Proposal (bulb and watch)
Drawing
1992 (made)
1992 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
Michael Craig-Martin RA was a key figure in conceptual art of the 1960s, and through his position as a tutor at Goldsmith's College from 1974-1988 and 1994-2000 had a profound influence on two generations of British artists. His work spans conceptualism, minimalism and pop, without being easily categorised. He has a long-standing interest in drawing and has curated exhibitions including Drawing the Line (Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1995).
Early in his career Craig-Martin's intention was, as far as possible, to remove self-expression from his drawings, and to achieve this he replaced pen and pencil with thin, flexible adhesive tape.
Proposal (bulb and watch) is part of Craig-Martin's extended enquiry into the nature of line which began in the 1960s. It was made in 1992, the cusp of the YBA (Young British Artist) period which was led by his former students. The drawing simplifies and refines a pair of ordinary objects to their schematic outlines, exploring conventions of representation.
Early in his career Craig-Martin's intention was, as far as possible, to remove self-expression from his drawings, and to achieve this he replaced pen and pencil with thin, flexible adhesive tape.
Proposal (bulb and watch) is part of Craig-Martin's extended enquiry into the nature of line which began in the 1960s. It was made in 1992, the cusp of the YBA (Young British Artist) period which was led by his former students. The drawing simplifies and refines a pair of ordinary objects to their schematic outlines, exploring conventions of representation.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Proposal (bulb and watch) (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Drawing, 'Proposal (bulb and watch)' in black and red tape on drafting film, by Michael Craig-Martin, 1992. |
| Physical description | Drawing in black and red tape on film, of a wristwatch and lightbulb. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed and dated in pencil bottom right |
| Gallery label | MICHAEL CRAIG-MARTIN (BORN 1941)
DRAWING: ‘PROPOSAL: BULB AND WATCH’
1992
Michael Craig-Martin has said that ‘art always involves looking at something familiar as though it were unfamiliar’. In this drawing the very ordinariness of the bulb and watch focuses our attention on the extraordinary way they are represented – in schematic outline, and as though they are the same size. The ‘proposal’ of the title subtly draws our attention to the conventions and distortions inherent in artistic representation.
London
Black and red tape on drafting film
Purchased from the Alan Cristea Gallery
Museum no. E.404-2011
(10.2.2012) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Michael Craig-Martin RA was a key figure in conceptual art of the 1960s, and through his position as a tutor at Goldsmith's College from 1974-1988 and 1994-2000 had a profound influence on two generations of British artists. His work spans conceptualism, minimalism and pop, without being easily categorised. He has a long-standing interest in drawing and has curated exhibitions including Drawing the Line (Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1995). Early in his career Craig-Martin's intention was, as far as possible, to remove self-expression from his drawings, and to achieve this he replaced pen and pencil with thin, flexible adhesive tape. Proposal (bulb and watch) is part of Craig-Martin's extended enquiry into the nature of line which began in the 1960s. It was made in 1992, the cusp of the YBA (Young British Artist) period which was led by his former students. The drawing simplifies and refines a pair of ordinary objects to their schematic outlines, exploring conventions of representation. |
| Bibliographic reference | Owens, Susan, The Art of Drawing British Masters and Methods since 1600, V&A Publishing, London, 2013, p. 186, fig. 148 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.404-2011 |
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| Record created | July 7, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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