Introduction to Video Art Critique

The work examines a relation of the artwork to its critical interpretation in the contemporary art context in general and in particular exposes the problem of so-called “copy & paste criticism” with its tendency to apply predefined interpretative patterns, ignoring the particulars of an artwork. “Introduction to Video Art Critique. Crash Course for Beginners” simulates an educational multimedia course in video art critique, oscillating between persiflage and fake. Scrutinising the discourse of art criticism on video art, the work deconstructs the border between critical and artistic activity and turns art criticism itself into object to be criticised within an artwork and by means of artwork itself. It presents the viewer established video art works together with their critical interpretations. The relation of the video works to the critical texts is questioned in a simulated quiz. The viewer is required to find out which critical text match which artwork, and vice versa. The texts and the artworks were chosen in such a way, that any critical text could be equally suitable for any artwork. Using characteristics particular to the CD-ROM medium, the work creates a kind of visual metaphor of the exchangeability of critical interpretations within a certain genre or art category.