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Joseph Kosuth

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Artist

The Resume

    (January 31, 1945- )
    Born in Toledo, Ohio
    Conceptual artist
    Best known work is 'One and Three Chairs' (1965), consisting of a chair, a life-size photo of the same chair and the text of a dictionary definition for the word 'chair'
    Other works include 'Glass One and Three,' 'Five Words in Blue Neon' and 'Four Words, Four Colors'
    Editor of 'Art/Language'

Why he might be annoying:

    His work is self-referential.
    One critic said, 'He has investigated alternative ways of producing art that no longer involve painting, sculpture or even using manufactured objects.'
    Or as he put it, 'Actual works of art are little more than historical curiosities.'
    His works tend to inspire the question, 'Wait, THAT'S art?'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was influenced by the art of Marcel Duchamp and the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein.
    Works like 'One and Three Chairs' are meant to get you thinking about nature of language. Or the nature of reality. (But you'll probably just go 'Wait, THAT'S art?' like some philistine.)
    He was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by France and received Austria's highest honor for achievements in culture, the Golden Cross.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying