New Portrait of Iris Clert

"New Portrait of Iris Clert" -by Justin Carter

Undestanding “New Portrait of Iris Clert” - by Justin Carter

This image is a new take on Marcel Duchamp's message of the role of the observer in creating art's message. It makes this message as a new take on Rauschenberg's Portrait of Iris Clert. Whereas Duchamp and Rauschenberg asserted that art becomes valuable when the viewer inteprets the message of the art; this new work by Justin Carter asserts that the art is only truly valuable once the viewer is moved to take action they previously might not have done.

The original paper cutout was a non-expressionist piece by artist Jessica Phillips. After it had been presented; artist Justin Carter purchased all rights to the piece at which point he expounded upon the idea of the art being only as valuable as the highest amount given for the work. Subsequently he signed his name, claiming it to be a new work, he later said, “The true art of what has been done was the purchase of the art. In purchasing the art, I asserted it had a value of at least the amount of work necessary to have purchased the painting. The painting as it stands now is important only as a manifestation of this event. Further, it can only claim to be valuable art inasmuch as the idea it represents causes an effect upon its viewers. Probably the easiest way to tell is if it can be sold, but any actions or thoughts which come about as a response to this art, are in part due to this first cause.”

So that's it. Ultimately, the question of whether this art is valuable will be determined by any and all viewers who choose to act upon the importance of the message it presents. High resolution scans of the original are available under special permission from the artist through this blog. Just let me know.