Body fluids in art 89087 200575727 2008-03-24T17:04:57Z Daniel C. Boyer 2496 A relatively new trend in [[contemporary art]] is to use '''body fluids in art.''' Examples include: * The controversial ''[[Piss Christ]]'' (1987), by [[Andres Serrano]], which is a [[photograph]] of a [[crucifix]] submerged in [[urine]]; * ''Self'' (1991, recast 1996) by [[Marc Quinn]], a frozen cast of the artist's head made entirely of his own [[blood]]; * ''Piss Flowers,'' by [[Helen Chadwick]] (1991-92), are twelve white-enameled bronzes cast from cavities made by [[urinating]] in snow (though this might not be characterized as the use of bodily fluids ''in'' art, just their use in preparation); * performances by [[Lennie Lee]] involving feces, blood, vomit from 1990 * many paintings by [[Chris Ofili]], which make use of [[elephant]] [[dung]] (from 1992). * [[Gilbert and George]]'s ''The Naked Shit Pictures'' (1995) * [[Hermann Nitsch]] and Das Orgien Mysterien Theatre use urine, feces, blood and more in their ritual performances. * [[Franko B]] from 1990 blood letting performances. However, there have been rarer uses of blood<ref>including menstrual bood: {{cite web|title=Art by Women About Menstruation|url=http://community.livejournal.com/blood_art/|accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref> (and perhaps feces) for quite some time. [[Pete Doherty]] has painted with blood.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pete Doherty's blood art|url=http://people.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1304160.php/Pete_Dohertys_blood_art|accessdate=2008-03-24}}</ref> [[Marcel Duchamp]] used [[semen]] decades ago. === Criticism and difficulties === Many conservatives have criticised this development in art as being immoral and depraved. They argue that it is not worthy of being called "art" and has no aesthetic value. They argue it is designed to oppose traditional morals and values, and has links to sadomasochistic sexual activities which they deem perverse. They also find the combination of bodily fluids with religious symbols (such as in [[Piss Christ]]) to be blasphemous. The sale of blood art via eBay is prohibited as eBay prohibits the sale of body parts, and classifies blood art as falling under this heading.[http://www.artnewsblog.com/2005/03/blood-art.htm] ==External link== *[http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=52965&TabID=463291 Blood Artists (Blood Art Page) Home] ==Notes== <div class="references-small"> <references/> </div> [[Category:Art materials]] [[Category:Body fluids|*]]