Notes #4

Paul Feyerabend wrote: “Anything goes”. Thereby, he was referring to the fact that the axioms of science have always been changing and that the history of science is the demonstration of how science itself is socially moderated. There are no ultimate axioms and science is always contemporary. The same applies to art. There are no criteria for the successful creation of art or its final definition.
But living today, thus being contemporary, creates the obligation of adressing contemporary issues. The meaning of art could be described as the sum of the issue’s relevance and the depth of its development. But it should rather be described as the way the meaning has been described – until today. Because there is no security that it will be described like this in the future. Therefore it will never be possible to calculate artistic relevance and meaning. The bare attempt makes the result turn into a cheap copies. In accordance to “anything goes” the axiom’s future is uncertain. Looking for them may for certain moments even become the only issue of art. What may seem troubling at first is also the basis of freedom. There is no art per definitionem, neither is there an artist’s biography per definitionem. Everything is open all the time and undecided – in both ways.