Challenging the art world’s prevailing reliance on provocative actions, ‘We Have Seen it All’ takes inspiration from Tomislav Gotovac’s performance ‘Speak Quietly, But Always Hold a Stick by Your Leg,’ where he visited a museum seemingly fully dressed, but upon opening his coat, it is revealed that he was wearing only the bottom part of a pair of jeans fastened to his legs by a string, exposing his naked genitalia. ‘We Have Seen it All’ inverts this concept. We anticipate nudity under the subject’s coat, but instead find clothing manipulated to maintain that illusion.
In an art world overly saturated with shock tactics, subtlety itself can be startling. When nudity becomes a mere tool for attention, it degrades the work rather than adding to its complexity. These shock tactics were powerful and effective when Gotovac exposed his naked genitals in an art gallery. At that time, such provocative acts were radical and stirred significant conversation. However, in today’s context, where we have seen it all, such methods have lost much of their impact.
We Have Seen it All
2024
50×70 cm
Print on paper, textile
Available upon inquiry – info@agatelielpetere.com