Talk to Al Jazeera - Jeff Koons: High art or plain extravagance?

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Күн бұрын

He is one of the most sought-after and successful artists of today.
Jeff Koons is a former Wall Street commodities trader who left the financial world to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
His work is unique and has featured dogs, tulips, lobsters, even a large pile of playdough and cracked eggs.
Some have called his work lively and playful, while others refer to it as "childish" and "banal", but for millions of his fans, his work stands out.
Koons' stainless steel sculpture, Balloon Dog (Orange), was sold at an auction for $58.4m, turning him into the most expensive living artist of all time.
Throughout his career, his art has gone through several phases - from industrial production to ceramic statuettes, and even dabbling in sexuality.
But whether you are a fan of his work - or just discovering him for the first time - Koons is at the top of his game, inhabiting the worlds of high art and popular culture.
Jeff Koons talks to Al Jazeera to discuss his work, what he aims to express through his pieces, and the controversies surrounding his creations and his career.
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Пікірлер: 88

@modfus 5 жыл бұрын

Jeff Koons is the most American person I have ever seen - he embodies what the USA has become and is in our time. There is a materialistic sentimentality in his work - it is superficial but also charming and innocent. It is also dark and sinister, perverted and depraved. It is optimistic and magical - but always there is the fear of deception - that it is empty and devoid of substance or purpose. It's like a wonderful dream that upon later analysis reveals itself to be banal and meaningless. It plays on an impulsive and fleeting attraction to the inane.

@pestlund 4 жыл бұрын

Well stated.. but at the end of the day it is dark, sinister, perverted and depraved exclusively.

@TorontoIam 4 жыл бұрын

@@pestlund I agree. And the stock market was a perfect place to absorb that aspect of America, a microcosm of Americanisms in the say way as Hollywood in "The Day of the Locust".

@TorontoIam 4 жыл бұрын

And yet many love Steven Speilberg's charming and innocent superficiality which I also find sinister.

@ztog 5 жыл бұрын

There's something disquieting about Koon's eyes and the fleeting smile. Circling back to the money laundering issue was strange.

@mikeletaurus4728 2 жыл бұрын

I agree. To me, he has the eyes of a deranged person, or someone barely able to conceal rage.

@jordymustdie Ай бұрын

@@mikeletaurus4728 yes

@CalGcastglassnz 2 жыл бұрын

Just discovered his work today. How effin fun and inspiring

@hiroshiokudada 6 жыл бұрын

I just can't trust his eyes. I don't know if he's sincere...he is so intelligent, that's for sure.

@dianal.clausen8118 10 ай бұрын

I looked closely at his eyes here and on other posts. I think it's a physical malfunction, especially with the right eye. One eye is moving separately from the other.

@leststoner 5 ай бұрын

Because nothing is behind them, completely empty.

@jordymustdie Ай бұрын

@@leststoner yes

@lephilistin 5 жыл бұрын

We're so used to artists bullshiting us that when an artist is sincere, it feels weird and we don't believe it. LOL

@TorontoIam 4 жыл бұрын

LOL...so true. I remember a rock musician saying that all young rockers cared about was fame, money, and getting laid but they never told interviewers that. And authors always say that they don't care about fame and money, but you should hear them when their books don't sell!

@mrcsnbr 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but he's not being sincere tho

@97JAF 3 жыл бұрын

@@mrcsnbr hahah why do you say that? Coming from someone who doesn’t really know much about him. Just a discussion in school

@mrcsnbr 3 жыл бұрын

@@97JAF You're right, I haven't had the pleasure to talk with him, but his projects (and certainly their money value) does not match for me with the "spirit art thought" he's talking in here. Does it do for you?

@97JAF 3 жыл бұрын

@@mrcsnbr I mean can't really say, why can't he like money as much as the art? Not everything has to be so black and white. Human nature is complex, maybe he's changed maybe he's always been like this but who are we to really judge?

@ChrisCoombes 7 жыл бұрын

He is calm and generous in his responses.

@radupandele8696 6 жыл бұрын

what a great talk

@theartcritic7020 7 жыл бұрын

He is not an Artist, he is a Service provider for Rich Investors who Avoid paying Taxes by calling it Art.

@davidlubotsky7908 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely correct. That said, you are being kind as who his friends are reveal something worse.

@jordymustdie Ай бұрын

Literally thank you

@backtoemocovers 5 жыл бұрын

So he’s inspired by going to Toys r Us?

@soulsurfseeker Жыл бұрын

such a nice and humble man

@gbengaadeku 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful insight into Jeff's genius mind.

@nevermindmyage 11 ай бұрын

Right on Jeff!❤

@iwonkarts Жыл бұрын

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! Jeff Koons

@valerieevanier9632 4 жыл бұрын

A dialogue with philosophy? I'd say a major snow job. It's a balloon dog and someone got suckered in to paying 58 million in the hopes that no one else would realize it's just a balloon dog and could one day sell it at a profit. This is an example of turning the world of art into just another commodity market.

@777jones 3 жыл бұрын

Almost got him to say "It's about meaninglessness. That is the subject"

@benvallentine7197 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve always been on the fence about Jeff Koons, and this video didn’t help sway me. I mean, the guy doesn’t actually make his own art these days. He has a team of people making it. The fact an artist has no reservations about his work selling for millions and knowing you didn’t get your hands dirty making it yourself, speaks volumes of a person. In Koons’ situation, and by the impression of this interview, he is a salesman. Whether he is purposely chasing the mighty dollar over putting his own stamp on his work, is yet to be determined for me. But as an abstract artist myself, I would never bother to try and produce a piece - whether a painting or sculpture- that I couldn’t actually make myself. I want people to enjoy and invest in my art because my hands actually created it. A piece of me is in my work.

