Cuack!

Is art today about grandiosity, or only systematized huge inflatable occurrences with a bunch of production, PR, press, and fat budgets?

We're used to hearing and reading that less is more. In this case — and believe me when I tell you it's more common than you think — more is less. I admire many curators and art advisors on this social media platform, but I think they are mesmerized most of the time by snake charmers, full — again — of magic tricks with patchouli smoke and mirrors.

Again, I'm nobody to judge others' work or lives, but I do have an opinion. At the risk of sounding like an old grouchy eye, I see another humbug of production, fat budgets, and PR over a powerful and honest core concept. I'm talking about Florentijn Hofman. Don't get me wrong, I love rubber ducks, but sometimes enough is enough.

Rubber Duck, Florentijn Hofman, 2007

There are some of Hofman's artworks that I find compelling and ludic, but when you try to substitute content with shouts, at least to me, the pieces start to lose their true conceptual core and become false idols, where the only missing things are circus lights and fireworks, so everybody sees the work with the pure and lone intention of winning the headline of magazines and blog news.

I can even imagine curators, gallerists, art critics, and the rest of the art Caesars laughing with joy as they encounter something atavistic, a primary instinct reminding them, at a subconscious level, of a happy moment from childhood. Nothing against that, except when they stay mesmerized and forget that not every artwork needs to be monumental to be magnificent, whatever the topic or statement.

They finally discover that size does matter.

Whatever it means to them.

cuack!