a group of 8 randomly displayed, white “marshmalowish” balls sitting on a room filled with sand. You are in front of the a contemporary art installation, and you think: what the Hell? next, puzzled, you go to the name plate and it says: Untitled, 1998 Mr. Artist - Rocks; sand and marshmallow. what the F@&k! you almost feel like screaming. Houston we have a problem. Yep, I have been there too my dear reader! The name was the only clue to bring some understanding to the object without post graduating in the history of arts. People get angry, many feel very bad. What a sad story, at least in my opinion.

In order to fight for the democratization of art we have to fight for more satisfied art consumers, I am starting today a movement against Untitled artworks, for the sake of the mere mortals who don’t have a degree in Art but who just want to have a go in understanting the story being told by the artist, on the fly, on the spot. How we are going to do this? No, please, lets not come up with sticker tags, or barcodes…that after you scaning it with your iphone, link to the wikipedia article of that art work. Lets give this artists some homework to do! send them letters! require some explanation =) they will like it.

I didn’t do my homework I have to confess, ’cause the art object up there still features the Untitled flag. Well, ok, at least I am here, writing about it.

But the problem of my Untitled art object is still not solved.

Here is what I propose:

Deal?