@Talia_IceCreamPaints 3 жыл бұрын

An artist skilled in business makes them no less of an artist.

@benvallentine7197 3 жыл бұрын

@@Talia_IceCreamPaints Where did I say that? I never said that. And would never say that, as I myself am using my business and brand building and marketing expertise to build my own art brand. If you read my comment properly you will see that I have a problem with him not creating his own artwork.

@fishbrehth 8 жыл бұрын

Koons' "vision": make a giant stainless steel balloon animal. wow, so unbelievably complicated

@TheEmpress1768 8 жыл бұрын

maybe you just haven't seen the art thoroughly

@fishbrehth 8 жыл бұрын

Merlinhoot Boodangy i wouldn't comment on the scope of an artist's work unless i had familiarized myself with it in person enough to have a full opinion that at least at first attempts to see it in the artists eyes as something worthy of my seeing it. but i appreciate your cynicism

@kalvinlebsack2351 6 жыл бұрын

Well somebody is sure making an effort to be provocative :p

@victortavares7665 8 жыл бұрын

Thumbs up for sure! Jeff Koons works are wonderful! There`s much to learn about what he says. Never negative. I see buddhism on his words.

@noobishbehavior703 7 жыл бұрын

Victor Tavares I agree

@turbobyultra3743 2 жыл бұрын

6:24 lmao . Love her

@dollydolly3596 5 жыл бұрын

Shock value is short lived ... he says. Have we seen his MADE IN HEVEN SERIES here? Guilt and shock are not long lived? Why?

@ysengrimus 7 жыл бұрын

A visual art genius. The voice of an era.

@limbotvperu6867 3 жыл бұрын

not really

@GeneralSalt 4 жыл бұрын

I use a reflective surface to have a discourse w philosophy, because philosophy is a reflective process. 🤣

@petemansfield8298 5 жыл бұрын

Margaret Keane + Thomas Kinkade = Jeff Koons

@evastaitz9911 7 жыл бұрын

jeff koons is a work of art! don't try to interpet his artistry.

@irinachelyapova3285 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! People are just jealous . Everything he is creating is perfect reflection of our time.

@gregdahlen4375 8 жыл бұрын

wonder if he lives a rich man life, big house, nice car, etc. they both have nice teeth whitening jobs

@dollydolly3596 5 жыл бұрын

Yes Nice car Nice house Nice kids Nice wife

@moviebuff4002 7 жыл бұрын

I subscribed

@jennyhughes4474 4 жыл бұрын

'Dialogue with...' repeat repeat repeat...

@jmdza 8 жыл бұрын

his eye

@pestlund 4 жыл бұрын

Jose Jeffery Mendoza very dark. Truly dark

@agentpurple2843 Жыл бұрын

Evil

@leststoner 5 ай бұрын

BS, his art is not about society, the 1% is not society. He makes investment art. He makes objects not art, his real art is sales.

@sahernassar 8 жыл бұрын

guess he is the least eloquent among other contemporaries

@patsaulnois4691 9 жыл бұрын

"Doha is bringing people together, is about inclusion". Tell that to the slaves who die everyday building this city where they will never be allowed to live. Further, he's no artist, he's a business man. He doesn't create the sculptures with his hands, he draw a sketch and pay people to do it for him and redo it and redo it until he's satisfied by the result. An impostor.

@TheEmpress1768 8 жыл бұрын

that's what artists in the Renaissance did, yet their art is considered art

@MrNckissfan 7 жыл бұрын

Don't even think about putting him in the same league as those in the Renaissance. Koons is nothing more than a glorified art director who plagiarizes from existing pieces of art.

@TheEmpress1768 7 жыл бұрын

+MrNckissfan So? it's art after all.

@MrNckissfan 7 жыл бұрын

John Orozco You know what I mean. If you don't then I guess you don't know much about the profession in general. He's a guy with no talent...only ideas. He then pays assistants to do all the work...including sketches.

@TheEmpress1768 7 жыл бұрын

+MrNckissfan I've known he has had assistants. almost 130. You do know in the Renaissance, artists had assistants help them make their paintings as well, right?

@oblisk420 6 жыл бұрын

he just wants to have a seat at the table but no matter how much information he accumulates about art he's vapid banal and constrained in his thinking seeing him in person is as uncanny valley as any one of his humanoid works

@gregdahlen4375 8 жыл бұрын

i can't see how his art will be less intimidating to lower class viewers than any other

@irinachelyapova3285 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, most people don't like to see truth about themself.

@SyedShoaibMahmood 8 жыл бұрын

He's a buyer or curator at best, an artist? Nope. :(

@gloobnord 5 жыл бұрын

This guy is so disingenuous. If he's into art for the reasons he gives why doesn't he donate (instead of sell to corporations that may or may not display it) his stuff to cities so everyone can see it? He certainly has enough money by now. How much do you need? I guess he's a IS a commodity's trader (read capitalist) who's main interest is the making of money, not really in the realm of art. Although I suppose some would consider the making of money an art.

@carolineclark2013 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a way for these elites to exchange large amounts of money ( the real thing being sold is children) without raising suspicion