Mr. Mutt and His “Fountain” And the Influence of Marcel Duchamp’s “Readymade” Art on Art in the 20th Century.
Introduction
Marcel Duchamp was a renowned French artist. His works was mainly linked with the surrealist and Dadaist movements. His major artistic works were influential since they were made from already found objects. It is worth noting that his works played a major role in the development of the western art until to date. He is remembered for challenging conservative thoughts about the process of art as well as marketing of art. Perhaps this is because his first fine art, the fountain, was first rejected since it was thought to be vague and absurd. However, this did not deter the determined artist who has a number of readymades under his name. Though long gone, he has left a legacy in the contemporary art[1].
The Fountain
The fountain was one of the first pieces of art made by Marcel Duchamp. However, fountain was initially made by Richard Mutt through his production company. It comprises one of his readymades which he made from already found objects. Fountain is made of an already existing urinal which he named as “R.Mutt”. Although fountain received many controversies upon its production, it has now become a predominant attraction in contemporary art of the 20th century. The piece of work is being exhibited in most of the world’s best museums. Even though fountain could be best known because of its enormous historical scandal whereby it was first denied its exhibition in 1917, it has become a significant piece of art of the modern art[2].
Marcel bought a perfect urinal which he turned down and signed it under the name of the owner of a production company. The fountain was an actual urinal that was made to look like a piece of art. It is a recognizable icon in the contemporary art. The art has been overtly exhibited in various art exhibitions as well as museums despite its first rejection in the past. Many presumed fountain as an immoral piece of work due to the natural of its function (Harrison, 252). Others doubted its possibility of being an art owing to the fact that urinal is an asset that is usually seen in many plumbing shops.
However, the piece of art has engaged quite a number of philosophical thoughts. Different people have different interpretations regarding Marcel’s Fountain. While some people think that the urinal is masculine due to its purpose, others view it as feminine while some think it is bisexual. Although the fountain is most commonly linked to male, it also has some feminine features such as a container for liquid (Block, 43).
The title signed on the fountain raised a lot of questions. Many wanted to know why Marcel had preferred to use the name Mutt for his piece of work. Nevertheless, Marcel indicated that he chose the Mutt from a comic script, Mutt & Jeff which was a popular comedy. He said the title of fountain also represented a brand name of the company where he had gotten his piece art from. On the other hand, others argued that Mutt, an American slang, refers to a fool and therefore Marcel included this name in order to put on a confrontation to those people who saw his absurd transformation of a urinal (Block, 44).
Despite the fact that the original artwork is long gone, modern arts makes imitations of the original fountain. This means that Marcel art work will never end. It is worth noting that many artists believe that Marcel’s fountain has become the most important piece of art in the current century. Notably, Marcel knew from the beginning that many people would receive fountain as a practical joke. This was confirmed when it was voted against by Society of Independent Artists‘s board who argued that Marcel’s fountain comprised of dependant ideas from the person who first made the urinal. Therefore, the artwork comprised another person’s ideas and not his. Nonetheless, other people argued in support of Marcel indicating that whether the urinal was made by another person, Marcel had chosen it and so it was his own piece of art. From this notion fountain become one of his many ready-mades[3].
Ready-mades
Readymade refers to a word used by Marcel to describe his artwork that he made from already found objects. Notably, his first readymades include the bicycle wheel which he made in 1913. The wheel was placed on a stool made from wood. His second major found art was the fountain which he signed under a false name. His other major readymades include the1914 Nine Malic Moulds, the fresh window which he made in 1920, the total eclipse made in 1935, the 1936 box in a valie, the 1915 large glass as well as the 1947 Please touch. Of major importance was his 1946 piece of work which left many people astonished. The artwork comprised of a
nude woman lying down aimlessly with a gas lamp on her hand.
Influence in the 20th Century Art
The readymades idea invented by Marcel during the early 1900s has greatly influenced the modern artists. Choosing already found objects and modifying them is increasingly becoming the choice of many artists in the modern world of art. Artists are following Marcel’s ways of art since they believe that found objects are aesthetically impartial. Already found objects usually open ways to radical adventures of what is inexistence (Cabanne, 10).Found objects are startling to onlookers and so many artists believe that they are the best for attracting people to their piece of work.
Although Marcel overstepped academic conventions that were already in place, readymade objects have become a way of reconciling art with our day to day lives.
