Robert Rauschenberg dies at 82

[Jasonwclark]

I know most of these obituary threads end up in the lounge, but given the controversies surrounding 'found objects', junk art, process art and such, I thought this a more appropriate place to break the news... just in case anyone feels the need to rail against him.

For those who don't know the guy, Rauschenberg is usually situated between the big names in abstract expressionism (Pollock, DeKooning etc.) and later characters from the Pop art and Conceptualism movements (Warhol, Jasper Johns and the like.) He's not as despised as some other figures from the mid century art scene, but still pretty controversial and influencial. He died of a heart attack

"I really feel sorry for people who think things like soap dishes or mirrors or Coke bottles are ugly"


http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-me-rauschenberg14-2008may14,0,123143.story

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/rauschenberg_robert.html

[JParrilla]

thats a shame.. I must say I never really understood conceptual art. I mean I know what it is but it never really appealed to me. I always saw it as kinda puttin a bunch of already made art together to make something else ( Im not bashing conceptual artists :) ) But ya nevertheless RIP

[fanficbug]

:( I liked a lot of his art, but it was his attitude towards the world and what is beautiful that was really inspiring. So, RIP Rauschenberg . . .

P.S.: I believe the wiki link is broken due to a stray <br /> tag.

[Ilaekae]

This is a truly sad loss. This man was a true genius, and probably nearly single-handedly validated the concepts and thinking behind much of my own work. Without him, I probably wouldn't exist as I do...

Thank you, Robert...for everything...

[Jasonwclark]

I liked a lot of his art, but it was his attitude towards the world and what is beautiful that was really inspiring.

Yeah, he always reminded me of a modern day Lucretius; the kind of person who can stare into a murky puddle on the side of the road and discovering in it all the wonders and beauty of the natural universe.

This man was a true genius, and probably nearly single-handedly validated the concepts and thinking behind much of my own work.

I think Rauschenberg is like the visual art's answer to Heidegger's philosophy of technology. His works break down the distinction between techne and poiesis, and force you to think about the craftsmanship/artistry behind everyday objects. Other artists made similar moves before him (Duchamp's Fountain was probably the most notorious), but Rauschenberg made the point more subtly and effectively. He's also important for reviving representational works in the Fine Arts world, at a time when most avant-garde painters, critics and collectors had all moved ‘beyond’ it. He took a hit for the team too, with his 'junk' art, and pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in painting. His combines were some of the first works to really showcase a mixed media approach, and have been widely emulated since.

I see him as a one of the first major figures on the road to recovery from the 20th century.

[dbclemons]

He comes from a time when visual artists could be big time superstars. Jasper Johns is one of the very few still with us from that time.