The Estonian version of “The Conspiracy of Art” is a collection of essays on art by Jean Baudrillard, which he wrote between 1987 and 2007. The title of the collection comes from a scandalous article he published in 1996, in which he attacks contemporary art and the hypocrisy surrounding it, pointing out that the social value of the art sphere is based solely on a “conspiracy”, the accomplices of which are artists who create trivial works, institutions that promote works, and unknowingly, but the viewers are trying hard to hide this incomprehension. This kind of art has no influence on social reality, which does not prevent it from continuing to function successfully as an insider trick.
Of course, Baudrillard’s attack was meant as a provocation, and it is hard to believe that he even believed his claims one hundred percent. But the point of provocation is not to present any doctrine. The point of provocation is to provoke a reaction, and if the art world fails to respond to Baudrillard’s provocation and justify itself, it only reinforces Baudrillard’s argument even more deeply. Baudrillard’s goal was to create another, culturally incorrect, ignorant look next to the self-directed look of the art world, which would reveal the nakedness of the king, which is blatantly visible.
Compiled and edited by by Neeme Lopp
Translated by Anti Saar
Language editor: Tiina Hallik
Designed by Margus Tamm
Photos: Paco Ulman
180 pages, in Estonian
Estonian Academy of Arts Press, 2020
ISBN 978-9949-594-94-8