Duchamp’s Fountain

Was he pissing on art?

It’s over a hundred years ago since one of Marcel Duchamp’s ‘readymades’ was entered for the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in 1917 to be staged at the Grand Central Palace in New York. He presented a white porcelain urinal as the art work, gave it a title of Fountain and signed it R. Mutt.

The event is viewed by art historians and philosophers as a major, landmark moment in 20th century art. The effect is still being felt today and remains the subject of debate and controversy. Much of the art that has followed was only made possible by Duchamp’s Fountain. He is responsible for bringing every day ordinary objects into the hallowed space of the art gallery or exhibition space, conferring the status of art on them by simply placing them into an aesthetic context and declaring it so. Artists such as Tracy Emin and Damian Hirst have carved careers out of riding on the shock waves.

It was far more than a gimmick. Far more than just a prank to piss off the art world. Although I wouldn’t deny that purpose. But it was more than just a literal piss take. He was showing art as something different. He was breaking loose the self-imposed restraints and decades of pretension.

Art is more than contrived images, bordered by well mannered frames, or pleasing shapes raised on grandiose…