The contemporary art of the 20th century can thank Marcel for kick starting a revolution of material field as well as a spotlight of aesthetics ideas. By 1960, artist had started using Marcel ideas whereby already existing objects were submitted in both the pop art and Fluxus movement.
Among the artists who exhibited altered objects with examples of modified rocks, a van and a rusty girder include Joseph Beuys. This marked the expansion of the established objects into the world of art. This went on up to 1980s where a variation of readymades emerged. This variation was referred to as the commodity sculpture whereby produced items would be exhibited in an art gallery as monuments. Among the artist involved in this type of art were Jeff Koons, Ashley Bickerton among others. These artists had borrowed a lead from Marcel artwork of found objects[4].
An extensive use of already existing objects has been carried out through 1990s. Artists have become fond of found objects and they use the ideas in these objects to create intriguing piece of artwork. Of note is the current use of internet in the modern world whereby artists are looking for images in the internet and using them as central components of enormous pieces of artwork. Modern artists, modifies the images they find in the internet by using the predominant computer explicit tools. Although Marcel in his artwork did not apply the use of computer, his ideas of found objects have dominated the modern art.
Notably, polarized debates have been held regarding readymades around the globe but this does not deter the intent of the modern artists. Although art involves creativity and innovation, found objects are modified to give an aesthetic look to the already existing objects. In addition, found objects used as piece of artwork have created intense philosophical ideas that lead to realization of key factors that could not have materialized regarding the found objects if they were not used in art work. This is because art makes art lovers to engage reflective ideas regarding the objects being illustrated in the piece of art.
Some journalist and the general public in various countries such as Britain had rejected the use of found objects for art purpose arguing that there is no creativity and innovation. This has actually helped many artists to beefup their creative ideas thereby enhancing the art industry. It is for this reason that we can say that Marcel’s ideas of found objects have positively influenced the twenty century creative art. It is worth noting that Marcel ideas have not only influenced the creative works which involves drawings, painting among others. But his ideas are used in other arts such as music whereby the 20th century music composers are using found sound in order to enhance their compositions. Such artists include John Cage, Art of Noise and many others[5].
Additionally, the found arts are also facing massive involvement in the film industry in the modern films. Examples of films which involve already existing objects are Ghost World, a comedy among others. Outstandingly, Marcel’s popularity has never faded due to his influence on young artists whose arts are on our major museums as well as galleries. His influence on the modern art was marked in 2004 when his piece of art, Fountain, was voted as the most influential piece of work in the 20th century. Fountain was voted in by British art experts. Marcel has been termed in recent media articles as an inventor of conceptual art and Pop art.
Conclusion
Marcel Duchamp’s artwork was a one of kind which has now revolutionized the art industry. His artworks are mainly done from already existing objects. It is for this reason that he referred to his artwork as readymades. Although his major piece of art, the Fountain, had first faced major controversies in the olden times, it has now become an influential artwork in the modern art of the 20th century. His readymades have influenced a number of modern artists as well as the entire art industry
Work Cited
Block, R. The readymade boomerang: certain relations in 20th century art : Art Gallery of New South Wales, Bond Stores 3/4, Millers Point, 11 April-3 June 1990. Michigan: Biennale of Sydney, 1990
Cabanne, P. Dialogues with Marcel Duchamp. France: Da Capo Press, 1987
Harrison, C. Art in theory, 1900 – 2000: an anthology of changing ideas. London: Wiley- Blackwell, 2009.
Judovitz, D. Unpacking Duchamp: art in transit. California: University of California Press, 1998
[1] Block, R. The readymade boomerang: certain relations in 20th century art : Art Gallery of New South Wales, Bond Stores 3/4, Millers Point, 11 April-3 June 1990. Michigan: Biennale of Sydney, 1990
[2] Harrison, C. Art in theory, 1900 – 2000: an anthology of changing ideas. London: Wiley- Blackwell, 2009.
[3] Judovitz, D. Unpacking Duchamp: art in transit. California: University of California Press, 1998
[4] Cabanne, P. Dialogues with Marcel Duchamp. France: Da Capo Press, 1987
[5] Block, R. The readymade boomerang: certain relations in 20th century art : Art Gallery of New South Wales, Bond Stores 3/4, Millers Point, 11 April-3 June 1990. Michigan: Biennale of Sydney, 1990
