Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sol LeWitt's Truffle


Sol LeWitt, American conceptual artist, believes in superiority of idea over object. In 1987, he sold an intangible concept [an idea for an artwork that doesn't really exist] at an auction - for the concrete sum of $26,400. Legal ownership was indicated by a typed certificate, which specified that the artwork [10,000 lines about 10" long, covering the wall evenly] should be executed in black pencil. The owner has the right to reproduce the piece as many times as he likes. If you reproduce it you'd only have a fake - despite the fact that LeWitt would not have picked up the brush in either case!