The Manufacture of Art

I came across Julian Opie’s work at the NGV on my way to a seafood lunch.

What a smack in my digital face!  Technology, capitalism and art all smoothly packaged for consumption.  The bold forms and images did feel clean and comfortable, simplifying what we know. There were framed blinking  faces and twinkling waters and large static familiar shapes. And that was that until I wandered into the bookshop to be hit by all the merchandise. The art work is all there in miniature. There are editions framed and unframed, facsimile paper cuts of the acrylic parents, “model” constructions and object d’art dingle dangles.

This monied enterprise behind this manufacture of art is apparent. I call it art because it’s in a major gallery. Hats off to the Julian Opie Studio for cracking the digital nut.