Episode 2.1: Vaughn Asks "What about KAWS"
Firstly, I'd love to see the author's opinion on Jeff Koons. Because I feel every bit of this article applies to his works as well.
I saw a giant KAWS exhibition at the Modern Art Museum Fort Worth a few years ago. It was, underwhelming. Things made big! Things made bold! Hey, here's a thing you know... but it's changed and I made it edgy.
I'm gonna call it low common denominator artwork. The public loves it. It's fashionable and easy to get behind. There are no larger underlying questions that leave us thinking, looking, pondering. It's a Coach purse but made of plastic and 20 feet tall. It's in a major museum so it must be good, and I too can own a piece for 6 easy payments of 69.99.
I don't actually blame KAWS for any of this. I mean, they're just handing out checks for this guy to make the same thing he's been making since the '90s. Who among us would say no to that? Instead, I blame the gallery and museum community accountable. His work is self-admittedly bereft of any deeper meaning, but the art establishment can NEVER be wrong and could NEVER mistakenly over-value the cultural contribution of an artist to just in an attempt to capitalize on the moral and fashionable nature of graffiti/street art.
Never.
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