Art

The darkening of the world makes the irrationality of art rational: radically darkened art.
― Theodor Adorno, Aesthetic Theory

Can we work with the following two premises?

― Art has the capacity to create a disturbing dissonance with the apparent natural givenness of the world.

― Art is capable of reflecting society’s disavowed negativity back to it, but in a perverted way.

To that end, our site presents images that reflect everyday life through common objects, but that hold those objects in an estranging light. So much the better to see them!

Here are some examples. We welcome suggestions.

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1. Gerhard Richter, Little Chair, 1965.
2. Gerhard Richter, Chair in Profile, 1965.
3. Giorgio Morandi, Still Life, 1955.
4. James Turrell, Into the Light, 1991.
5. Abandoned raft: “My teaching is a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Understanding my teaching as a raft, you should let go even of my teaching.” – The Buddha 
6. Frederick Glasier, Portrait of Loie Fuller, 1902.
7. American university students.
8. I can’t find the source. The image throws an interesting light on darkness.
9. Boy reading in bombed London bookstore, 1940.
10. Jake and Dinos Chapman, “Sad presentiments of what must come to pass,” 2003.
11. Same as #9, but a bunch of old dudes. 
12. James Turrell, “Dissolve,” 2017.

Please email us your suggestions at inciteseminarsphila@gmail.com.