Jeff Koons
More than Hirst or Emin or even Yoko Ono, Jeff Koons is one of the most divisive figures in the world of contemporary art. Before he'd really produced anything of note, Koons had employed an image consultant and taken out full page ads in international art publications portraying himself glorying in his success.
Koons is best known for producing really really big versions of everyday bits of kitsch - flowers, kids' toys and the like. They're big, obviously, but are they clever? The jury is very much still out. Jerry Saltz has been "wowed by the technical virtuosity" but Mark Stevens called his work "cheap", "artificial" and "unabashedly cynical".
Koon's work is indeed "artificial" and "unabashedly cynical" (it certainly don't come cheap) but whether these are legitimate criticisms to level at a work of art is debatable. Whilst his influence on artists like the YBAs is undeniable, Koons' place in art history remains to be confirmed. Only in posterity can we really judge, and even then we're often wrong.
Koons is best known for producing really really big versions of everyday bits of kitsch - flowers, kids' toys and the like. They're big, obviously, but are they clever? The jury is very much still out. Jerry Saltz has been "wowed by the technical virtuosity" but Mark Stevens called his work "cheap", "artificial" and "unabashedly cynical".
Koon's work is indeed "artificial" and "unabashedly cynical" (it certainly don't come cheap) but whether these are legitimate criticisms to level at a work of art is debatable. Whilst his influence on artists like the YBAs is undeniable, Koons' place in art history remains to be confirmed. Only in posterity can we really judge, and even then we're often wrong.
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