Page 39 - Studio International - June 1974
P. 39

VIDEOTAPE,& THE UNIVERSITY ART PROGRAMME


































        The introduction of television equipment and                                        (Above left)
        tele-recording apparatus into the critical frame                                    Albert McNamara Smile 1971
                                                                                             in. black and white video tape
        of reference of the art-context raises questions
                                                                                            (Above)
        that are relevant to the whole of art. This is one                                  Colin Campbell Smile 1972
        of the factors that makes videotape of interest as                                   in. black and white video tape
        art; and this single factor alone gives it, at the                                  (Left)
        present time, an overwhelming advantage over                                        Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa c. 1503
                                                                                            Oil on canvas
        any other medium in relation to the university
        art programme.                                                                      information that the word 'art' in our sense of
          Painting and sculpture are (a) still and (b)                                      the visual arts does not appear in any English
        silent; video-tape moves and has a sound-track.                                     dictionary before 1880. Perhaps we should put
        Does that in any way affect the question of its                                     the question the other way round; by what right
        designation as art ?                                                                or logic do we apply the term 'art' to Leonardo's
          Two tapes from Canada's maritime provinces                                        picture painted so many years before ?
        each bear the title of Smile. One is by Albert                                        In practice Albert McNamara's tape is not
        McNamara, then a student at Nova Scotia                                             absolutely still. Inevitably he blinks from time
        College of Art and Design. In it the artist sits                                    to time, and by the end his muscles twitch from
        down, smiles at the camera and retains the same                                     strain. On one level his expression signifies
        fixed expression for half an hour. The work is                                      pleasure, but beneath the conventionalized sign
        virtually still and respects the code of silence.                                   a reality of discomfort is revealed in minute
        Is that then more reason to call it art ? — or does                                 involuntary impulses.
        the potentiality for movement implicit in the                                         Colin Campbell's Smile was produced when
        television image (regardless of actual stillness)                                   he was a faculty member of Mount Allison
        debar the possibility of reading it as 'picture' in                                 University. On the tape I saw, the piece
        the sense that most readily refers to art ?                                         followed Sackville I'm Yours and it seems to
          The piece has overtones of the standardized   laughter, but may not the total immobilization   belong in that position. Colin Campbell appears
        amiability of television performers, but when   of a transitory expression confound our   in the role of Art Star, who discusses with an
        we come to think of it, do we really regard   capacities for interpretation at the levels of   imagined interviewer the situation of an
        their expression as a smile at all ? Might we not   spontaneous organic response and reasoned   artist of international standing living in
        rather think of it as a 'grin' or 'grimace' ?   criticism alike ?                   Sackville, New Brunswick. In Smile he retains
        And might we not infer an attitude of calculated   What when we return to the numerous   the same role, and through the interview
        ulterior motive rather than any genuinely   comparable instances presented by painting and   situation acknowledges that he is in fact posing
        amicable disposition ? Confronted with such a   sculpture ? The Mona Lisa has successfully   for the camera. The sincerity of the fixed
        person in real life might we not infer that he was   retained the same unchanging facial composure   expression is explicitly called into question, but
        `bemused' rather than 'amused' ? But then are   for the better part of five centuries, to the   the answer remains uncertain. The artist is
        our normal everyday responses the result of   constant bemusement of romantic critics, the   evidently acting a part, and quite self-
        such rational considerations ? May not the   bewilderment of unromantic analysts and the   consciously over-acting it, but the part he is
        symbol itself suffice at some unreasoning level ? —  per sistent cynicism of popular cynicism — while   playing may nonetheless be himself. In the
        and do we find ourselves applauding the act or   art itself has provided an even more irreverent   Art Star pieces Colin Campbell appears in the
        buying the product regardless ? This may be   comment in the form of Duchamp's doctored   nude — exposed in naked truth as the cliché
        so in a context which, at least, cues us to the   print with its ambiguously obscene caption.   might have it — but his nakedness only
        meaning of facial gesture within the subtle   But is Duchamp's print really art ? The Oxford   heightens the obtrusive artificiality of the
        alternatives of grin, grimace or incipient   Dictionary provides the interesting piece of   situation; physical and psychological reality do
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