"In this case we're building a corner to stretch a fence and hang a gate. It had a real purpose in the ranch here. I needed to do this. But at the same time, it made a beautiful structure"
About this Quote
Bruce Nauman's quote catches an interesting crossway between functionality and aesthetics, where practicality breeds charm. On one level, Nauman is simply describing a job at hand: constructing a corner to extend a fence and hang a gate. This seems an uncomplicated, utilitarian task, anchored in the requirements of cattle ranch life. The fence and gate represent confinement, boundary, and control, important aspects in managing a cattle ranch. The practical element can not be downplayed; it serves a particular and immediate function in keeping order and energy within the area. This necessity is what drives its creation-- Nauman "required to do this."
Nevertheless, Nauman welcomes us to check out beyond mere performance and see this structure through an artistic lens. By acknowledging that "it made a beautiful structure", he means the deeper visual value that can emerge from utilitarian jobs. What might at first appear mundane and driven purely by need evolves into something that has charm. Herein lies a reflection on the intrinsic art discovered in daily life, highlighting that purpose and function do not preclude the existence of aesthetic satisfaction or creative value.
The quote can also be analyzed as an allegory for creative procedures in basic. Like the fence corner, art typically stems from a need or idea, fulfilling a specific purpose or revealing a particular idea. Yet, through the act of production, it becomes something more, transcending its original intent to evoke feeling, believed, and appreciation. Nauman's observation blurs the boundary in between art and utility, recommending that the ordinary act of building can yield unanticipated charm. This viewpoint motivates us to acknowledge and value the artistic prospective intrinsic in all acts of creation, purposely or automatically contributing to the tapestry of both art and life.
About the Author