Page 19 - Studio International - February 1972

Correspondence to copy this aspect. troubled to correct this image by observation.
The operation from the start as agreed In my experience, this prejudiced approach is
among the artists defining it was conducted not endemic among journalists and critics, with the
as a public service or artist benevolent society result that the public also become stereotyped in
but to introduce a central idea. This idea as it is 'opinion'.
now formulated exists separately, but it could It would be apparent to any interested
generate a development of other ideas and with viewer, that the Evoluon is not an 'industrial
multiple repercussions like artists often do. exhibition', but deals with the theory of
An idea, to have any future, has to settle in technology and, on the main floor, with effects
clean terms on a public that is accustomed to of applied technology on society and the
terms that are more polluted. Language individual.
describing principle does so by its own syntax— As the designer responsible for the
otherwise it's no preoccupation of art. If the thematic-exhibit content, may I correct the
principle is not familiar the syntax is bound to impression given, by noting that, while Philips
follow. It was not fundamentally proper for the sponsor the museum, it is in no way related to
correspondents to treat this show at the their industrial or commercial interests, in fact
Hayward out of the order of its appearance, i.e. very much on the contrary. For example, in an
its syntax. It was an exhibition in the context exhibit on 'decision making' the home
'art' (ART). The principle introduced there was television set is shown as resulting in more anti
thought greater than the sum of its parts. It's a than pro effects on society.
hoary trap to deal with art as if its subject I would be pleased if you can find space to
matter was more than its structure but nearly cover the above point, as the Evoluon should
everyone fell in. There were basic issues in the be approached as a new kind of museum, and an
exhibition, present in order, we thought experiment in communication about people and
(conception and direction by erg). The living. One such experiment is the Senster.
computer programme was to indicate that the JAMES GARDNER
question of initial assumptions is indeed evaded London NW3
universally. One correspondent complained it
gave evasive answers. Art in Ireland
Another exhibit was a procedural 'leader' It is disappointing that Tim Hilton's 'Irish
to such a primary assumption (noit Handbook) Commentary' in your December number should
but was not found by journalists, reasonably, to be almost as much concerned with the
be much use from their point of view. generalities of a difficult situation here as with
It is so, however, that many of the sustaining art. We would like to point out some inaccuracies
ideas in APG have taken shape or derived from which we feel are misleading and unjust and we
the source notion there, by a section of the hope that you will have the courtesy to allow
artists involved. That they themselves are not us the space in your columns to try and correct
verbal, or in the majority, doesn't invalidate the some of them.
contention that an artist-individual should be Although it may make for good journalism,
able to act significantly on any organization. it is untrue to say that the Ulster Museum is at
The difference, which was often lost, between present sandbagged. This is not so and such
an artist-individual and a political individual comments seem to us unhelpful and malicious
should need no further description. when we are trying hard to maintain our cultural
May I say that the suggestion that the APG life against very difficult odds. Although the
thesis was looking for acceptance (a) by schools Museum's picture by Morris Louis is indeed an
and (b) by the Stock Exchange we found two of important example of his work, it seems curious
the most hilarious notions. They easily that one of the best collections of post-war
bypassed the initial comparable comment from modern art outside London should be dismissed
the legal profession (your January so glibly after a visit of less than two hours. The
correspondent). How accurate one was distinguished artists represented and the number
intended to ask is the accounting procedure of of major international exhibitions which have
that established authority he so eloquently shown works from the Museum's collections are
defends ? And what are the crudities by far too many to list. We do feel however that
comparison, of the 7 concept of a conceptual if your magazine had a genuine concern for
Art in industry measuring device ? The reply should list the contemporary art it might at least acknowledge
I would like to say briefly something about the alleged inaccuracies and redundancies too, the effort and the courage which have gone into
contributions of correspondents and critics to actual not rhetorical, in the 'Report and Offer building up a collection of modern art which is
the APG scene. We are grateful for all their for Sale' document. unique in the British Isles. It also seems strange
interest and would welcome still greater JoHAN STEIVENSOoN to us that the most important new museum
attention. London Wit building built in the British Isles since the end
The nature of this operation requires of the war, much of it devoted to contemporary
understanding of how both art and commercial Evoluon Museum art, should pass unnoticed.
systems operate and evidently no writer felt It was refreshing to find Ihnatowicz's Senster We are more than a little surprised to learn
sufficiently competent/confident in both to seriously commented on in Studio International. that only one commercial gallery remains open
make a full appraisal of the problem faced by Unfortunately, the writer appears to have in Belfast, since we are aware of at least three
the initiating body APG. If APG are wild and entered the Evoluon Museum with a stereotype others in addition to the one mentioned and we
woolly and incongruous—OK, but it wasn't right of what it comprised in his mind and not do feel that at least matters of fact like this
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